CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - The Steady Growth of the New California Club. - Articles of Association of the Proposed Federation - The Enterprising Acmes - Sunday Runs - The San Francisco Call, 01 Aug 1892

CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. The Steady Growth of the New California Club. Mon, Aug 1, 1892 – Page 8 · The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE.

The Steady Growth of the New California Club.

Articles of Association of the Proposed Federation - The Enterprising Acmes -  Sunday Runs

It has often been remarked that the Mission with its miles of level streets and hundreds of unattached wheelmen had no organization of cyclists. However, this is of the past, for on the second day of June, after a short canvass, nine wheelmen met in the rooms of the now-defunct Kensington Club and organized the California Cycling Club. The very convenient rooms covering the entire second floor of the building on the southwest corner of Twenty-second and Folsom streets, were secured as a club-house, and, with some additions and improvements, will make as cosy a place as could be desired. The growth of the club bas been all that its most ardent supporters expected. It now has 31 members, and applications are being received at every meeting. Among the prominent members are some of the best known businessmen of the Mission.

The club has held three club runs, going to Haywards, Camp Taylor and San Jose. They have all been pleasant affairs. On Sunday, August 7, the club will spend the day in Alameda, and much sport is anticipated, as several of the speedy ones will be given a trial on the track, which has been placed at the disposal of the club through the kindness of the A. B. and A. C.

Fred N. Bent

The present officers of the California Cycling Club are: H. F. Wynne, president; G. A. Hueter, vice-president; T. C. Connell, secretary; J. Downey, treasurer; F. N. Bent, sergeant-at-arms. Fred N. Bent is the acting captain. Captain Bent is one of the new men in cycling, but he is a very enthusiastic wheelman. He is showing quite a speedy gait, and the general impression among his fellow-members is that he has something in reserve. He is a genial, companionable man, who gives promise of being the right man in the right place. Messrs. Wynne, Connell, Mayo, Griffin and Vidy are the long-distance tourists of the club. The meetings of the club are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month, and the representatives in the Association of Bicycle Clubs are Messrs. Vidy, Kenny and Wynne.

The success of the meeting held on Saturday night at the San Francisco Clubhouse, at which preliminary steps were taken in the formation of an association of California clubs, is most gratifying to all who have the best interests of wheeling at heart. The utmost harmony prevailed, and it is hoped and expected that the few clubs not represented will send delegates to the next meeting, which will be held in the parlors of the Bay City Wheelmen on Saturday evening, August 13. The most important work done at the first meeting was the adoption of the following articles of association, subject, of course, to revision by the various clubs to which they will be officially submitted as soon as permanent organization is effected:

In order to promote the general welfare and usefulness of cycling clubs, and to secure harmony of action, together with the practical benefits to be derived from personal acquaintance and association and from the consideration of subjects of importance to the cycling interests of this state, especially in order to foster and encourage the growth of the League of American Wheelmen within this State, and to cooperate with that organization in creating public sentiment in favor of highway improvement and in influencing legislation favorable thereto; and in order to encourage racing both on the path and road - first, by establishing and contesting championships to be known as Pacific Coast championships, and second, by assuming control of regulating and legislating for road-racing within this state, and by receiving and passing upon all claims for records made on the road, whether in competition or against time, at stated distances or between certain well-known points - a federation of the cycling clubs of California is formed by the adoption of the following articles of association:

Article 1. The name of this association shall be the California Associated Cycling Clubs.

Article 2.  Any cycling club within the State of California may become a member of this association upon the payment of such annual dues as shall be provided by the by-laws, subject to the approval of a majority of the board of governors; and any club may be expelled from this association upon a vote of two-thirds of those present in person and by proxy at any regular meeting of the board of governors.

Each club shall, prior to the 10th day of August in each year, elect three delegates to the board of governors.

