19th century bicycling — Glens Falls hosts big league racers

These days, a turn-out of 5,000 people at a sporting event or concert at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls is considered a great thing.

When the 19th century bicycle craze hit Glens Falls, it was the new spectator sport of bicycle racing that drew that size crowd, and proved the sport’s viability.

Fifteen-year-old, up-and-coming local racer Harry Elkes, later a national champion, held his own, competing against “crack” racers from around the northeast.

The bicycle craze was vibrant in 1893 and The Ariel Bicycle Club of Glens Falls lined up- $500 — the equivalent of $16,950 in 2023 dollars — in cash prizes to be awarded in a day of racing at the Warren County Fair in Glens Falls.

Also at stake was a silver cup, valued at $75, to be awarded the winner of a special one-mile “tri-county” race, open exclusively to cyclists from Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties.

In between races would be bicycle-themed entertainment.

“W.S. Maltby, the famous trick bicycle rider, who will be present at the meet, has concluded an engagement in Chicago, where he made a great hit.”

J.W. Linnehan of the Buffalo Press Cycling Club, O.H. Monroe of the Cohoes Wheelmen, and Walter Picaver of the Albany County Wheelman were among the “crack cyclists” coming from outside the area to compete, The Morning Star reported on Sept. 16.

“The management of the bicycle races to be given under the auspices of the Ariel Club at the Warren County Fair are to be congratulated on having received the entry of one of the world’s greatest bicycle riders, Harry C. Tyler of Springfield, Mass,” The Morning Star reported on Sept. 16.

On Sept. 12, Tyler had beat his own international record as he won the one-mile race of the Springfield Bicycle Club.

The Glens Falls race was expected to be well-attended.

Businessmen agreed to close their businesses for a few hours during the races, The Morning Star reported on Sept. 21.

Many of the spectators were interested in Tyler, the crack racer from Springfield.

“Tyler made his first appearance in (the half-mile open), and several of the other cracks also started. Munro (of Cohoes) set the pace to the head of the stretch, when Tyler passed him easily and won the race (with a time of 1 minute nine seconds),” The Morning Star reported. “There was a killing finish for third place, and James Budd, of this village, got the verdict by half a length. His friends were gratified by his good showing in such fast company.”

The one-mile handicap was “the racing event of the day” as all of the outside “fast men” competed.

“The result of the final was a surprise to a great many, for Linehan (of Buffalo), by 50 yards, beat the scratch man, Tyler, who was napping when the signal was given.”

Tyler did not compete in the two-mile handicap race.

“So the race was between Linneman and Picaver (of Albany). The former had everything his own way, winning as he pleased. Blake (of Glens Falls) was third, and (Harry) Elkes (a young rider from Glens Falls) fourth.”

Fifteen-year-old Harry “Lanky” Elkes had just received his first bicycle in March of that year, that he rode up and down Glen Street hill 20 times a day, according to City Historian Wayne Wright.

Elkes went on to become a professional bicycle racer who broke several records, racing in the United States and Europe.

Elkes was killed May 30, 1903, in a bicycle accident during a race in Boston, and he is buried in the Glens Falls Cemetery on Bay Street.

Tyler, Linnehan and Picaver finished in the first three places, in that order, in the three-mile open race.

“In this race Elkes showed that he was possessed of good staying qualities, as well as lots of speed,” The Morning Star reported. “He finished in fourth place, about two lengths behind Tyler.”

Louis W. Austin of Glens Falls won the one-mile novice race, with a time of 2 minutes, 47.5 seconds.

Arthur W. Strong of Glens Falls placed second, and C.E. Wood of Schuylerville third.

Budd, of Glens Falls, won the special tri-county race.

Nichols of Cambridge placed second and Reuben of Lake George third.

Later in the month, Budd raced at the Pottersville Fair and won a diamond ring and a diamond pinback for placing first in two events.

Maltby, the trick rider was “a decided hit,” and would be back at the fair on his own the next day, The Morning Star reported.

“His impersonation of a dude learning to ride being very funny.”

The crowd met, and possibly exceeded, expectations.

“The interest felt by the people of Glens Falls in the bicycle races yesterday was sufficient to draw a crowd of over five thousand people to the grounds. It differed from the usual fair crowd in that it did not pay much attention to the side shows or attractions, but all who could get in went straight to the grandstand and waited patiently for the races to begin,” The Morning Star reported on Sept. 22. “The true reason for this is found in the fact that when a man has an attack of bicycle fever and it reaches that dangerous crisis where he has to buy a wheel to cure it, he has to ride bicycles, think bicycles and talk bicycles.”

The turnout showed the potential for bicycle racing as a spectator sport.

“It was good to have such an audience. It shows that an honest, manly athletic contest always possesses a wide attraction for everybody, and that a strong chord of human nature is touched by the struggle for supremacy between a lot of well-trained riders,” The Morning Star continued. “There is a wonderful fascination in the bent shoulders and flying feet of the racers as they put forth their best efforts in the final struggle during the homestretch.”

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