BICYCLING. - Run of the Bay City Wheelmen and Other Speedy Clubs. - 22 Feb 1886, Mon The San Francisco Examiner

Alex J. Rosborough remembered this ride to Redwood City, and the subsequent race sixty-seven years after the fact in an edition of the Knave. That race would be won by a then unknown young rider, Frank D. Elwell. What's really significant about this article is the formation of the California Division, League of American Wheelmen. I've just started creating pages on this blog for recurring people, and organizations. I apologize if the information is sparse. I'll add to them over time. - MF

BICYCLING. Run of the Bay City Wheelmen and Other Speedy Clubs. Oakland Bicycle Club 22 Feb 1886, Mon The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

BICYCLING. 

Run of the Bay City Wheelmen and Other Speedy Clubs. 

Shortly after 7 o'clock yesterday morning thirty members of the Bay City Wheelmen assembled at the corner of Mission and Twenty-first streets, and, under the leadership of Captain Fred R. Cook, started on the run to San Jose. The day was beautiful and the roads in excellent condition. No fast time was attempted, in order to allow even the slowest of the members to keep up. After a pleasant run Redwood City was reached about twelve o clock. Here an elegant repast was spread, to which everybody did full justice. After a short rest the wheels were again mounted and the journey to San Jose resumed. At the Garden City the dusty but hilarious wheelmen were met by the Oakland Bicycle Club and the Highland Park Club, which had made the run down on the other side of the bay. The night was passed at San Jose.

Early this morning the combined clubs will leave for Gilroy. Upon arriving there five picked men from each of the organizations will take part in a race from Gilroy to Menlo Park, a distance of fifty miles. The prize is a silver bugle, which will become a trophy for the club winning it. The Bay Citys are expected in this city at 5 o'clock.

The riding season was opened very pleasantly last Sunday. The B. C. W. rode to Haywards and the S. F. B. C. to San Leandro.

Haslett of Alameda rode to San Jose last Sunday. He reports the roads below Haywards as being very rocky.

G. A. Dusenbury of the Highland Park Club will not participate in the road race to-day, as he is suffering severely from the effects of a recent "header."

In response to a circular mailed to every member in the State, notice of which was also given in this column last week, a number of prominent cyclists, members of the League of American Wheelmen, met at 108 Golden Gate avenue on Thursday evening, 18th instant, for the purpose of forming the California State Division of the league. The organization was perfected by the election of P. E. Haslett as Secretary and Treasurer to serve until his successor shall be elected, as the by-laws of the division may provide when adopted. R. M. Welch was selected for appointment as Chief Consul to serve until the result of the election to be held in March next shall be announced from the national headquarters of the league, which under the rules will be about the 1st of May. A committee was appointed to frame by-laws for the governing of the division.