ON THE BIKE

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

ON THE BIKE

A PERILOUS BUSINESS IF PEOPLE

ARE-RASH

CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS

The wheel is no respecter of persons. Just Avhen its rider has fondly persuaded himself that he is the master of its oft-times erratic and AvayAvard movements, it Avill turn upon and rend him in most ungrateful fashion —ungrateful, seeing that those who are most ardent and enthusiastic in their care of the iron steed are usually among the victims to its varying tempers.

There have been four fatalities in Victoria Avithin the last couple of years, and a fairly large number of smashes, Avhich have, in nearly all cases, temporarily disabled the A'ictims. Tavo of the fatalities referred to occurred in connection Avith road racing, which cannot be too strongly condemned as being a source of great peril to the competitors, and to uninterested parties aa'lio may happen to be on the roads selected as the route of the race. Road-racing is an undue and totally improper interference Avith the rights of the citizens to enjoy the use of their OAvn thoroughfares in comparative peace and security. Moreover, as we have learned by the fate Avhich overtook Hal. Shep-' herd and Robertson, both of Avhom died as the result of horrible injuries recei.-e<l in road-races last year, it is putting too severe a strain upon machines to subject them to a thirty or forty miles' continual sprint over all have already written of that. It Avas sorts of roads —good, bad, and indifferent. The mechanism of the safety bicycle, its strength, and elasticity, constitute one of the Avonders of the age. but it is absurd to suppose that a twelve-stone man can time and again entrust himself to a machine Aveighing tAventy-four pounds, and drive it at. the rate of nineteen or tAventy miles an hour, AAdthout great risk of breakage, and consequent disaster.

The third of the four fatalities took place in Wellington Parade, and I the rider's fault, for not proceeding at loAver speed and keeping a careful look out. The fourth accident Avith a fatal termination took place at Clifton Hill a feAv months ago, and this again Avas due largely to the rider's lack of caution. AdA-erting to side-slip, it is a frequent cause of falls, AA'hich sometimes take place at the time that the rider is in dangerous proximity to a vehicle. All agree that even pedalling , a good grip of the handle bars, and Avide s.veeps in turning, are ad\-isable at all times Avhen passing over Avet and slippery surfaces, such as tram blocks, after or during rain.

There is a divergence of opinion as to the condition in respect to pumping that pneumatic tyres should be kept in. Some experienced men assert that the back cannot be too tightly bloAvn up, because then a clean, hard surface is presented similar to the old cushion tyres yvhen side-slip Avas almost unknoAA'n. Other authorities, as the result of experiment, assert that the tyres should be a Avee bit on the soft side, so that a 'suck' of the ground is obtained, and the. slimy, smooth hardness of the tightly-bloA\m cover avoided. Personally. I incline to the vieAv that the t.A rres should be Avell blown tip, and if the adA-ice as to even pedalling and careful steering be folloAved, there need be no fear on the part of an ordinarily cautious cyclist that be or she may be brought heavily to the ground. In conclusion, I AA'ould urge that AA'heelmen and Avomen, boys and girls, should endeavour to bear alAvays in mind the necessity for care and AA'atchfulness; to take pattern by those. avlio have been riding for many years and neA-er relax their vigilance; to remember that the roads are made for all, and not alone for cyclists, and, above all, to discountenance and discourage and refuse to be led into the ungraceful, disgraceful, and wholly unwarrantable practice of 'scorching' in the streets and roads of the metropolis. — TCvtl-losman. Melbourne 'Heraid.'