View source for CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - San Francisco Call - May 9, 1892

=== CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. ===
==== The Acme Athletic and Wheeling Club of Oakland. ====
===== An Enjoyable Picnic Run From This City to San Mateo - A Party at the Alameda Pavilion. =====
One of the most prosperous organizations of the kind in the State is the [[Acme Athletic Club|Acme Athletic]] and [[Acme Wheelmen|Wheeling Club]] of [[Oakland]]. It was founded nine years ago with a dozen charter members, and to-day has 250 names in good standing on its rolls. In fact, the clubrooms are now so crowded that the directors are looking for larger and more convenient quarters. The present officers of the club are as follows: [[Frank Willis Sharpe|W. Sharp]], president; [[Jeremiah J. Hanifin, Jr.|J. J. Hannifin]], vice-president; [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-the-new-acme-officers-ar/127969017/ J. Grindley], treasurer; [[Alfred Plaisted Swain|A. Swain]], secretary; [[H. Snow|H. H. Snow]]; financial secretary; [[Everett S. Dowdle|E. Dawdle]], leader; directors - [[H. A. Maxwell]], [[J. Kitchen]], [[H. N. Sloper|H. A. Sloper]], [[A. J. Patterson]], [[George Stultz]], [[J. W. Finigan]]. The [[ACME WHEELMEN. - Oakland Tribune, 22 Jul 1891|Bicycle Annex was formed on July 20, 1891]], and has a membership of 40. The officers are: [[George F. Neece]], captain; [[B. C. Lund]], lieutenant; [[H. A. Maxwell]], secretary; [[O. L. Pickard|O. I. Packard]], bugler.

[[File:Captain Neece The San Francisco Call Mon May .jpeg|thumb|center|Captain [[George F. Neece|Neece]].]]

The club has two class nights a week. On Tuesday evenings Mr. [[De Witt C. Van Court]], the popular boxing instructor, has charge of that interesting sport, while his brother, [[E. Van Court]], the lightweight champion, is on the mat. The club holds several State championships and one United States championship. Mr. [[Kitchen]] holds the heavy-weight and Mr. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/24511561/ Gallagher] held the middle up till the time he entered the professional ring. Mr. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-call-acme-clubs-champ/127968114/ Charles Andrews] holds the lightweight wrestling championship, and Mr. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/52471033/ Ed Hartley] the American record for one-half mile swimming, which he lowered by 30 seconds on the Alameda course. Mr. Hartley will challenge the one-mile champion in the near future. Mr. [[Frank J. Waller|Frank Wallace]] holds the 25-mile bicycle road record of the Pacific Coast, made on the [[San Leandro triangle]] in 1 hour, 24 minutes and 57 seconds. He intends to [[CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - A Brief Sketch of the Garden City Cyclers. - Frank Waller Makes a New World's Record. - The Coming Century Run - Straight Spokes. - The San Francisco Call, Jun 13, 1892|start for the 24-hour record on June 10]]. He is also entered in the [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-call-bicycle-records-b/127968470/ five-mile State championship race], and the club expects great things of him during the coming season.

[[B. C. Lund]], the speedy [[ordinary]] rider, and who has started in 43 races, of which he won 27 first and eight second prizes, is entered in the three-mile State championship race. Mr. [[O. L. Pickard|O. I. Pickard]], who holds the 25-mile [[ordinary]] record, is also entered. Among the probable entries are [[H. A. Maxwell|Maxwell]], [[Everett S. Dowdle|Dowdle]], [[Jeremiah J. Hanifin, Jr.|Hannifin]], [[Louis A. Lamory|Lamory]], [[J. M. Calhoun|Calhoun]] and [[George F. Neece|Neece]]. [[Grant Bell]], the holder of the five-mile State championship, has recently joined the [[Acmes]] and will hereafter wear the [[Acme Wheelmen|winged acorn]] on his cap. The [[Olympic Club bicycle annex]] will be the guests of the Acmes on a run to [[Orinda park]] in the near future. It is expected that there will be fully 100 in line. The Acmes will attend the baseball game on May 15 at the [[Oakland grounds]] in a body. The club has a strong [[relay]] team and would like to hear from some of the other clubs, with a view of organizing a race. Mr. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-the-wheelmen/128032055/ Broderick], one of the club's [[scorchers]], is looked on as a coming man. The Acmes will give one of their enjoyable [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-an-exhibition-for-the-la/128032301/ ladies' nights on May 19].

[[File:The San Francisco Call Mon May 9 1892 (1).jpg|thumb|center|700px|THE START FOR THE PICNIC [[run|RUN]].]]

