People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1896 — WITH OUR CYCLERS. [ARTICLE]

WITH OUR CYCLERS.

A number of our lady and gentlemen cyclists took a trip to LaFayette last Sunday and, hairing a few someraults coasting the hills they stayed with their wheels very well. One of thZ gentlemen endeavored- to knock a street car off the track in the city, but after picking himself and broken* wheel wit of the gutter, concluded that descretion was the better part of valor and left. He will give street cars a wide berth hereafter. ***** A pleasant crowd of our Rensselaer cyclers intended to t.ike a trip to Remington last Thursday and partake of a fine supper at the hotel and return by moonlight. They did,not do it. The weather man ordered a down prtur, and the roads became impassible. Determined not to be disappointed in this manner they celebrated the evpnt anyhow. At the invitation of Mrs. T. J. McCoy, the entire party in bicycle costume partook of a six o’clock dinner and spent.the evening at card playing and dancing at the Mayor’s palatial residence. The party consisted of Mr.&Mrs. T. J. McCoy. Mr. & Mrs. F. B. .Meyer, Mr. & Mrs. D. G. Warner, the Misses Ort'hena Little, of Chicago, Tilly Zonte, of New Orleans, Martha Robinson, aud Messrs. Arthur, Albert and Alfred Hcpkins.

*** * * Our local bicyclists should not be ignorant of the fact that an organization of wheelmen would be of benefit to all. We have a great number of riders in qur city, probably more than in any other city of the size in the state and there is no reason why we should not have a locally organized club of lady and gentlemen cyclists. Our riders of both have the reputation in all of our neighboring towns of being hardy cyclists and covering the county in “advance of any of them. We have good roads for short runs about Rensselaer, and weekly club runs would promote a more cordial feeling among all the local cyclers and make it a pleasant feature to look forward toi The League of American Wheelmen is an* ori ganization which we all ought to join. This is a National league which extends to a member assistance and friendship, no matter in what/city or state he may be. The advantages are numerous. It presents the L. A. W. npembers with road book's of your state, showing .all roads, whether gravel or dirt, all hills on every road in the state, .ridable or not, and all dangerous declivities. It furnishes you with a list of all repair shops at which an L. A. W. member can get repairs a liberal discount. Lists are given of all hotels at which a member can get discount rates for board and lodging while passing through the towns. League hotels are League headquarters in the way of ascertaining any information whatever of need to the traveling cyclist, and they will always be found to be accomodating. The L. A..W. member can get his wheel insured in the Association at one half the regular price, and many other

advantages too numerous to mention. The L. A. W. is a pro motor of good roads and does all in its power to improve their condition. It looks after the interests of its wheelmen when their rights are assailed, either on the roads or railways. This organization has been the means of getting bicycles checked on our railroads, which concession they obtained after a long and bitter fight. Either ladies or gentlemen are elegible to become members. The dues are two dollars the first year and one dollar annually thereafter, including the L. A. W. bulletin. We have but three members in our citv at present, which are A. R Hopkins, Alfred Hopkins and J. A Overton. *** M * Alfred Hopkins, one of our amateur cyclists of this city, recently made a record for himself on his wheel, which is not very slow time either, over the roads in this territory. Monday Sept. 14, he ran from Remington tolndianapolis. starting at 6:30 a. m. and arriving at the Capitol city at 6 p. m., doing the time on the road in 11| hours. He was stopped by rain for an' hour on the journey. On Wednesday he wheeled back to Rensselaer and though the roads were heavy to Lebanon and almost impassible from Wolcott to Remington, 6 miles, he still lowered the record by making the entire trip in 10 hours to Rensselaer, a distance of 130 miles as registered* by the cyclometer, starting at 6;30 a. m. and arriving here at 4:30 p. m., including stops for meals on the route, of probably an hour and a half. Mr. Hopkins is an enthusiastic cydist, being a member of the League of American Wneelmen and also of the Century Road Club. In July, 1895, he made atrip on his wheel of about sixteen hundred miles, taking as his route the old National Pike passing through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and thence to Washington D. C. #Fron there he went to Toronto, Canada, and wheeled through the province of Quebec, returning to his home in 39 days from tlid time of starting. Last month he attended the National Meet at Louisville, Ky. on his machine. He is riding a Czar, a narrow tread wheel this year and is quite positive that it is the only wheel.