Frank Waller sets the 25-mile record, rides from Oakland to top of Mount Hamilton and back - June, 1891
The Wheelmen.
At the twenty-five mile road race of the Alameda Bicycle Club, held on the San Leandro triangle on Decoration day, [May 30th] the records for California, and, in fact, for the United States, to use a common expression, just naturally were "not in it.” It had rained early in the morning, but notwithstanding the bad condition of the roads some 200 wheelmen met, and at about 10:45 o'clock the first start was made. The men got off in good style, running toward Hayward on the straight road, and turning to the right. At the end of the first lap the first starter, Williams, Alameda Bicycle Club, crossed the line first. The second lap saw Foster, Alameda Bicycle Club, traveling in splendid form first. This position he maintained to the finish, crossing the line in 1h., 25m. and 25s. Osen [not sure whether Oscar or George] of the Garden City Wheelmen of San Jose pushed Foster hard here, almost lapping his rear wheel. This was a very pretty finish. Waller of the Oaklands came next, and so on to the end. The scratch men, Stoddard, Bay City Wheelmen, and Ives, Alameda Bicycle Club, made a good tussle, Ives getting the place about thirty feet in front of Stoddard. Waller got the time prize on a cushion-tire safety in 1h., 24m, and 57s., the best previous one being 1h. 26m. and a fraction.
A road race was to have been run in the East on the same day, where they are using pneumatic tires and where they may possibly reduce this time, though they will have to move pretty lively to do it.
The arrangements for timing the race were the only point of the entire affair not entirely successful. Only one man was taking the time, which he did no doubt correctly, but the man who was registering the times called, so it is claimed by Foster's friends, has made a mistake in his work, which will give the time medal to Foster, whom, we understand, has entered a protest to that effect. How it will be decided cannot be said.
Waller, the winner of the time medal, it is also claimed, is a professional racer. This may make it interesting.
The Alameda Club is to be congratulated on having given a most successful meet.
Needham, who won the last twenty-five-mile race of the Bay City Wheelmen, did not enter, though he was there as an on-looker. Osen was the only representative, and a first-class one he was, too, of the Garden City Wheelmen.
The century run to San Jose yesterday brought out some thirty odd wheelmen. The arrangements made by Messrs. Cox, [Joseph G. Cox?] Hodgkins and Col were most excellent, but the fact that most of the city riders have been over the road many a time before and fully realize what that head wind means may perhaps account for the small number of riders. The run left Twenty-first and Mission streets at 5:45 o'clock, breakfast at Redwood City at 8:12 and San Jose at 12:12. The actual riding time down was 5h. 18m.; coming back, 7h., L. G. Hodgkins and T. C. Dodge of the Bay Citys and A. Dietle being the first men in. The following is a list of the men and clubs on the run: The Bay City Wheelmen - L. G. Hodgkins (who managed the run), T. H. Doane, T. C. Dodge, J. G. Hecker, E. E. Stoddard, Charles Dietle, A. E. J. Nye, J. J. Hull, J. F. Brown Jr., A. M. Burns and W. B. Sperry.
San Francisco Bicycle Club - Thomas H. Cobden and Gus Mayer.
Hollister Cycling Club - E. J. Logan.
Unattached - A. Dietle, who was one of the freshest men at the finish, though a very young rider; R. Vandergow, M. Cavanagh, M. E. McGrew, N. P. Hansen, C. Hansen, C. T. Wright, L. G. Wakeman, D. S. Burkett, S. Lubin, C. L. Kilb; A. Desunone [Desimone?] of the Garden City Wheelmen rode to Redwood to meet the run. R. M. Thompson and C. W. Hammer of the Bay City Wheelmen rode through the mountains from Santa Cruz and met the run at San Jose.
Ex-Chief Consul Thompson is about to form a club of ladies and gentlemen in Santa Cruz as an adjunct of the Bay City Wheelmen, of which club both he and Mr. Hammer are active members.
