CYCLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12414, 25 July 1902, Page 6

CYCLING.

]Jr "Demon."

Iload racing cyclists aro reminded that entries for the Dunlop Timaru-io-Christ-ehureh test raco close on tlio 26th inst.; also entries for the Warrnambool-to-Mol-bourno event. -— Included in the entries already received by the Dunlop Company for the New Zealand test'raco am l'alston. Conned, and Caldcr, and the great pity is that three such men cculd not be sent to Australia as a. team for the great road race. .—- The New South Wales representative in the Warrnambool-iollelbourno Road Race, to bo held ou August 30 next, is to bo decided upon on 9th August next, when the rider putting up the fastest timo in the Uoulburn-to-Sydney Road Race, fixed for that day, becomes, by virtue of bis performance, the representative of the State. — The bicycle enters freely into a new novel of Ethel Turner's which is now running iij tlio Sydney Sunday Times. A contemporary says that tlio way in which tlio bicycle fever caught liunty and Poppet will strike a responsive chord in tlio hearts of the- thousands who at the sanio age hankered after a two-wlic-olcd "mount," and wore not hippy till they got it. — The following advice, given by tlio Dunlop Company to intending competitors in the Ooulbuhi-10-Sydney Road Race, on August 9 next, may bo of use- to cyclists in Otago who may at any time he called upon to train for a big road event;— Th- first principle of training is to bring the internal organs to a sound and healthy condition. No cyclist physically unsound should dream of competing in such a contest as the gruelling 131 miles race from Uoulburn to' Sydney. Granted that the intending competitor is in a fit condition to undergo a solid preparation, we lay down a few general rules, that, if followed, cannot fail but to result beneficially. Assuming that a fair amount of steady road work has been done during the past few months, tho cyclistTshonld commence with long, steady, country rides, not fast, but at an easy and comfortable 12-miles-an-hour pace. A few such rides, say, over a 25-milcs out and home course, and the rider will find that in a very short time ho can Accomplish this distance without feeling any fatigue. Tho distance should now he gradually extended mi to 100 miles, but don't force your riding. If you tire, ease up. and take a spell. You don't want to. eat up your vitality: you want to build your system up. By indulging in pl"n'ty <d steady distance road riding vou will gradually find yourself getting "fit." Eat plenty—everything that suits you. Take seven or eight hours sleep nightly. If you find.you want more sleep, too much work is being done, and you must ease up your riding a liitle. Always hnve e brisk rub down nflcr returnimt from a ride, and change into drv clothing. A few speedy trips should now he taken over a 25-mi'cs finishing the last tourlo of miles fast. Fairly fast, trips over a long distance can now be induleed in. and should leave no jlI-cffecK Riding should be eased off during the last two or three, days previous to the event. Whilst frainimr. r,en>r allow a feeling of weakness to go unsatisfied; always carry a few biscuits, chocolate, or raisins with vou. and cut when you fool « sense of emptiness coming on. T.astly. don't forget that, steady and lontr spins are t !, » eorr-ct thing nlher than fr=t ones: also riding long stretches without ''isrommtiusr. so as to nocwioin you''"ftlf In H-o effort in the saddle, which is absolutely necessary to success.

-—- The THinlnp Tyre Company has re. ccivod a cablegram announcing that the International Motor Race for the Gordon Ben-

nclt Cup, presented by Mr Gordon Bennett, of tha New Yorlo Herald, and run over a course from Paris to Bordeaux, a distanco of 315 mile?, has boon won by S. I''. Edge, v.'iili :i Napier car. The race- annually brings into competition the best and fastest types of motor ears from the various countries in which automobiles aro manufactured. Its object is to show the advancement made annually in motor-car construction. The conditions of the race render it necessary tlmt the ears rcpesenting any count':*' must ho wholly made in that country. &. •£. Edge is recognised as tho leading English chauffeur. His victory will be exceedingly popular in England, being a big lift for English automobiles. 'This is the first big Ihiropean motor event that has gone to England; the French cars up to this carrying olf all Iho important motor races. Edgo would drive his 70-h.p. English-made Napier, which he had made for last year's race, but was not allowpd to compete, owing to his motor being fitted with lyres of French make. This event was won" by Girarot (France) last year, ho covering tho distance in 31ir 51min. Edge's time is not given.

