Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/51

 American Racing Cyclists Union came the organization of the N. C. A.—National Cycling Association―which body is still in control of bicycle racing in this country. With the N. C. A. in control of the bicycle racing events in the country that year, 1898, the L. A. W. practically passed out of the picture. However, there was a fly in my championship ointment through no fault of my own. While I was winning the N. C. A. title the L. A. W. circuit continued its championship races and Tom Butler was declared champion of that season under the auspices of that organization.

Prior to my signing up to race under the N. C. A. auspices I entered into a gentleman's agreement with all of the riders in that group, whereby we promised to do no racing on Sunday. However, I was doomed to keen disappointment when I was informed that that agreement was to be considered a scrap of paper and the very first race that I was to ride in under the N. C. A. colors was scheduled for Sunday in St. Louis. At the time, Eddie (Cannon) Bald was leading me by a very narrow margin for the championship honors; therefore, the race at St. Louis was all important to me. Had I won in the Mound City, Bald and I would have an equal rating in the standing. It was my intention to then bend every effort to beat Bald in the final championship race of the year (1898) at Cape Girardeau, Mo., but a rainstorm in St. Louis on the Saturday on which the race was to have been held, caused a postponement. I insisted that the race be held any day but Sunday but my fellow riders, forgetting our agreement, favored its being held on the Sabbath, as did the promoters and it was held on Sunday. I had won my heat on Saturday, thereby assuring myself of a place in the starting line when the final event was called, but I steadfastly refused to ride on Sunday as it was against my religious scruples.

Within a few days all of the riders moved along to Cape Girardeau which was to stage the final championship races of the year. Naturally, they were all bent on doing their very best on this occasion, as between Bald and I lay the distinction of being the champion of the country for the season under the N. C. A. auspices. However, I was doomed to another keen disappointment.

While we were still in St. Louis one of the promoters of the Cape Girardeau race meet came to me to secure my entry for that event. He knew that the color line had been drawn on me so tightly in St. Louis that I was unable to get hotel accommodations, which placed me at a great disadvantage, as any athlete in strict training may well appreciate. It forced me to secure lodgings with a colored family and even though I was on a very strict diet I did not feel free to ask my hostess to rearrange menus in my favor. Instead I made a long trip three times a day for my meals which I secured for several days in a