I heard Joe Breeze talk about this ride to the top of Tam, when he gave a talk about Cycling 1890's Marin. I think either he, or Otis has a copy of the guestbook these guys signed, on the mountain, and maybe some more material about the ride down. This being 1890, the riders would have certainly been riding 'ordinary' bicycles, also known as 'penny farthings'. Imagine riding up, and down Mt. Tam on one of those! This was before what we now call Railroad Grade was built. I don't know what "Hidden Spring" was, do you? The Tamalpais Tavern was built six years later, in 1896 as far as I can tell. - MF
WHEELMEN’S WHIRLS
Entries for the Twenty-five-mile Race.
Trip to Tamalpais.
Messrs. Thompson, Meeker, Doane, Wetmore, Hammer, Plummer, Knapp, Spaulding and Landis, of the Bay City Wheelmen, made a trip to the top of Mount Tamalpais on the 17th inst. The trip was pronounced the most enjoyable run of the season by all who were fortunate enough to reach the summit, where lunch was served at the “hidden spring” at noon.Knapp and Hammer are the first who ever had their wheels crown the peak of Tamalpais, an achievement they may well be proud of, as the last half mile (where the others left their wheels) is covered with brush and loose rocks.
Coming down, Meeker, Doane and Plummer rode their machines to their sorrow, and on reaching the bottom presented a sorry spectacle, for the thorns were long and searching, and the headers not infrequent; otherwise the coasting down the mountain side was voted splendid.
The party arrived in San Francisco at 6:15 o'clock in the evening much delighted with their journey.
The Bay City Wheelmen are delighted over the success of their committee appointed to take charge of the twenty-mile road race, which is to take place on the San Leandro triangle, on September 8th, at 10 o'clock in the morning.
The race will be a time handicap, the first ever given in California, and promises to be an exciting event. At least sixty contestants will face the starter. Among them will be: Cole, Cox, Wetmore, Thompson, Plummer, Smith, Lee, Ives, Fonda, Wheaton, Hickenbotham and Southworth.
The committee says there will be at least ten prizes; five for the first finishing and five for the five best records made. The handicapping of the men will be a tedious undertaking, but it is sure to be well done as a committee of three have it in hand.
Quite an argument has arisen over the right of a committee to handicap, as some think that the district handicapper is the only proper person to do so, while others hold that the L. A. W. does not countenance road-racing, and therefore has no jurisdiction of the matter whatever. Mr. Smythe, Chairman of the District Racing Board, and Mr. Doane, Chairman of the California Division Racing Board, both hold to the latter opinion.
The entries will close on Tuesday, September 2d, at the rooms of the Bay City Wheelmen, 17 Franklin street.
Found on Newspapers.com
Morgan, I believe Mill Valley Library has the East Peak register, or maybe it's the West Peak register. Anyway, I think the first bike entry within is from FEB1, 1885, by C. F. Merrinon (?) and W. E. Nachtrich of the Bay City Wheelmen. They most likely rode up the brand new Eldridge Grade, and were no doubt on highwheel bikes. I imagine there wasn't a lot of easy riding in either direction.
ReplyDeleteTheir ride does not appear to have made the newspapers; I can't find it. Too bad! The most news-worthy thing about Tamalpais circa Feb 1, 1885, is "Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11 — Relative to the erection of a Signal Service station on Mount Tamalpais, in Calilornia. Adopted." on Feb 2, 1885 (https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18850202.2.2.1&srpos=12&e=------188-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-tamalpais----1885---1) Before that, this article (https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MJ18850122.2.12&srpos=8&e=------188-en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-tamalpais----1885---1) may have gigven C. F. Merrinon and W. E. Nachtrich the idea: "The Eldridge Grade has proved a most wonderful mountain road to withstand washing by heavy rains. Only one little place shows any injury from the long and severe storm of the past weeks, than which a more severe test is never likely to be given it, especially considering that it was only just completed when that drenching rain of thirty days came upon it. In these beautiful sunny days and this clear atmosphere that has succeeded the long storm, the windings of the road stand out in clear view from the streets of the town. Mr. Eldridge has not relaxed his efforts to carry out ths grand enterprise to a full consummation, by securing buildings on the summit for accommodation of man and beast, which will be at once followed by Mr. Newman's princely gift of a telescope. A register should at once be provided, that all visitors may leave their names. The drive to the summit of Tamalpais will no doubt be the sole attraction of many visitors to San Rafael ths present season, and as its fame becomes known of course their numbers will increase with each year. Uncle Joe is still about $1500 behind on the cost of ths road, and earnestly solicits the help of all who have not yet done what they could and ought to help it." Couldn't find a C. F. Merrinon, tried a couple other spellings.
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