The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-13
CYCLE GOSSIP.

With all the talk OF speed in pOwer-driven
machines. Il is worth noting that the racing
cyclists are not far behind In the attacks
on Father Time II Is a fact that a mid
dle-dlstance rider who cannot negotiate
miles on the banked tracks behind motor
tandems faster than in one minute and
thirty seconds has little or no chance 10
get any Of the purses offered for cycle COM
petition. This season at least half a dozen
good men have Travelled twenty-five miles
at the rate OF forty-two miles an hour and
five and ten mile trips at the rate Of forty
five miles an hour.
Albert Champion. the French member of
the Imperial cycling team. ana Bobbie
Walthour Of the Columbia cycling team,
have done some remarkable record break
ing thus early In the season. and their fur
Their struggles to lower existing records are
certain to be OF interest not only to follow
ers OF the sport. but TO the public general
ly. Every American loves speed. and that
important quality Is certainly being sup
piled by the racing cyclists Of to-day. In
years gone BY It was exceptional for rec
ords to be broken before July 4. yet during
May and June the records OF EQ1 were shat
tered beyind recognition.
The additional speed can partially be at
tTibuted to the fast motor tandems that
are not used In middle-distance racing
Some of them are ntted with motors OF
eight-horse power. and on a level straighta-
way stretch they can travel d mile = mir
ute. To follow these machines at a fair
pace Il a comparauS ely easy task. but at
high speed the work is such that only the
strongest and n~erviest riders can stand the
strain Under the rules Of the N {. A,
the rear mar on the tandem - not allowed
10 have his saddle further back than the
edge OF the rear tire. so that work OF the
strenuous order IL required OF the man fol-
lowing. Apart from the natural speed re-
quired, the contestant who would win in
middfe-distance racing must have a care
around the elght-lsp ssScerIiEe trasSs /, no
easy task under ordinary circumstances.
and IS still more difficult when the rlder
must keep the froat tire OF his own wheel
within an inch or two OF the rear tire on a
pacing tandem Should the tires touch. n
fall IS Inevitable and severe injuries are al
dangers. the possibility OF securing big
money for the work has induced more than
twenty racing men 10 enter this style Of
competition as a means OF obtaining 4 liv-
ing.
To supply talent for the twenty or more
cycle tracks that are ~conducting weekly
tournament in the East requires the serv-
Ices or more than twenty middle-distance
riders. In years gone by two men In a
race were considered sufficient. but now
four and sometimes six c~ontentants are to
be seen struggling for the prize money in
some of the big races. Among the riders
motors during the season are VIII G. Stin-
son. Rambler cycling team: Bobbie Wal
thour; Columbia cycling team; George
Lcander. Crescent cycling team: r. 4. Nc
Farland and John King. Tribune cycling
team: James Hunter. Bonnie MunrOe and
w. $. Fenn. Cleveland cycling team: Bash
de Guichard. Rambler cycling team: Al
bert Champion. Imperial cycling team:
Tommy Hall Monarch cycling team: Harry
J. CALDWELL. H 3. Freeman. Otta Maya.
Hugh Mclean. Gus" Lawson and
The aggregation promises a continuance
OF the keen and interesting competition
that has been furnished thus far this sea-
SON The valuable prizes offered and the
honor Of breaking records and OF evolving
a hampio are inducements sufficient to
tempt the daring cyclists to follow almost
any pace that the powerful tandems may
furnish.
W. s. Fem Of the Cleveland cycling team.
the fair spectators that she asked for an
who Is considered the handicap king. will
Dorothy Bartram. one OF the bellies Of At
lanta. ca. The stocky-built Yankee from
WATERBURY. Conn. won n number Of races
in the southern city last winter. and his
Introduction. Eventually this Acquaintance
ripened into a state that leads Fem to join
the Benedicts.
American Cycle Manufacturing Company in
the person OF John Bedell. Of LynbroOk.
l. /. Becell IS one OF the few riders who
has turned out to be a better professional
than he was an amateur. He will be a
member OF the Columbia team and will fol-
low the N. c. A grand circuit. which starts
early in July. For the past six Sundays at
Vailsburg Bedell has secured at least one
the more experienced professional speed
merchants
Genius nsrsonined Is prevalent among the