Article 3. The administration of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in a board of governors consisting of three delegates from each club, to be elected annually as hereinbefore provided. It shall have the power to make bylaws for the guidance of the association and to generally direct and decide to all matters not provided for in this constitution.

The officers of this association shall be a president, two vice-presidents and a secretary-treasurer, to be elected annually by the board of governors at its first meeting after the 10th day of August.

Article 4. At any meeting of the board of governors a delegate may hold and vote the proxies of one or all of the other delegates from his club, and a delegate may give his proxy to the secretary-treasurer with instructions as to use, and a proxy so given shall be voted only in accordance with such instructions.

Article 5. There shall be the following standing committees of the association, each to consist of three members, and, except as otherwise ordered, to be appointed by the president, subject to the confirmation of the board of governors: Executive and finance, to consist of the president and the two vice-presidents; membership and inter-club relation, rules and regulations, political action, championships, road racing and records.

Article 6. These articles of association can be altered or amended only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the clubs of the association.

The bicycle equipped for army use.

The accompanying illustration reproduced from an elaborate article in the New York Herald on the use of the bicycle in war, shows how the machine is equipped for the use of mounted infantry.

At the annual election of officers of the Acme Athletic Club's Wheelmen the following were elected for the ensuing year: J. J. Hanifin Jr., captain ; L. A. Lamory, first lieutenant; E. S. Dowdle, second lieutenant; O. L. Pickard, bugler; Charles Lutkey, secretary. The initial run of the club under the new management was held last Sunday to the Cliff House. There were 28 members in line, and on returning to Oakland they adjourned to a restaurant, where a fine dinner was served. The line was then re-formed and the run continued to San Leandro. The newly elected captain is one of the old-time members, and is very popular with the boys. He will no doubt prove a very efficient officer, and is ably seconded by his lieutenants.

Owing to the large increase in the membership of the Acme, the officers have closed a contract by which they will secure a new building that will run from Eleventh to Twelfth streets, between Franklin and Broadway, and will be one of the best appointed clubs on the coast. There will be hot and cold baths, and the gymnasium will be 50 feet wide by 100 feet in length. The parlors, billiard, library and other rooms will be fitted up in the most modern style. The club expects to soon increase its membership by half.

Frank Waller, who broke the world's 24-hour record, only to have it beaten, will start in the near future to try and bring the record back to the Acme Club and coast. There was a gentlemen's night last Thursday evening, at which Mr. Waller was presented a fine gold medal set with diamonds. He responded in a brief but eloquent address. Mr. Waller is now visiting Monterey. In all probability he will start for the 100-mile record at the Alameda track on September 3, and will finish just before the proposed races commence.

Mr. Sharp, [Sharpe] the genial president of the Acme Club. has returned from a three weeks' trip to Santa Cruz. He reports a fine time.

Mr. B. C. Lund, the speedy ordinary rider, has signified his intention of mounting a safety, and no doubt he will make the boys hustle if he rides the safety as he does the big wheel.

O. L. Pickard, one of the old-time wheelmen, is developing as quite a wrestler and a good many of his friends look on him as a coming champion in his class.

The Acme Club has decided to build a half-mile track, with a clay surface, such having been recommended by H. C. Raymond, chairman of the national racing board.

H. L. Maxwell of the Acmes is looked or as a sure winner of the novice race in September if he can be prevailed to enter.

The Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club had a largely attended run to Hayward: yesterday. The boys were photographed before the start. At the regular meeting of this powerful organization last Tuesday it was decided to join the League of American Wheelmen in a body, and the necessary assessment, payable before August 15, was levied. This is a move which other outside clubs would do well to follow, for with increased membership the league can be a power in this State, just as it is in Eastern communities,

There will be a "smoker" in the pavilion on the Alameda grounds next Saturday evening to which members of all other clubs are cordially invited. The club has finally fixed the date of its next racing meet on Saturday, September 3, when the Nile green and pink will again be seen at the front.