A glance at the names of the prospective members shows that they are among the most prominent ladies of that pretty, town, Miss Amy Goodwin, Miss Terrill, Miss Miller, Miss Crane, Foster Young, Ryland Drennan, John Severin and Bailey Terrill.
Others who have recently learned to ride there are Miss de Lamster, Miss Scott, Miss Chase, Mrs. Crane and others. Long may the club live and prosper, as it is bound to with such members and the management of Mr. Thompson.
Ex-Chief Consul Mohrig has received his first pneumatic tire safety.
If for no other reason in the world the pneumatic tire ought to be a blessing to the wheelmen of San Francisco, because with it one can ride down the iron slot bar of the cable roads without bob-bobbing around as the wheelmen are now compelled to.
The record smashing of Saturday may be something of a criterion by which to judge the races at Stockton. With an almost perfect track, men in the pink of condition and any number of cushion and pneumatic tire wheels records will be - whist - "out of sight."
The cycling fever has got into musical circles, one of the latest converts to the wheel being Mr. Brown, one of Ovide Musin's celebrated orchestra. James Gallagher, a pianist, will probably learn during the coming week.
WHEEL WHIRLS.
Another Bicycle Club Has Been Organized in This City.
Interest among the 'cyclists is steadily increasing in the coming events at Stockton on the 4th of July, at which time the California division of the League will bold its annual meeting and races
The Oakland Bicycle Club will be at Stockton in full force. The fact that the local club will be represented in the races by Frank Waller, the winner of the medal for fastest safety time at the recent San Leandro road race, at which time Waller broke the Pacific coast record for the distance, is sufficient to attract a good representation of Oakland wheelmen.
Cycling is steadily upon the increase in this city. The advent of the safety type of bicycle is the direct means of bringing a great many men to a due appreciation of the wheel as a practical, economical steed. The large cushion tires upon the victor-make of machine seem to be the favorite, and are to be seen upon every side.
A new cycling club has just been organized in Oakland, the Alameda County Wheelmen, and already has some thirty members enrolled. The leading spirits in this club are hustlers, and a large membership is sure to be the result at an early date.
About the hardest ride in this section of country is that from this city to the top of Mount Hamilton, twenty-eight miles beyond San Jose. Frank Waller accomplished this ride upon one of the large cushion-tired victor safeties last Sunday morning, a distance of 144 miles for the round trip, in the remarkable time of thirteen hours and ten minutes. Waller rode his wheel the entire distance, both up and down the mountain, and came into Oakland but little the worse for the run. Several Oakland men went by train to San Jose with the intention of racing him back to this city, but were unable to keep in the lead of this redoubtable rider even upon the return trip.
THE WHEEL
Bicyclists on the Anxious Seat for the Stocktonian Races.
Considerable interest is manifested by the cyclists in the coming events at Stockton on July 4th, at which time the California Division of the League of Wheelmen will hold its annual meeting.
The Bay City Wheelmen will be strongly represented, and as there are a number of "scorchers" in the ranks the representatives of other clubs will need be in the pink of condition to keep company with the "boys," as the pace will undoubtedly be as hot as the weather which Stockton proudly boasts of at this season of the year.
The Oakland Bicycle Club will be on the track in full force. The fact that it will be represented by speedy Frank Waller, the winner of the medal for the fastest safety time at the recent San Leandro road race, at which time he broke the Pacific Coast record for the distance, is alone sufficient to attract a strong representation of Oakland wheelmen.
A new cycling club has been organized in Oakland, known as the Alameda County Wheelmen. It has already fifty members enrolled, among whom are some of the fastest riders on the Coast. Frank Waller, it is said, rode from Oakland recently to the top of Mount Hamilton, which is twenty-eight miles beyond San Jose. He used a large cushion-tired safety, and made the round trip - a distance of 14 miles - in the remarkable time of 13 hours and 10 minutes.
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