RECREATION. 



121 



BICYCLING. 





A REVIEW OF '94. 

 Maurice Green. 



A retrospect of the cycling season 

 of 1894, brings to mind much that is 

 gratifying. Looking back to the open- 

 ing of the season in March, there can be 

 distinguished a new life in the sport that 

 was never before so generally apparent. 

 Early in the season many predicted a 

 small advance in the sport, owing to the 

 business depression, but that they 

 largely erred is evident on every side. 



For years our unequalled diversion 

 has gradually spread over this broad 

 land, but never before has there been 

 so favorable a gain in one short season. 

 It can be truthfully said that more inter- 

 est is apparent in cycling throughout the 

 country to-day than in any other sport. 

 A few years ago the general public gave 

 small recognition to the numerous sports 

 that sought favor among the common 

 classes. Of course the success of the 

 wheel is due largely to its utility. It is 

 strange such a long time was necessary 

 for it to obtain a footing, but its place is 

 now secure. 



In the amount of business done by 

 the large wheel makers we have, perhaps, 

 the best evidence that 1894 has been 

 the most propitious year of all. There 

 is no longer a lack of confidence among 

 the manufacturers. They have abund- 

 ant assurance that the demand for wheels 

 will continue to increase, though to 

 some extent they have known this for 

 several years. Millions of dollars will 

 be invested in new plants in the near 

 future. The bicycle seems to be about 

 perfect, but there is promise of further 

 improvement for the approaching year. 

 The gentlemen of the city has found 

 that a 25 to 26 pound wheel affords 

 him the most healthful and pleasurable 

 means of traversing the smooth streets, 

 and on this he obtains enjoyable recrea- 

 tion in a simple way. 



It is pleasing to know that women are 

 equally progressive and that thousands 

 of them now delight in the wheel as 

 much as men do. The question of the 

 modesty, or immodesty, of wheeling has 

 nearly ceased to be a question among 

 sensible women. 



The season has been considered, thus 

 far, with regard to the practical usage of 

 the wheel, which embodies a small de- 

 gree of sport. Now we grow enthusi- 

 astic. The real sport comes next in order. 

 The racing of this year has been far su- 

 perior to that of other seasons, and we 

 have had a great deal more of it than 

 heretofore. Almost every city has had 

 a " meet " or at least a road-race, and 

 great local interest in the sport has been 

 the result. The crack racing men be- 

 came popular everywhere. That class 

 B. aggregation has been decidedly 

 attractive. They traveled to the princi- 

 pal cities and gained much popularity. 

 The names of the fast riders are familiar 

 among lovers of outdoor sports and there 

 is no pleasanter rivalry in athletics than 

 that which exists among the big men of 

 the American path. 



There is no rider whom the people 

 are yet ready to crown champion. The 

 many races have brought out no one 

 rider who is really superior to the rest. 

 At one meet one man has won a sweeping 

 victory, but he was almost sure to lose 

 his glory a few days later. Last year A. 

 A. Zimmerman was the undisputed pre- 

 mier and was more popular than any 

 other rider. There is no one here now 

 to occupy his place, and by many it is 

 thought he would not have held it had 

 he remained at home. Those familiar 

 with his work abroad hold different 

 opinions. The champion did not lose 

 his spurt, and the manner in which he 

 conquered his competitors is enough to 

 warrant the belief that there is still no 

 flyer who is wholly his equal. 



This year has developed a number of 

 fast men — record breakers — some of 

 whom hold high rank, but who have at 

 times temporarily lost their lead. 



There has been great rivalry among 

 the manufacturers' racing teams, and 

 early in the season, the competitive spirit 

 unfortunately brought dishonesty into 

 racing, which was curbed by the L. A. 

 W. racing board. Cycle racing is one 

 of the most popular and exciting sports 

 of the day and in future will be still 

 more so. 



An interesting portion of the time de- 

 voted to cycling is that which follows 

 the racing season, when record trials are 

 in order. The records made this year, 

 so far, are marvelous. Reports of the 

 performances of Johnson, Bliss, Tyler, 



