Evening star., 1902-04-25
BIKERS' ARE HAPPY.
Anticipated Revival Of Former Bicycle
Clubs,

with the advent of spring come the
wheels in force upon the streets, and the
biker' is happy in the prospect of long
season of riding" said an old wheelman.
And this calls to mind that many of the
old Washington wheeling clubs have grad
ually been disbanded until nearly all have
passed out of existence as organizations
1t is hoped and believed among wheelmen
that the active racing season at the Coli
scum to be inaugurated this summer will
stimulate local riders and tend to revive
the interest in the sport. No doubt this
will be the case to some extent as Wash
ington has no equal as city in riding facil-
| tiles but the fact remains that the wheel
| is more of a vehicle of utility than of pleas
ure, as formerly.
probably twenty Washington bicycle rid
ing clubs have disbanded In the past two or
three years. Old local Wheelmen will re-
call the names of some of these clubs and
| lament with me that their days of useful
ness are now merely a matter of pleasant
memory. Among these clubs were the Cen
tury Cycle Club, Washington Road Club
Queer Wheelmen, Columbian Wheelmen
Highland Wheelmen, Potomac Wheelmen
Columbia Cycle Club, Dupont Cycle Club
Gonzaga Cycle Club. Geogetown Cycle Club
and others
These clubs averaged from twenty to
100 members. The great feature of their ex-
istence was their Sunday runs and curb
meets as some did not possess club houses
or rooms, such, in fact not being necessary.
The captain of the club would send out in
the middle of the week his notifications to
members to meet, say, at the curb at The
Star office corner next Sunday at O clock
On the day in question the members would
congregate at the appointed time at The
Star office corner and wheel off in q body
for Great Falls, Marlboro or some other
objective point, returning to the city late
hap nd
hungry. In the days Of active wheeling
there would be twenty or thirty of these
curb meets in different parts of the city
on pleasant Sundays many Of the clubs be
| ing uniformed, and others composed of
young men of an immediate neighborhood
This year there will be few Of these gath
erings, and one of the formerly familiar
| sights on the streets of Washington will be
missed
In fact, the day when there was a
bicycle repair shop or sales room upon
| nearly every square in town is passed. and
| as compared with five years ago, wheeling
| has fallen off easily 60 per cent though the
dealers contend that the trade has not suf-
tered TO great extent, the business purposes
TO which the wheel is put offsetting the loss
| or those who rode for pleasure There
would be more riding If the maximum
| price of the chainless wheel were $50 in
stead of 500, and of the chain wheel Of So
called racing weight $40 instead Of $50;
the roadsters less in proportion. There is
big profit in wheels at $50, as most of the
| large makers are in the trust
Another point germane to bikes Is that
| the chainless wheel has not put the chain
| wheel out OF business, as was prophesied
| In fact, though the chainless wheel has
| been on the market for several years, per-
| fected, the chain wheel continues to hold
and Will continue to hold popular favor
The latter is lighter by from five to ten
| pounds, and thus far is preferred by
most riders, as it is less likely to get
| out of order, and Is easily repaired. If a
chain breaks in the country, you can push
your wheel into town, but if a chainess
! gets out Of gear, she won't push worth a
| cent.
! Another point Is the passing of the OIL
cap and the oil cup in the hubs this year.
| ana OF the oil can in the hand Of the wheel
man. This is change over old methods in
the bicycle world worthy of more attention
than 1t will receive. One-half of the dirt
and annoyance of the keeping of a wheel
lay IN Its oilng. With the oiless hubs, the
| bearings being packed in Vaseline, and good
| to run smooth for months, a wheel will re-
quire scarcely any attention, and but little
| cleaning, as compared with the old style"