The [[Joint run|joint picnic run]] of the [[Bay City Wheelmen]], [[San Francisco Bicycle Club]], [[Olympic Club Bicycle Annex]], [[Pacific Road Club]], [[Oriental Bicycle Club]] and [[Alameda County Wheelmen]] was the 'cycling event of yesterday, and was a complete success. The start was made at 9:30 A. M. from the new clubhouse of the Bay Citys, on Van Ness avenue, the objective point being [[San Mateo]]. The route was from the avenue to Market, thence out Valencia to the [[San Jose road]]. As the wheelmen, who started in a bunch, gradually drew out in single file, the line was over four blocks long, and the novel procession attracted much attention. The pace was made slow, and [[San Mateo]] was not reached until about 11:30. After riding around the pretty town for a short time, all expressed a desire to see what the provision wagon held. A short distance up the picturesque [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Mateo_Creek_(San_Francisco_Bay_Area) San Mateo Creek] the camp was found, but as lunch was not quite ready, a few of the boys, headed by Captain [[Will I. Pixley|Pixley]] of the [[San Franciscos]], took a ride to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Springs_Dam big dam] and enjoyed & few pleasant moments in viewing the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Springs_Reservoir beautiful lake]. On returning they found the boys all at lunch, but there was enough for all, and to spare. After the repast smoking and bathing were in order, and members of clubs erstwhile at sword's points fraternized as brothers.

[[File:CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - San Francisco Call - May 9, 1892 map 75dpi.png|thumb|center|700px|The [[San Jose road]] was [[Mission road]] and El Camino Real. The article [[CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - San Francisco Call - May 9, 1892]] describes a start from the [[Bay City Wheelmen]] club house at [https://goo.gl/maps/UwGv6MASFrqBMaCg6 443 Golden Gate Avenue], near Van Ness Avenue, proceeding south to Market, then Valencia, then the [[San Jose road]] to [[San Mateo]]. They could have taken the [[San Bruno road]], which we now call Bayshore Blvd, but didn't. Here is an imperfect rendering of the route they took, using [https://qgis.org/en/site/ QGIS] software, and these maps from the David Rumsey collection; [https://www.oldmapsonline.org/maps/6f4796ba-b36e-5a1e-9bdb-10dce6d39c99/ 1891 Guide Map Of City And County Of San Francisco], [https://davidrumsey.oldmapsonline.org/maps/17b06ed2-06b9-5673-9553-e7ae07a9bd5d/ 1896 San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties.] (From the [https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~1574~170042:Cover--California-cyclers--guide%2C-r?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:cyclers;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=11 The Cyclers' Guide and Road Book of California]) and [https://www.oldmapsonline.org/maps/cfc8dd79-80c6-439f-8a18-fd59873a4f93/ 1927 Official Map of San Mateo County California]. A 300 dpi version of this file can be viewed or downloaded [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uKHLyXIwQeXhEbzW5MrfdKJ5GNdeLI9c/view?usp=sharing here].]]

The run home was a continuous [[spurt]], Captains [[Thomas H. Doane|Doane]] and [[Will I. Pixley|Pixley]] leading, and making a pretty hot pace. Doane would have the best of it had not his [[wheel]] met with an accident, which let Pixley lead in in the remarkable time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The next [[picnic]] will take place in the latter part of July to [[Larkspur]], where the [[San Franciscos]] have a summer home. It is hoped that the [[Acme]], [[Alameda]] and [[San Jose]] clubs will send good delegations on that occasion.

The housewarming party of the [[Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club]] was held in the [[Alameda Cycle Park track|pavilion on their spacious grounds]] on Friday night. The park, with its old oak trees and grassy plats was illuminated with Chinese lanterns. About 200 couple ''<nowiki>[</nowiki>sic<nowiki>]</nowiki>'' participated in the grand march. The event of the evening wag an exhibition of [[trick riding]] on a [[safety]] by [[James Ordway]], an amateur of this city, who is already a dangerous rival of [[Dan Canary]]. His difficult and gracefully executed feats were thoroughly appreciated by the audience of experts. The [[Alameda Cycle Park track|fine track]] built by this club will be in perfect order for the [[WHIRLING WHEELS! - The Greatest Racing Meet Ever Held on the Coast. - Alameda Daily Argus - May 31, 1892|big races on May 30]].

The success of this year's [[century run]] is already assured. The [[Bay City wheelmen]] will, as usual, outnumber the others, but the [[San Franciscos]] will make a showing that will surprise some who think they are afraid to ride. It is hard to guess who will be the first to reach [[Hollister]].

[[Foster]] and [[Jesse F. Ives|Ives]], who are looked on as likely winners on [[Decoration day]], will ride [[wheels]] of a novel design that are sure to create a sensation. These are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/182882235@N04/51172257283/ Victors with the new racquet frame], something never before seen on this coast, and unlike any other model under the sun. The weight is about 25 pounds, and, with wheels off, the machine can be used for playing lawn tennis or as a steel-stringed lyre.

On next Sunday [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lenz_(cyclist) Frank G. Lenz], a well-known wheelman of Pittsburg, Pa., will start on a bicycle [[tour]] of the world. He will ride a [[pneumatic]] [[safety]] and follow the westward course of [[Thomas Stevens]].

Captain [[Will I. Pixley|Pixley]] has a sprained wrist, the result of a fall caused by a small boy thrusting a stick through his wheel.

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[[Category:articles]]
{{#set:
 publication date=1892/05/09
 |newspaper=San Francisco Call
}}