CYCLING NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXV, Issue 1309, 23 June 1899, Page 3

CYCLING NOTES.

given to the rider by means of rods travelling along the frame and connecting with a small lever near the handle bar. At will, the rider whilst travelling may, without causing the slightest shock, alter his gear from or to any- > thing between 46 and 113. The pedals may be thrown out of action any time, so that the rider miay, ' coast ' to his heart's content. The, contrivance is the Invention of a Melbourne man, who is giving the device a thorough testing on the Victorian roads.

The Executive of the N.S.W. Cyclists' Union has decided to hold a test race to enable them to choose a representative of N.S.W. in the worlds championships,, to be decided in August next.

" Ossy " Prowse arrived in Melbourne from England a few weeks back by the R M.S. " Oroya " after a twelve months' sojourn in London, where he has been engaged as steerer of one of the pacing machines at the Crystal Palace track. It will be remembered that Prouse was one of the members of the original Dunlop pacing teams, and subsequently paced Platt-Betts in all of his successful attempts on the records. His coolheadedness and fine qualities as a quint, steerer made him a gr^at favorite with Betts, who thought so much of the Sydney boy that he took him back to England with him. On arrival Home, Prowse was .allotted the position of steerer on one of the Crystal Palace quints., and soon became very popular with the sporting public and the English cycle press, who were all taken with the Australian's gentlemanly demeanour, and his fine steering capabilities, Prowse was unfortunate enough to be mixed up in Bett's bad smash last year, when the qumt. handle broke, with the result that the machine crashed into the fence. Prowse, who was steerer on the illfated machine received severe injuries which necessitated his laying up for a few weeks. He looks well after his trip, and will remain for a few weeks or so in Melbourne, before proceeding home to Sydney.

Following are the conditions of a contest which the English sports promoters term an Australian Tandem Pursuit Race : — * Four tandems start at equal distances from each other, and race till three tandems have been caught ; if this is not done after twenty minutes riding, a bell will be rung, after which one lap must be ridden and the judges will then decide on the positions at the end of this lap.'

The following is the latest cycling 1 joke ' : — Proud cyclist : ' Yes, it took me about six weeks' hard work to learn to ride this bicycle.' Cynical Pedestrian : « And what did you get for your pains ?' Proud cyclist : • Arnica.'

The Dunlop Tyre Company have received word that their " Jallu " motor pacing tandems will arrive in Melbourne very shortly. It's a pity that these machines could not have arrived in time to have been used in the Martin-Walker match, when the tandems would have had a splendid opportunity of proving what they are capable of doing. The advent of these machines should mark a new era in Australian paced records, as these tandems will be able to give Australian cracks plenty of pace, a thing they never have had before, so that all record from two to a hundred miles should receive a " great shake " next season.

Perth cyclists are fortunate enough in having a governor in their midst who takes a great interests in the welfare of the spot. Sir Gerard Smith, the W.A. Governor, made a suggestion some time back that Perth cyclists should run a relay ride from Albany to Perth. The suggestion has been taken up by the Westralian League, who have asked Mr A Mather, the Perth manager of the Dunlop Tyre Company, to select the riders for each section, also to classify the sections according to the character ol the country passed through. Needless to say, great interest is being taken in the relay ride, which promises to be as successful as that held in Victoria on September 23rd 1896, when the 6Q4 miles between Sydney and Melbourne were covered in the good time of 43hours 35minutes, despite heavy roads and adverse winds. The distance between Albany and Perth is about 385 miles.

A few weeks back delegates from the various clubs attached to the League of Victorian Wheelmen met to consider the question of the resumption of interclub championship road races. The secretary stated that a letter had been received from the chief commissioner of police to the effect that it was desirable that road-racing should be discontinued. This letter had been disoflrsed by the executive committee of the League, and forwarded on to the meeting, with the recommendation that the view of the chief commissioner of police should be adopted. After some discussion it was decided, in view of this letter, to discontinue inter-club road contests. This decision will have the effect of stopping the Dunlop Company's 100 miles relay road contest ; but the big tyre company are thinking of changing the contest from a relay road race to a track relay of 100 miles Further information on this subject will be given next week, when it is more likely that full particulars of the new Dunlop relay — open to Australasian cyclists — will be available.

Two Perth cyclists, F. A. White, and Donald M'Lay, left Perth a fortnight ago with the intention of riding round Australia, via Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Port Darwin, etc. Almost at the same time, A.E.Richardson, the pioneer cyclist who rode from the West to Adelaide, started upon the same mission ; but will proceed northwards and work his way round to Brisbane, on his Dunloptyred cycle, and thence south. The movement of these record-breakers will be watched with interest, as it is practically a race round the Continent, and the first attempt of its kind. We will endeavour to keep our readers posted with their respective movements.

The pleasure of cycling is likely to be greatly increased if what is claimed for a recently invented variable driving gear and brake is fulfilled. The attachment, which is easily adjustable to all makes of machines, is in the form of a toothed drum, and is affixed to the hub of the back wheel, upon which it acts directly. Control is