The Garden City cyclers of San Jose will hold a racing meet on Admission day, September 9. The new track will be in readiness by that time and the occasion will probably be signalized by the first grand parade of the clubs comprising the new association which intends offering prizes for the organizations turning out the strongest and presenting the best appearance. All the clubs up this way will do their best to make the San Jose meet a great success.

The Capital City cyclers will come next with a meet probably early in October, and then the Oak Leaf Wheelmen will close the circuit with races on the Goodwater grove track at Stockton.

Captain C. W. Etting. W. F. Cordes, W. J. Pattosien and R. S. Allen of the Hesperian Cyclists rode to Camp Taylor yesterday. They report the roads dusty, and although the sun was very hot they made the trip in very good time. The club intends making the Santa Cruz trip in two weeks.

Yesterday Messrs. Wynne, Vidy, McConnell and Bell of the California Cycling Club ran to Los Gatos and return, about 120 miles. Not bad for a warm day.

Notwithstanding the assertion of a contemporary that "a Mr. Taylor” lowered Windle's time for a mile at the recent meet in Washington, the figures 2:15 still stand for the world's record. G. T. Taylor, M. A. C., did win a race, but his time was 2:40.

The Salony Athletic Club of Syracuse has finished its kite-shaped bicycle track, the first in the country.

A new survey of the Hartford track, where so many records were broken on July 4, shows it to be correct and a full distance. It measured (18 inches from the pole) 5285 feet. The last quarter is exactly 1320 feet.

On Friday, July 22, the tandem record was beaten at Baltimore by W. H. Penseyres and P. W. Dontage of the Buffalo Athletic Club. The five miles were made in 12:14 4-5, lowering the Zimmerman record of 12:16 by 41 1-5 seconds.

Dropping in for a chat with Steve Rice the other day he was found repairing a pneumatic. The air of the shop seemed rather blue, but this was accounted for when Steve was asked to express his opinion of inflated tires. He said: "---- ---- ---- ----!"

The 10-mile roadrace of the San Francisco Bicycle Club for a solid gold medal is attracting much attention. All the boys are working hard, and each one of about 15 of them is quite confident that this beautiful trophy will adorn bis manly breast after August 14. Among the likely ones are S. G. Scovern, Frank Twitchell, Stanley Clarkes, Bert Bernard, Will Pixley, Thomas H. B. Varney, John Beckett and John Gillis, but some dark horse may take the prize. It will be a hot contest from the start.

The San Francisco Bicycle Club is arranging for a road race from Fruitvale to Haywards, open to all amateurs, for which several gold medals will be given. The details cannot be announced yet, as Captain Pixley is out of town, but it will be a handicap run on some Sunday in September, with prizes for time and position. The officers of the San Francisco Club will manage the affair, but other clubs may have a voice in the choice of a handicapper. All clubs are invited to enter. Any further information can be bad after August 14 from W. I. Pixley, 401 Market Street, or from T. S. Cobden, 813 Market street. Entry blanks can also be obtained after that date.

Captain Pixley writes from "Red (hot) Bluff" that he is having a great time. He has ridden over a big part of the State, inspected Senator Stanford's ranch at Vina, looked upon the wine when it was of various colors, swam in the river, and talked bicycle to every man, woman and child he met.

The chances are that White of Alameda will be a trifle thinner himself when he has taught his 278-pound pupil to ride. One can now understand why the Victor people put six people on a wheel and had the group photographed. It was a neat scheme to inspire heavy-weights with confidence.

Probably the youngest cyclists in the world are the two sweet children of Mr. Devany of the Park cyclery. The little girl, 5 years old, is an accomplished rider, and her baby brother is a regular scorcher. When he grows up Grant Bell, Alcayaga, Vidy and the rest will have to look to their laurels, for the little fellow will be a scratch man soine day.

The San Francisco Bicycle Club had a picnic run to Larkspur yesterday. It was very largely attended and was one of the most enjoyable affairs of the season.