CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 240, 7 October 1916, Page 16

CYCLING.

One of the most strenuous middledistance reliability motor cycle tests yet }ield in -Australia was carried through under the auspices of the Victorian Motor Cycle Club. The courii'j vas over a distance of 122 miles, from Melbourne to Maryeville and back; a stiff test at any time owing to the mountainous nature of the country to be negotiated. Bain had fallen for some forty hours previous to 9 a.m., the tint* of starting, and continued to fall all through the day. The motorists knew that the travelling conditions would be strenuous, and only 25 of the 45 entrants faced the starter, the largest number of the machines used, being eide-car combinations; in fact, there were but four single machines participating, and that it proved a struggle against the elements is shown by only four competitors completing the course, and, further, by only one of the quartet succeeding in compassing the journey within the times schedule. This was Mr. J. H. Rhodes, who, with hU wife in the side-ear of a 7 h.p. Indian combination, covered' the 122 miles of heavy-flooded roads in 5h 46m, exclusive of an hour for lunch •>* Maryeville. In the circumstances it stands out ac a most meritorious performance. There were two classes of competitors—side-car and solo machines —each of which was again divided according to engine power—high and low— but none whatever in the latter category finished. Those who completed the course are as folio -, : — (1) Mr. and Mrs. J. IT. Rhodes (7 h.p. Indian and sidebar). Time, 5h 46m; (2) Mr. H. A. Parsons and Miss H. Garland (7 h,p. Barky-David-son and side-car). Time, 6h 30m; (3) Meaex*. H. PaonarTi and E. J. Jackson (7 h.p. Eiceleior and eide-car). Time, 7h 3m; (4) Mr. X. Galsworthy (7 *.p. Indian.). Time, Oh s!)m. Reports of the appalling condition of the roads came to hand from contestants who were forced to return. In Watson's Creek Valley (Christmas Hills), a culvert was washed away, necessitating a detour, but several plunged into the water unaware*. Jt was after passing Yarra Glen that trouble and danger confronted the riders. Along tlbc flate north of tihe line the water was steadily rising; come who passed over in the morning could not force a passage back after lunch; the water in places was 2ft deep, while the road was submergr;l for distances up to half a mile in lenptli. here and there a neck of land or mi isthmus, sometimes ieiet, Showing the course of the highway; but many of the competitors who ran off the road proper had to jump into water knee-deep, and aid the engine to pull through the mud. Other reporte show that the motorists' experiences were varied; one, in curving too sharply on the Blacks' Spur, turned a somersault; another, by some means, lost fain side-ear, which broke away, and was last seen rocking like a cockboat in ths mountain torrent. A third lost the driving pulley while effecting some adjustment; it rolled into a> watercourse, when there were frantic efforts made at recovery by him and his companion. One of the chief causes of delay was through water reaching the magneto, when several of the instruments had to be dismantled and dried. With such heavy going there was much, low gear work, and oiling freely for safety caused fouling of epark'-plugs. But worse was the ingress of 'water into the crank-chamber, one rider (having to stop .and drain the case twice —a most unusual proceeding. Tyre troubles fell to some, and changing tubes or covers was dirty work: It is significant that no machines having belt drive came through, while those who finiehed had change-geare, in addition, to chain, traasmieeion.