CYCLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 49, 27 February 1901, Page 2

CYCLING.

Great interest is being taken in the cycling carnival to be hold next week. It is likely that 1900 will go down in history as the first year in a decade during which the World’s One Mile Record was not broken, for Major Taylor, the colored Yankee crack’s one twenty-two and twofifths seconds made at Chicago in August, 1899, is still the best on the list. T. D. Scott, a member of the defunct 1 Melbourne cycle firm, Scott and Morton, is a candidate for the position of Secretary to the League of N.S.W. Wheelman. When Scott resided in Melbourne, lie was a most enthusiastic road rider, and was the originator of tho Narrnambool to Melbourne road race, which created such interest in wheeling circles a few years back. Should T. D. S. succeed to the Sydney League secretaryship, one thing is certain, the sport will get a lift for Scott is a born organiser. Major R. E. Crompton, and . his corps of cyclists who have been serving tho British Government in tho South African war have now returned to England, and have all their cycle [chains practically as good as when they left England for the war. The chaids were often under water, and then ridden through sandy drifts and were practically in use day and night. The chains were treated about twice dur- ’ -ing the period in the following manner: — The chains were completely removed from the machines, washed out in benzine, and then practically boiled in the stiffest lubricant which could be found—suck asbeeswax or mutton suet. The chain was worked about in this so as to introduce' the lubricant into every crack and working part. The men were forbidden to oil tho chains under any circumstances. The effect was that although smothered _in sand and dirt the chains were quite-clean, and no dirt could introduce itself into the working parts. The dirt remained outside fche,rollers and crushed itself between the rollers and [the teeth, but this did not prove in any way detrimental to either sprocket or chain. >.V - • Tho invention of the Dunlop tyre only partly succeeded in killing vibration in cycles, and there is room for improvement in the “shock absorbing” direction,