Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07
END OF THE BICYCLING FAD
Collapse of the Trust Reminds One of
Glorious Days Of Wheel
ing in NAH

As the last chapter In the history of the
meteoric rise and fall OF a noble sport
which was a fad comes the announcement
of the collapse of the American Bicycle
company, which has asked for a receiver in
New York City. This failure is a death
knell to cycling as a power. For the last
FIVE years such a result has been approach
ing, inevitably, but not slowly. This has
been recognized, and every influence that
could in any way effect a commercial mat
ter has been at one time or another en-
listed in the effort to bolster up the waning
popularity Of bicycles. First vast capital
tried it, but seeing that the tide was not
to be stemmed, the wisest and strongest
of this dropped out, leaving more reckless
promoters to remain under the walls and
bear the shock when they fell.
Later wheelmen themselves made a des-
perAte stand against the wave of calamity.
They argued that If they would themselves
keep cycling hot II would outllve the storm.
and spring forth again fresh and strong.
In this they were frantically supported by
retail dealers and by manufacturers But
it was all of no avail, for the wheelmen
found that when they attempted to or
ganize for concerted boosting" there were
not enough OF them left to make a show
ing or a mark.
hha y ~ ~ NC1oNs AhSAO az - ASN
enthusiastic cyclists remaining. but they
form a lonesome looking clan when one re.
members the proud enrolment of 1896 and
whereabouts. Despite all the seemingly
plausible arguments why the bicycle could
not die, its demise has come. and after a
desperate struggle none Of the causes de-
pended upon for its rehabilitation and
restoration into popular favor have sue
ceeded.
1t is simply that time and street cars
have demonstrated that the bicycle was not
a necessity. but a fad. while the same in
h~uences, together with other means of loco
motion, have shown with equal hnality that
cycling was not really fun after all, that
1t was work rather than pleasure. Possibly
no city in this country can furnish more
striking illustrations of these truths Of the
passing Of the wheel than Omaha. The Gate
City was bitten early and bitten hard. The
bicycle craze had a run here that was some
thing furious. No city Of this size in the
west could match it,. When in other places
the "pIungers'' we're just beginning to real
lie what a bonanza the cycle was to be and
were commencing to advertise extensively
and risk capital in the business Omaha was
already owned by a swarm of the wheel
men. ? ,
% vi III OO AAA0 COnnANAO "
tinued n grew. Speeding was one Of the
early phases, and soon Omaha was a cycling
racing center the year round. There wer,
tracks indoors and outdoors. Of wood, can
vas and dirt. n the next feature was
swarm OF Omaha racing products. From
the strong riders Of the city remark,
able stars were produced, and with
the advent Of the safety machine in tn,
early 'eOs the craze was only doubled
Women then took it up. and no one was any,
body without a wheel.
wheelmen. and especially racing men
were the heroes Of the day. Crowds tha;
have never since been assembled at Gthieti
events here gathered night after night an'
cay after day to watch the thrilling con
tests. Road races became OF frequent oe
eurrence. but every finish found dens
crowds lined up at the line. waiting through
the hours for FIRST in and gtime winner.
Base ball. horse racing and all other sport
paled into inslgnihcance before this passion
for wheels. aud the retail dealers her
coined money through 1t all. ~ 80
Fully as dramatic was the dirninuendo
though not 50 widely noticed. for people
minds were already on something else. l
may be said to nave started here when. tn
craze was at its height, for that very rap
ture was the debiiitation Of the sport. One
on the downslope. the falling away wa
rapid, though even then insensible save I
cycle dealers and professional riders. Tn
drop did not fall. It slid. but its speed wa
great, and now that the bottom is prac
tically reached nothing car be more abso
lutte than this disintegration OF a grea
sport.