EPIC TRICYCLE RIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23034, 11 May 1938, Page 22

EPIC TRICYCLE RIDE

MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY RETURNED SOLDIER'S FEAT When Mr. Alfred Williamson, a 43-year-old returned soldier, accepted iv wilder of £25 from a Melbourne publican, .Mr. L. liols, that Jie could not ride ail ordinary tricycle from Melbourne to Sydney in 21 days, few thought lie was destined to convert this novel venture into an athletic feat such as has thrilled champion cyclists of world renown in Hubert Opperman and Ossie Nicholson, who figured in the organisation work. Travelling at the remarkable rate of 50. miles a day under adverse weather and road conditions, Mr. Williamson halved his original schedule over a 564 miles course, which demanded approximately two and a-quar-ter million turns of the pedals of the miniature machine. So determined was Mr. Williamson to win through and so make history that he ate and slept but little, and his wife, who had objected to his undertaking such a terrific ordeal in the inevitable cramped position, followed his progress keenly over the telephone and through the various news channels.

Throughout the opic ride, Mr. Williamson refused to avail himself of comfortable hotel quarters, preferring to sleep in the caravan which was attached to the official ear.

He weighed 9st. Gib. when lie left. Melbourne, and at (Jtmdagai, a distance of 314 miles from the starting point, he the scales at 9st. 21b. H<» sustained himself for long periods on heavily-sugared black tea and large quantities of fresh milk and egg flips. He smoked an unusually large number of cigarettes. He was met at A 1 bury by Mr. B. Small, who has directed all the world's and Australian marathon cycle records put nji by Oppcrman and Nicholson, and this cycling personality expressed surprise that an untrained returned soldier, with shrapnel shot in the right calf, could prove equal to such an exacting test of stamina, pedalling ability and courage.