The Griffith Park Ride of 1904

 In 1904, the Los Angeles Cycle Board of Trade, in an effort to revive interest in bicycling, organized a leisurely ride from downtown to Griffith Park. The velodrome had closed two years earlier and racing was nearing its lowest ebb, following the boom of the '90s and '00s. Indeed the Cycle Board of Trade had become the only agency with the resources to back racing in the region. The board emphasized that the ride was not a "road-race" affair, but also pointedly expected that "many prominent roadracers" would "be in line."

this photo and the one above, were published in the Los Angeles Times and show groups of riders before the start of the ride

As the Los Angeles Times noted, the ride provided good reasons for those who would sneer and say that the "fad" had its day and was over, to change their opinions. Over four-hundred riders showed up at Ninth and Main Streets, on triplets, tandems, and a plethora of ordinaries, enough to clog the "big corner pretty thoroughly," and begin the nine-mile ride to the park. The route the group followed took them three miles north on Spring Street, west on Third and through the tunnel to Lakeshore Drive, Echo Park, Sunset Boulevard, Vermont,

 to Los Feliz and into Griffith Park. Only one significant accident took place, when a wheel on one triplet, captained by Bob Sayers, broke near the Sunset / Vermont junction. Not to be deterred on such a fine day, though, one of the riders took a Hollywood car back into the city, built a new wheel and returned. The three riders were able to make it into Griffith Park by 12:30, just in time for lunch.

The lunch, provided by the Cycle Board of Trade, was almost the cause of a small riot when the wagon master, who was to deliver the feast to the Park got lost. Unaware of what had happened the hungry crew began to grumble; quick thinking by Billy Loos headed off any trouble as he sent scouting parties out to scour the hills in search of the wayward meals. When the wagon driver was found and brought into camp hot coffee was served along with sandwiches, cake, pickles and fruit, pacifying the attendees. The afternoon continued with climbs around the hills, and games until, at about 4:00, when everyone began their return to the city.