Last week my brother and I went over to the Bridgeport Public Library to do some research and find some awesome vintage cycling images. What we found was amazing, they had a whole nice collection of old images but wanted $25 for a crappy scanned copy! They even this closed case dedicated to one particular race that went on in 1890. A race from Norwalk, CT to Brideport, CT and back. We tried to snipe some pics of the trophy and some other things but felt guilty doing so. We'll it only took my Bro to google the Rambling Wheelmen to find the same images and trophy online, with the whole story behind it as well.
On the very hot summer day of August 5, 1890, seventeen bicyclists, including bicyclists from the local Rambling Wheelmen and the Bridgeport Wheel Club took off from Horan's Nursery at 647 Fairfield Avenue to the big elm in Norwalk and returned. The weather was fine but very hot.
Competition was high among the local clubs. The bicyclists, all men, took off on their bicycles at 4:07 p.m. that day. By 5:45, spectators lined up again to see the men return on their bicycles. Cheering the incoming bicyclists on, Frank Soule of the Bridgeport Wheelclub was the first to arrive, clocking a time of 2:03:37. The next to arrive, clocking in as 2:04:24 was the Rambling Wheelman's contestant, William Seltsam. The two clubs argued about the final result. However, Frank Soule was awarded a solid gold watch and Henry Seltsam, who came in second, was given a silver cup twenty inches high, presented by the Warwick Cycle Company.
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