The Fastest Slow Guy You Know: MANY MILES ON WHEEL - WHEEL WHIRLS - ACME ATHLETES

Sunday, April 8, 2018

MANY MILES ON WHEEL - WHEEL WHIRLS - ACME ATHLETES - Oakland Tribune 02 May 1894, Wed Page 8

MANY MILES ON WHEEL

An Acme Man Makes a Trip to San Diego.

A. P. Swain, a prominent member of the Acme Club, has just made a run to San Diego on his wheel. He has sent The Tribune an account of his trip, as follows:

"I made a start from the Acme Club at at 4:30 o'clock on Saturday, April 15th, and rode to San Jose, where supper was had, and a very enjoyable evening was spent with the Garden City Cyclers. On Sunday morning a start was mad bright and early, and after an easy day's ride, passing though Gilroy and several smaller towns, I reached Chular, where a stop was made for the night.

''Monday morning I left Chular at 9 o'clock, passed through the towns of Gonzales, Soledad, and had lunch at a ranch. Then I pushed on through Cholone, arriving at the little town of Jolon at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The roads were very fine on this day's run, and the seven-mile coast into Jolon will be long remembered.

"Tuesday I started late, and took it easy to San Miguel, and the next day passed on to Paso Robles, in the morning, where a atop was made during the heat of the day. I started at 4 o'clock for Santa Marguerita, a distance of thirty miles, arriving in time to get a cold supper. The roads were very heavy with sand and dust.

"After a short rest and supper, a start was made for San Luis Obispo by moonlight. The distance is sixteen miles with quite a heavy grade to climb on the start. After the summit is reached it is all down hill into the town of San Luis Obispo, which was reached at about 10:30 o'clock in the evening.

"Thursday I rode from San Luis Obispo to Los Olivos, going over the heaviest roads of the trip. One grade was over a mountain which seemed entirely of sand and had to be walked both up and down. Then just before reaching Santa Maria, a pretty little town, there was almost four miles of soft sand that had to be tramped through. This sand is so soft that when you stop to rest the wheel stands without any support whatever, except the sand. Los Olivos was made quite late in the evening.

"Friday morning after an excellent breakfast including mountain trout, etc., a start was made for Santa Barbara, which place was reached at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The road goes over the mountains and there is a very heavy grade before reaching the top, after which there is almost seventeen miles of down grade into Santa Barbara. A days stop was made here, and the old mission "Santa Barbara" was visited. It is in a fine state of preservation, and is one of the most interesting of California missions.

"Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock I started for Ventura. The tide was out and I took the ocean beach. This would be a paradise for Oakland sidewalk riders, as there is thirty miles of sand packed as hard almost as a cement walk and no policeman to be afraid of. Ventura was reached between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening. Sunday morning early it rained quite hard, and the riding was not easy til the sun came out and dried the roads. The distance from Ventura to Los Angeles is eighty-five miles, which was ridden in a little over seven hours. The roads were very good, except for an occasional sandy spot.

"Los Angeles is the great bicycling city of the south. There are a great many wheels and lots of interest in wheeling. The boys are already training for the May 30th races to be held at San Diego, and will no doubt give a good account of themselves there, as there are some very fast men, comprising Fox, Cowan, Brothers, Kitchen, Ulbrecht, Jenkins, Williams, and many others.

"I left Los Angeles Tuesday morning for San Diego. This day's ride went through the beautiful country comprising the towns of Puerto, [I think he meant La Puente. - MF] Pomona, South Riverside, and Perris. A stop was made at Perris for the night, and the next day I started for San Diego, going through Temecula canyon, Fall Brook, and some heavy roads and hilly country, reaching San Diego late on Wednesday evening. The next morning a short trip was made over to Tia Juana and across the line into Mexico. The distance is only ten or twelve miles, and the roads were good. This completes my trip.

"Yours truly,
"A. P. Swain"

A. P. Swain (Acme Club), Candidate for President Associated Cycling Clubs, The San Francisco Call 05 Dec 1896, Sat

WHEEL WHIRLS

Fine Weather and Good Roads Bring Out the Bikers.

The members of the Reliance Bicycle Club are deploring the fact that they were unable to join the Garden City Wheelmen at San Jose last Sunday. The latter had a large cake prepared, which was to be presented in a very formal manner to the Reliance men. However the cake was sent by express to the local wheelmen and arrived at the clubrooms yesterday. It will be cut tomorrow night at a meeting of the bikers.

William Miller tells the remarkable story that he coasted from the summit on the Fish Ranch road to Nineteenth street and Telegraph avenue. The boys look upon the story with a degree of suspicion.

George H. Mason has purchased a new wheel and has again joined the ranks of the bikers,

Myron Whidden of the Acme Club has sold his old safety and has purchased a fine new wheel for the summer season. Myron takes a great interest in wheeling.

Major Fred Whitney now mounts his wheel like an old-timer.

Captain E. B. Jerome is booming the Reliance Bicycle Club in fine shape. The club is gaining new members every week.

ACME ATHLETES

A Pleasant Run Made to Redwood Canyon

The combined "tramp" and club run to Redwood Canyon last Sunday was a great success. About forty were there and all enjoyed themselves immensely. The only incident of an exciting nature connected with the event was the overturning of the wagon containing the lunch, and that did no damage to speak of save that it caused a general crash among the crockery and a slight break in the shaft of the wagon. This difficulty was soon overcome when some of the strong men got hold with a will and hauled the wagon to the destination. Walter Smyth had his camera with him, and as that suffered no harm the boys all had their pictures taken after dinner. Will Ruppert, who set out to distance everyone, succeeded in good style. As he was in the lead he did not know of the accident and continued walking until he anchored about two miles ahead of the stopping place. A swift wheelman rode and brought him pack for lunch, though. Several athletic events were held, the winners getting prizes in each case. Throwing the hammer, putting the shot, racing, jumping and a slow bicycle race of fifty yards, the last one in being the winner, were the games indulged in. The next outing will be to Mt. Tamalpais the latter part of this month.

The initiation fee has been reduced for the summer months so as to get new members in to take the place of several who get a leave of absence during their vacation. This has been done so the club's income aad membership will keep up to the limit and allow of an income to coyer the numerous expenses. No assessment will ever have to be levied as long as a business-like board of directors have charge of the affairs of the club.

A large crowd of the admirers of Charlie Andrews will go to San Francisco next Tuesday night to see the wrestling match at the Alcazar Theater.

De Witt Van Court made a century run last Sunday in eleven hours and ten minutes.

Professor Leando has a large class on the horizontal bars every Thursday evening. The boxing and wrestling teachers have all the pupils they can attend to.