CYCLING NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 10482, 20 October 1894, Page 2

CYCLING NOTES.

(BY ROVER IN “CANTERBURY TIMES.**] H. Beeson, of the Victory Club, is the champion toad rider of Victoria, he haring won all three races held under the auspices of League of Victorian Wheelmen— 25,50, and 100 miles. W. L. Kerr’s mile record of 2min l&Jsec was made at the North Sydney Reserve on Oct. 2. He covered the first half-mile in Imin B£sqc, which is -Js3c faster than Brown’s record made on Sept. 20, Ladies’ races are growing in popularity in France. The idea of the gear case was suggested to Harrison Carter by the sardine tin. . Twenty-five dollars and costs was what a Chicago man had to pay for laughing and hooting at a lady in “ Rationale.” At Hampden Perk, Springfield, U.S., On Sept. 6, J. P. Bliss rode a mile, flying start, with pace-makers, in Imin 52fseo, l£sec faster than the previous record: ;• American .doctors, commenting upon Zimmerman’s physique, declare that the secret of his wonderful power lies in his heart, which is two inches larger than It should be. ... - . . An American firm has signed a contract with tho authorities of Michigan Prison for the employment of convicts in the making of bicycles. A factory will be built within the prison walls, and abont two hundred convicts will be employed in the work. The Field considers that in choosing a suitable gear for bicycles the condition of the rider should form an important consideration. For all-round work, for a man not in the best of form, 60in would seem to be high enough. As the rider improves in strength he can also change gear up to 70in.

Two road records made by F. W. Shqrland, the celebrated British long distance bicyclist, were rubbed off the slate on August 29. C. C. Fontaine lowered the time of the ride from London to York, 197 miles, from 12hrs JOmin to llhrs Slmiß, while A. A. Chess rode 212£ miles in 12hrs on the Great North Road, thus heating Shetland’s 211 miles record. ■■

Police investigations in Chicago has revealed the fact that a regular: system of cycle stealing, on a scale of genuine American magnitude, is being carried on there. The thieves have a large store where the machines are altered, the parts changed, and in some case even the tyres removed; the machines being then offered for sale. The stock accumulated quicker than the trade required, and branches wore then established in New York and other large cities On Sept. 2, the Grand Prize of the Union Velocipidique de Prance was competed for at the Seine track, Paris. The entries contained the names of the pick of the professionals, and included - Zimmerman, Edwards, Banker, Harris, Parman.Hewson, and? Madinger. The distance was five kilometres (3 miles 190yds). Banker won the first heat somewhat easily in lOmin 33|sec, with Medinger second, Zimmerman appropriated the second heat in lOmin 28|sec, Edwards being second. This quartet started for the final which Zimmerman won hands down in. lOmin 14§aec ; Banker second and Edwards third.

Jje VSloce Sport has published the result of the plebiscite which it took a short time ago on the subject, "What are the improvements in cycle construction which the generality of cyclists desire ?”■ Over 400 letters were- received. A good many of the writers had somewhat stupid suggestions to make, but it is remarkable that over 92 per cent of them consider that the principal failing of the average safety bicycle of the present day is its constant gear, and that manufacturers and inventors should turn their attention to producing?'* suitable variable gearing. The second important point brought out by the plebiscite was that more attention should be gives by makers ito the adjustment of “the machine, to dust-proof bearings, to the esse of cleaning, to better saddles, and last, but not least, to a proper outfit for the tool bog. A large proportion of the writers complained bitterly that, the- contents' of the tool bag were often a disgrace, they having evidently been constructed by fifth-rats workmen. '

Given a fine Saturday (writes tie Lon* , don ■ correspondent of the ■ Canterbury Times), some new record is sure to be created on the wood batten track at Herne Hill. I think nearly every path record made this season has been achieved at thia celebrated enclosure, and this fact ia a very hard nut for the cement-path enthusiasts to crack. Last Saturday (Sept. 1) the piece de resistance of an interesting programme was the Twenty-five Milos Championship of the Daneville Cycling Club, This event brought ont eleven Club men, but the majority o£ them were unknown to fame, and the interest centred chiefly on G. R. Martin, who had; made known his intention to have a tilt at the hour's record. Martin, paced by a triplet, went away from the. start at a pace which many old hands thought would break him up at ten miles. But he rode, that distance in-22min 15sec, smashing all previous records from the third mile, his average being to this point 2min 13ja*c per mile. Continuing at a very even gait, Martin mode fifteen miles in SSmin 4lsao (average per mile, 2min I4fsec)» and twenty miles in 45min 7-}soc. _ Never faltering even for a second, Martin went after his pacemakers at a rare rate, acd won the Club Cup ia 56in 24|sec. Not content with this achievement, the rider went on with a view to breaking Mcintjea'a hour record of 26 miles 107yds, which he did, his full distance for the sixty minutes being 26 miles 1103yds. The merit of this performance is most plainly seen when the mile average is worked out.- Martin's average per mile is a faint shade better than 2min 15|sac. On the same afternoon W. Taylor, T. Butler, and R. Olatke, mounted on a triplet, tried their .united: powers over a mile, and with a flying; start covered the distance in 2min " dead/’- Tbs triplet machine is an,ugly conception, but undoubtedly three good men can get on * terrific pace. Every writer who comments upon cycling pronounces it to be a healthgiving and most pleasurable exercise, alike for men and for women} and every writer who really investigates the matter unreservedly condemns the abuses that have crept in and' grown rampant. One of the English magazines contains a pleasant paper from the .pea of Mr Lacon-Watson, who thinks it no matTal “ that a bicyclist is to many an animal hardly less dangerous and deserving little more consideration than a mad dog. The reason is not far to seek, because-*® many riders have unfortunately degraded this form of athleticism by “recklese riding and indifference to the comfort of other users of the road." Mr Lacon-Watson has very little sympathy with the reoordbrsaker, even when he is on the racing track j but road - racing he would fain abolish utterly. Of the legitimate pleasures of cycling he cannot speak too enthusiastically; What an 'exhilarating sensation to roll smoothly along some country lane on some sunny morning in the early springtime, modestly, at a pace of not more than ten miles to the hour | and how thoroughly delightful and healthgiving is a tour conducted on the principle o£ a forty-mile limit for a day's .journey} for, as Mr Lacon-Watson puts it,' the very essence of enjoyment lies in knowing when to stop, and, if in’ any doubt; to pitch on the near side of fatigue. Seeing how peculiarly adapted many parts of New Zealand are foe cycle touting, and how peculiarly fortunate the Canterbury people are in this regard by reason of the long stretches of level,' fairly well-kept roada, and how easily holiday journeys maybe extended into Otago and Westland, holi-day-making on wheels ought to become very much more popular than it U already. ■