A VICARS CYCLING EXPERIENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12071, 15 September 1902, Page 6

A VICARS CYCLING EXPERIENCES.

Tin; ltev. Sidney Rwann, vicar of St. i Aid an Carlisle, rode the oilier day from | Carlisle to London, a distance of 301 miles, t in twenty-four hours, upon a new cantilever Pedersen, which weighed 251b and was J furnished with two brakes. -Mr. Swarm is j 40 years of age and scales 14 stone. Some j time ago he rode from Carlisle to Inverness in twenty-four hour?, and ever since lie. lias had a. desire to do a similar feat southwards. When he started on a Thursday at. four minutes poets two p.m. rain was lulling heavily. He was covered with mud and wet through when he got to Penrith. At Kendal, which he reached at halfpast five, he stayed six minutes for tea. At Preston he asked for half a chicken, in order tlnit lie might have something to sustain him while riding during the night. The proprietor of the ustaurant, however, could only give him sausages, which, unfortunately for the cyclist, were supplied to him uncooked' At. Coventry lie was 91. miles from London and 40 minutes behind time. He was almost exhausted, but after eating some oranges and strawberries he again mounted his cycle. lie was 45 minutes behind time at Toweester, and as lie was resuming bis journey he was knocked down by a collie dog. Jit the fall he had his knee cut. and was badly bruised. He limped on. notwith- j standing, and at Stoney Str.itlord he found I that lie had three hours and twenty minutes | left to ride 52 miles, and to his jov he sue- I reeded in reaching London by four minutes f past two. just 24 hours after he had stalled j from Carlisle. The most remarkable part j of tho ride was his plucky spurt at. fifteen miles an hour for the last 52 miles.