CYCLISTS ON THE WHIRL.
How They Overrun Golden Gate Park and the Ocean Beach.
A FAD THAT IS SPREADING.
Citizens of High and Low Degree Who Have Taken to the Joyous Wheel.
If any one doubts the fact that the "bike" fever has come to town and is rapidly assuming the proportions of an epidemic, all that doubting Thomas has to do is to go to Golden Gate Park, especially on Sunday, and view the array of whirling wheels with their nattily attired riders, that is from early morning until nightfall, and even after, passing to and fro through the winding paths.It has attacked persons in all conditions of life, evidently, from happy-go-lucky, adolescent Californian to gray-haired, dignified Judges and business men, with a heterogeneous mass of all sorts of citizens thrown in between. That it is on the increase is evident by the scores of new wheels that flash in the sunlight each successive Sunday.
Where a year ago riders could be counted by the dozen they are now to be seen by the hundred, and it is prophesied by the park policemen that, if the fever increases much more, equipages with horses attached will be a novelty in the park paths. Yesterday there was not only an unusual turning out of wheelmen, but there were many new faces to be seen — riders who had just mastered the intricacies of balancing themselves, and had not been seen before outside the precincts of their training school. Then, too, many of these new riders were men of prominence in business and social circles and in official life. It was interesting to note their styles of riding, their varied costumes and assorted "brands" of bicycles.
One of the new riders who created somewhat of a sensation in the "charmed circle" of the park was Clement Bennett, the stenographer of the United States courts. He was guided around by a chaperon, who gave the novice all sorts of instructions as to how to become a graceful "biker." Notwithstanding the repeated assertions of his trainer that he was not in a buggy, Mr. Bennett insisted on leaning back in his seat, thereby throwing a well-rounded contour against the atmosphere. He expects to be able "to go it alone" after about five more lessons. Two other amateurs were noticed practicing in a side path, where they thought , they were secure from observation. One was Adolph Dunker, brother of the Supervisor, and the other was "Billy" Koch, the well-known painter, who at one time gave promise of being a prize fisherman. Neither has intimated to his closest friends that he is learning to ride or that he is the owner of gorgeous brown knickerbockers.
The members of the Red Rock Cycling Club were out in force yesterday. It is made up of prominent men about town and all its members are enthusiastic "bikers." Rome Harris is the captain, and he and Bill Harrison cut a wide swath along the highways. "Andy" Smith, the renowned pacemaker, who has Harrison in training for a five-mile spin against time, followed them with Michael Lynch, also a promising record-breaker. Other members of the club who were out yesterday were Jim Cheslie, Jack Dean, "Pop" Sullivan, W. W. Naughton, Fred Mackey, Louis Stockheiser, Charley Martin, Dan O'Connell, the local bard of Erin, Oscar Tollie, Tom Flynn, the journalist, James Gillman, Larry Flanagan, Fred Mulholland, the oracle of the Bay District Race Track, Thomas Boyle, the whirlwind rider of The Call office, Billy Driscoll, Ned Lanigan, Healy Davis, Tom Quinn, Bob Barton, Charley Flynn, Eddie Moran, Dick Sparks and others.
The police force is well represented among the sufferers from the fever. Police Sergeant John Martin, who has been riding for some time, has reduced his weight from 225 to 174 pounds. Urged on by the same motive, Sergeant Michael Joseph Conboy practices daily, but he is still rotund. Then there are Officers Peter Richter and Jerry Dinan, who push the wheel. There are others, too, who are practicing, but have not yet appeared in public.
Many members of the San Francisco Stock and Exchange Board have ceased to go out in buggies on Sundays, and have taken to the wheel. Those to, be seen most are O. V. Walker, the caller; J. M. Shotwell, C. E. Paxton, H. H. Shinn, Bert Collin, Ed Cahill and A. McDonald.
As a relaxation from judicial duties the Judges of the Superior and police courts are interesting themselves in cycling. There are Judges Campbell, Conlan, Barry and Troutt, already experts, and it is rumored that Judges Murphy, Hunt, Slack and several others are practicing. The boulevard by the beach down below the life-saving station is becoming a practicing school for beginners. They go out early in the morning and begin their evolutions. It was stated that among the visitors yesterday were John Van Bergen, well known in commercial circles, and ex-Chief of Police T. G. Cockrill. John is getting to be quite expert and he was showing the Chief "how to straddle the wheels." Both were attired in blue knickerbockers and pink sweaters, with jaunty little caps perched on their heads. Another addition to the ranks is Henry Doscher, the proprietor of the Seal Rock House, where the cyclers gather by the score.
Ladies in bloomers are also increasing in numbers at a rapid pace. The ice has been broken, and now the bloomer craze is as virulent as the bicycle fever.
Amateur Wheel Notes.
Charles Sullivan, James McElroy, Dave Martin and Judge Barry contemplate a trip on their quad to the Blue Lakes in a few days.The five-mile road run between Charles Martin and Billy Driscoll has been indefinitely postponed, owing to Mr. Martin spraining his ankle while practicing yesterday afternoon. Driscoll is hunting around for a match, and is willing to compete with any amateur on the coast in a five-mile race.
Dick Sparks is in training at San Rafael for his coming race with Eddie Walsh.
Dr. Brown has severed his connection with the Devany-Hopkins cyclery, and, after a much-needed rest, will visit his folks in Europe.
Mrs. Rome Harris intends going into training next week to try and beat the record made by the lady cyclist, as published in The Call last week, from the Stanyan-street entrance of the park to the beach and return. The time made was twenty-seven minutes.
The Red Rocks intend giving a smoker next Thursday evening at their hall on Golden Gate avenue.
Tommy Nolan and Chris Newman made the run from the Oakland mole to San Jose in four hours and twenty minutes last Friday.
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| Oakland Mole postcard, mailed 1909 |
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