“Bicycling, though so lately introduced to Albany, is fast becoming a popular sport among young business men. The Albany Bicycle club was organized Aug. 24, 1880, with thirteen members, and was soon added to the “League of American Wheelmen,” an organization numbering a thousand or more, its object to protect the interest of bicyclers from Maine to California. It is patterned after similar bodies in England. A particularly happy feature is the appointment of consuls in every town and city where bicycles are used, upon whom members of the league can call at any time for information relating to routes and every point of importance to touring bicyclers. The growing popularity of the sport cannot be better shown than by stating that in 1876 there were only one or two machines in the United States, while now they can be counted by the thousands; and one manufacturing company alone have the capacity to complete 1,000 machines per month.
“The officers of the Albany Bicycle club are: R.S. Oliver, pres.; Clarence Rathbone, vice-pres.; C.W. Fourdrinier, sec. and treas. Uniform, navy blue polo caps; reefer jacket, knee breeches and stockings; club colors, red and white; consul for league, F.B. Hubbard, 40 State st. Any communications addressed to the secretary at 407 Broadway, or to consul, 40 State st., will have prompt and cheerful attention.
“Routes.–The roads on the east side of the river are far better than those on this. Taking the line of the Boston and New York post roads excellent running will be found. On the Albany side, taking the Troy road up to Troy and then crossing the river to Waterford, Mechanicville, Stillwater, Bemis Heights, and Saratoga, a run of 33 miles over excellent roads, can be had. A fair road through New Scotland, via Hurst’s, to foot of Indian ladder (16 miles) will be found by those who wish to reach the Helderbergs. Riding in the Park is limited to a few paths, but the use of the bicycle elsewhere in the city is unrestricted.”
— Albany Hand-Book, 1881
Just as a side note, the Captain of the Albany Bicycle Club in 1884 was A.H. Scattergood, one of the best names in the history of cycling. That year the magazine “The Wheelman” noted that “Bicycling at Albany is up-hill work (no play on the words is intended, although Albany is very hilly.) The character of the pavement of the streets renders them unridable and riders are compelled to walk two or three miles from town before they can reach good roads. True they have the Park until 9 o’clock in the morning! the Albany park commissioners are more liberal than their famous New York contemporaries. As one goes toward Troy, however, the roads improve, and when West Troy is reached they are all that could be asked for. In the matter of roads the Trojans certainly have the advantage of the Albanians.”