BICYCLING HISTORY IN BRIDGEPORT, CT

In the 1880's, while cycling in France and other countries in Europe had developed as a major sport, pastime, and mode of touring the countryside, America appeared with a representation of local and regional cycling or wheelmen clubs.

There were a number of bicycle manufacturers in the State of Connecticut by the end of the 1880's and 1890's.  Also, there was intense competition between bicycle manufacturers in the United States.  These bicycle manufacturers sponsored road racing and track cycling clubs.   Reference my blog post from September 26, 2012 regarding cycling history in Connecticut:  

http://bridgeportcthistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/bicycle-manufacturing-industry-in.html

Ultimately, by 1900 many of the Connecticut cycling clubs, including in Bridgeport, disappeared.  Perhaps this was related to the intense competition between bicycle manufacturers which caused many of them to close or consolidate with other companies and funding, prize money, and/or sponsorships became economically depleted.

Some of the bicycling clubs were:

The Pequonnock Wheelmen (1884 reference from Outing Magazine):

"The

Pequonnock Wheelmen, of Bridgeport,

Connecticut, have chosen for officers for the

ensuing year: G. H. Johnson, president; E. S.

Sumner, secretary, and J. H. Smith, treasurer"

The Rambling Wheel Club (1890 reference from The Sporting Life):

"CONNECTICUT WHEELMEN.

Tournament of the Rambling Wheel Club

at Bridgeport.

The races of the Rambling Wheel Club, of

Bridgeport, Ct., took place at Seaside Park

May 30. The banks of the race course were

lined with a large crowd. The races resulted:

One hundred yards dash (on foot) Won by Charles

Fox,lul<%9.

Fred Schubert won the one mile ordinary race In

3m. 285i«.

Tho half-mile race between Charles Fox and Fred

ScMibert w^a Tory interesting and was taken by Fox

iu 1m. 37s.

The half-mile safety race was won by Fox In

1m. 37-).

The most interesting race was the three mile ordinary,

in which there were Qiree contestants. Fox

was again victorious, winning in llm. 3SS. Fox won

the same race Imt year In 10m. 20^4-.

The two mile safety ruce between George North

and William Seltsam wa-j won by the latter in 7m. 27*.

The last and bes: race '-f tbe serit-s was a two mile

tandum safety between Guorce North aud William

Seltsam, and J. Wilkmson snd W. A. O'Nril. It was

very close, aud all during the rac« there was only a

fow fe-t between them. On the home stretcu tlie two

I.jrmer spurted in fine atjle, winning the race in

3ui. 25s.

The track officers were: Referee, T. H.

Smith; starter, C. A. Reed; clerk of course, II.

H. Brautigan; judges, F. A. Bartholomew, H.

E. Walters, H. S. Towe; timers, Fred Nichols,

L. Ricli,"

(There use to be a track a Seaside Park)

The Bridgeport Wheelmen (1892 Reference from The Sporting Life):

"IS I! I BO E POUT WOX THE PRIZE.

The Bridgeport Wheel Club.of Bridgeport

Ct., dressed in their natty uniforms of white

flannel with white flannel caps to match.

presented the best appearance and were awarded

first prize.

Tin-Colt Bicycling.Clnb, of Hartford, took the

first prize for the greatest number of men ii

line, and the Lincoln Cycling Club.of Chi

cago. took second prize.

On Tuesday night the excursion down the

Potomac to Marshall Hull,on the steamers.

River Queen and Mncalester, nttractec

about 1000 people in spite of the heavy rain

storm which took place early in the evening"

In the United States during these early years, the League of American Wheelmen was the governing organization for races and clubs.  A Mr. Thomas Sheridan who was born and grew-up in Bridgeport, CT became a Vice-President of the League of American Wheelmen in 1892.  He had moved to Illinois by that time period: 

http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1892/VOL_18_NO_21/SL1821006.pdf






http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/Outing/Volume_09/outIX04/outIX04m.pdf