—— LcMia's description of the Marse-illos-Paris rontl race (532 miles), which he won in 38hr 53min, is given in tho London Sporting Life:—"Havint; by sheer bad luck last the Paris-Brcst-Pnris race, I was determined to win the Marseilles-Paris ovent. I have 1 won it, but I shall never foreet the terrible experience I had. From February until Slay I have covered 6000 kilometres (3723 miles odd) in Tunis, Algiers, and France. I left Paris (by road) for Marseilles eight days prior to the ovent, and took a good r'est, doing meanwhile 50 miles daily as an exercise. Saturday duly came round, and (ho following morning, at 3 a.m.. the ptnrt was to take place. I slept nearly all day, and at 'P n.nvgot up. dressed, went to the Cate. R'c'ic. whom I signed the controle sheet. Relumed to the hotel and went to bed. Was awakened at 12 p.m., ate six eggs, drank two cups of chocolate, and went to the mark. V, T o wero lined un, 'get ready.' and away we went, my pacemakers sprinting so as to clrar mo of hangers-on. It was dark, hut still Fischer would not be 'shook.' "and all at oiico up in the air I Went—had run into a heap of Mono" and sand. Felt myself all over," and pieVed up ray machine, almost in pieces, Looked around, and heard my pacemakers shouting. 'L&sna, Losnn, where arc you s'—'Quick.' said I, 'give me a machine.' and Braey gave me his. It was too high for. me. yet off I dashed in quest of Fischer, who had passed me whilst I was pulling myself together. Two miles farther, and Loynawl. one of my speedy trailers, whispered. There-he is; quiet, keep close to the side of the road, do not speak, and you will see something.' I did, for we reeled past Fischer, who apparently did not hoar ov seci "us.. Thank heaven, now I am safe. Right 1.0 Salon, no wind, a few drops of rain. After passing there, a storm came on, and, alas for good times. Each three-quarter of a mile n .fresh man made pace, steering licing difficult owing to the heavy head wind. Jiyons hove- in sight, and the sun pierced tho heavy clouds, Crowds lined (he roads to • tho control"?, and their enthusiasm warmed me. I signed, drank a bowl of soup mixed with meat extraet, and a,way we sailed, thankful that the wind had abated. Macon, Chagny, Bonuno. Dijon, and tho routes' became muddy, slippery, and wet. What'was going to happen? It was night, and down came tho rain in torrents. Scon I was drenched to tho skin, and so cold. At Avallon I changed my clothes, and at almost every controle I bought socks, jerseys, and sho<w.' oven going as far as to cut a pair of ordinary trousers at the knees to make knickers. On and on I went, and Paris, appeared to my mind. Courage! At last I am there, and have- won, and all is over, thank heaven!" •

After winning liis first open event, and subsequently beating Meyers in a match wee, then Grogna and Bourotle in a threecornered contest at Arras, Major Taylor was expected to go through the season without a defeat, barring accidents. This, however, was not to be, for, says the Cyclist (England), on Wliit Monday, at Berlin. Willy A rend, the first rider to boat Taylor last season, was given the verdict in a close finish, the majority thinking Taylor was first. On the following day, the. negro said he would soon, prove who was the winner, but from reports of eye-witnesses, wc arc assured that the coloured crack was not fairly treated, one or two riders doing their best to keep him wide while their confreres got away. Anyway, the Major was not able to even win his heat aiminst a second-class rider, and hud to qualify for the final by winning a ropechage hoar. In the semi-final lie was bowled out bv Ferrari, the final resulting iii another win for Arend, Ferrari being second and Rutt third.

