Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-06
A weII-Constructed Track

The track Is one of the best constructed
have ever ridden upon. Its shape is much
better than a genuine oval track The
turns are somewhat short, but not too
short for fast riding, and this abridgement
IN the curves gives a larger stretch both at
the nome and in the back, than is apparent
on any other track now in use in this cOun-
uy. A good backstretch and a good home
Strelch era Die man to let himself out on
the sprint, and gives an opportunity of
winning many races that might be other
wise lost In addition to this the local
track Is wider than the usual courses al
lowing a big field of men to finish abreast
which is sometimes quite an important fea-
ture OF closely contested event
Il never had an idea of the good roads
that you have in this locality. l am at
the track morning and afternoon spending
from two to four hours per dav in sDrintinp
and hard riding, and after that l have
plenty or time on my hands | take all the
rest that / need, retiring early at n ght
but even with this regular order of things
l have time on my hands, and have used
up some Of 1t by riding on the roads
have all along been told that the roads of
Virginia were proverbially bad and Mary
land was on a par with the Old Dominion
state The Conduit road is as good as any
road we have up north, and some of the
other roads / have ridden upon are even
better than some of our cracked-up high
ways. | think that the wheelmen of Wash
lngton are fortunate in having a good
track. good climate; good streets in the
city and good roads surrounding the place.
With all of these good things it is no won
der 10 me that there are so many bicycles
ridden"
The Outlaws Prospects.
Speaking of the American Racing Cyclists
Union Bald seemed very enthusiastic over
the prospects of the organization 1--WE
have shown the world that we can stick
together. and despite the fact that many
assertions from our ranks have been pub
lished in the cycle papers We are stronger
now than we We're last fall might say
that the publications regarding our assO-
cation have for the most part been false
and l might surprise you if / told you of
some of the methods adopted TO get some
of the leaders back into the fold of the
league again. If everything published
about US happened to be true there would
not be a single man left today in the or
ganiZation.
Violent efforts are now being made to
swing the prominent men back to the l.. A
w That organization is desperate If the
correspondence of the racing men, especial
ly with those who are now at the Fountain
Ferry track. counts for anything. The
riders are deluged with letters which give
reports heard here and there in which there
Is no truth. The members of the uni or
most sought after are the men who rate as
| champions and as top notchers. These mer
are thoroughly in touch with each other
and say they cannot be approached mas
| income than they ever had in sight be-
| fore.
| Three riders who have been prominently
! mentioned of late as returned prodigais &c
| the l. A w. fold enter positive denial OF
| their positions once and for all time These
| riders are Howard B. Freeman of Portland
| Ore, who has lately been interviewed In
the press reports from Philadelphia, where