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Feature Article on cycling. Topic:
SPORTS & PEOPLE
Written by Rich Wallace in July, 1996
TWO MEN MADE COUNTY HUB OF CYCLING IN OHIO...Pg 2 |
| By the early 1890's the
cycling craze had swept to every corner of America. Pridemore reported that by 1890,
one-third of all the patents issued in the country involved bicycles. By 1891, the big
wheel was out of style, and the 'wheel' had developed into the basic style we know today.
Pneumatic tires were on the scene by 1895. Cycling cut across social lines. The wheel
was called "the most democratic of vehicles." In Charles Pratt's The
American Bicycle, the author recalls that in the 1897 election for mayor of New York
City, three of four candidates campaigned as "bicycle riders."
In Shelby County, the social
activity centered around the Valley City Cycling Club. At the height of its activities,
the club had several dozen members. When the weather permitted, Sundays would always find
the wheelmen on the road. The Shelby County Democrat reported a typical
outing in July of 1895: Web Sterline, B.D. Heck, G.R. Loudenbeck, Dr. Tenney, J.L.
Dickensheets and several others rode to Anna for breakfast. The riders then continued
through McCartyville to Minster, over through the Loramies to Oran, Dawson, and then back
to Sidney, covering 43 miles overall. Another club run that year took the members from
Sidney to Dayton, then to St. Paris and Springfield, and back through Troy and Piqua to
Sidney.
Nisewonger ruled the roads until a
young man from Lockington arrived on the scene. After graduating from Ohio Northern
University, W.S. Furman began a thirteen year teaching career. During summer vacations, he
took up the sport of cycling. Furman first competed at age 17.
Typical of the successes the two
Shelby Countians achieved were the July 4th races in Cincinnati in 1894. Nisewonger won
the hill climb race over a large field, establishing a world's record in the process. The
Democrat reported that he came back the next day to take second in "the great
Poorman's road race " in the same city. Furman chose a 15 mile race the same day
elsewhere in Hamilton County. He finished first out of 115 riders, despite starting with a
three minute handicap (a common device designed to even out the field.)
Following the lead of Nisewonger and
Furman, other young county men took up the sport competitively. In October of that year,
Charles Penrod of Oran won the Coldwater 16 mile race, with J.T. Reiber of Loramie also
finishing in the money.
The 1895 racing season proved to be
just as exciting for the fans of the sport. In a marketing move seen often today, the
Cleveland Bicycle Company gave a free machine to W. S. Furman, most likely in exchange for
his use and endorsement of its product. He did not disappoint his new sponsor. On June 1,
Furman won a major 25 mile road race there, setting a world record of one hour and nine
minutes. A week later, the Sidney Journal reported that the Valley City Cycling
Club held a banquet for Furman. The "feast of reason and the flow of soul"
lasted until midnight.
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