COLORED RIDERS ARRANGE A MEET. - Oakland Cycling Clubs' Programme at Shell Mound Park. - WANT TO JOIN THE L. A. W. - The San Francisco Call, 12 Jul 1896

oakland cycling club TODO blog 12 Jul 1896, Sun The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

See previous articles about black cycling clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is an important story. Idella Allen married W. H. Johnson, since the last article, and is still looking for a chance to race all women, White and Black in California, after her last challenge to race a White women's club in her city, Oakland, was denied. Captain Harry Williams continues to petition the local division chairman of the Pacific Coast division of the League of American wheelmen for club membership. They would like to become members in time for the big event they are hosting at Shell Mound Park in four day's time, a repeat of the previous summer's event. More to come! - MF

COLORED RIDERS ARRANGE A MEET.

Oakland Cycling Club's Programme at Shell Mound Park.

WANT TO JOIN THE L. A.W.

None of the Club's Records or Meets Have Yet Been Recognized.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM TALKS.

When Fairly Discussel He thinks the O. C. C. Will Be Admitted to the League.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,

908 Broadway, July 11. 

The Oakland Cycling Club's picnic and race meet which will be held at Shell Mound Park on the 16th inst. will bring out a large crowd and may probably result in some record breaking.

The O. C. C. is the leading colored cycling club on the coast and has a large membership as well as a ladies' annex. This is its second annual picnic and some very valuable prizes are offered. 

The captain of the ladies' annex is Mrs. Johnson, who as Miss Allen lowered the ladies' mile cycling record to 2:46 2-5 in the race held under the auspices of the San Jose Cycling Club at San Jose in December of last year. Since that time Mrs. Johnson has been looking for a race with white lady cyclers for championship honors. She is very ambitious, and speaking of her open challenge, she said: "I now hold the world's ladies' racing record and I intend to retain it. I do not wish to do so unless it belongs to me, and the only way to definitely decide the matter is for these ladies to come to time and show what they can do. We hope to bring the white and colored cyclers together soon, and I take this step to start the ball rolling."

The programme for the meet is as follows:

Grand wheel parade of ladies and gentlemen. Prizes for lady in neatest cycling costume and for largest visiting club.

One-mile race for members of the O. C. C. only.

One-half mile dash for ladies. First prize, 1 gold medal; second prize, silver medal.

One-mile handicap. Half-mile scratch.

Fat men's open race. Weight 225 to 500 pounds. 

Half-mile dash for boys under 18.

Two-mile tandem race, open. Prizes valued at $2.50.

One-mile match race. C. Butler, O. C. C., and N. Dey; $25 a side.

The O. C. C. is very anxious to enter the League of American Wheelmen, but so far has been unsuccessful. In 1895 and early in this year Captain H. F. Williams made known the wishes of the club to the national headquarters of the L. A. W.. but each time he received an indirect answer. He wrote to Chairman Welch of San Francisco on Thursday, but has not yet received a reply.

J. C. Moore, First Lieutenant. HARRY F. WILLIAMS, Captain. WILLIAM S. MORREY, Second Lieutenant
MRS. IDELLA JOHNSON (nee Allen), Captain, Ladies' Annex.
OFFICERS OF THE OAKLAND CYCLING CLUB.

"We are anxious to have our annual meet and our club recognized by the L. A. W." said Captain Williams to-day. “We have some good riders, both gentlemen and ladies, but none of our records are kept, because we are not members of the league. From what I understand, there are very few colored cycling clubs in the country, and the question of admitting all cyclers has not yet been passed upon.

We have a flourishing club; every member is a reputable citizen, and there are some remarkably good riders. Our races are open to all comers, and there does not appear to be any valid reason why we should not join the L. A. W. I do not think that the reason we have not been recognized is due to race prejudice, but there is a desire to avoid the issue. However it will have to be met, and the sooner the better. Of course we shall not take anything but a refusal or an acceptance for an answer. I believe, however, that when the matter is discussed on its merits we will be accorded due recognition. I am waiting for Mr. Welch's reply with great interest."