— Some fast traveling was made on the Crystal Palace traeV. England, recently, when 0. A. Barnes, of the Putney Club, covered five mild? in Sinin 37 2-sscc on a motor bicycle. The times for the various miles were as follows:—One mile, lmm 50 l-ssec; two miles, 3miii 1 3-ssep; threo miles, Smin 12 2-55 Cc; foi'r miles. Oinin 53 3-ssee: and five miles as above Tho machine was called the Mitchell, and was driven by a 2-h.p. engine.

• A Renter's cablegram from London, i under date July 2, states that Marcel | Renault has been declared winner of the : long-distance motor race from Paris to Vienna. The next five contestants to reach the Austrian capital were Frenchmen. Considerable dissatisfaction has arisen amongst tho Knglish, American, and German competitors owing to the favouritism shown to , Forn'ch drivers. There has evidently been i protest troubles over the above event, one ' of the conditions of tho race, and the most likoly one to lead to trouble, being that the driver or his mechanician should not repair or adjust any part of the car or motor dnrinpt respective night stops at Aix la Ohapelle, Hanover, and Berlin—all necessary repairs having to be made during riding hours. Renault, who has been adjudged the winner, jlrivcs an automobile of his own manufacture and name, the car being of tlis voiturotto stamp, and only moderately horse-powered. The distance between Paris and Vienna is IflOO miles—the race being tlio loiTjcst yet bold. Tim fact of a small ear of the Renault class winning tho above event imu'ies that the bio; motors—some up to 70-h.p., from Knglnnd, America, France, and Germany, some of which would assuredly finish in front of the Renault ear in the Paris-Vienna event, were disqualified. An earlier communication states that tho first five cars to finish averaged over 30 miles an hour for the whole distance—a marvellous; performance, considering tho nature and conditions of tho race.

_ —Frank Kramer, the. American sprint champion, has not mot with a single defeat in scratch races this season, and he has played a prominent part in tho handicap races from, tho post of honour. In all, be has scored over a dozen firsts, his last two successes being at Vailsburg, where he won tho half-mile scratch and the one-mile handicap from scratch in tho competition record timobf linin 57 2-sscc. The latest advice i» that iio won a ?.5-miles impacnl race at Vaiklmrj in 58min 45 Msec. M'Farland being second and TTndfield third.

— An eggshell farm is a part of one of tho primary departments of study in some of the American schools. Each child takes nr eggshell about two-thirds whole. The child';, 'name i.-: written on tlio shell, and after a lesson on soils, sufficient earth is placed in tho shell to fill it. Kaeh one in a room i? given the same kind of seed to plant. After tho plant becomes too large for the shell, the child is encouraged to take it homo and plant in a garden. The teachers aim to teach the complete life-history of the plant from seed to seed. — Next to its magnificent hall, the pride of the Reform Club (London) is 'its well of water undefiled. 'When tho club was built, an artesian well was sunk 115 ft below the surface of tho ground, and thence, independent of the water companies, the club has enjoyed the - 'advantage of a cheap and excep-' tionaliy pure supply. About n year ago discovery was made that the well was running dry. Kxperts were called in. who recommended the further sinking of the shaft to a depth of 140 ft. The work has now been completed at a cost n( £700. It is estimated that tho snppjy will last for fully 40 years. I — The Fa is fa id to have the shortest name for. a vessel in tho world. She is a Spanish steamer, and reached Philadelphia laden with iron ore, after a voyage so rough that three of her sailors were incapacitated by sea-sieknpss. Tho F.a was named by a Spanish nobleman after his daughter, Esmeralda. She belongs to a line that has set, in th« matter of short names, an example that other lines are beginning to follow. The Eolo, the Aro. and tho Oria arc sister ships of hers. In all the fleet, there is not a name i that is more than five letters long. i —Mr Fife Scott, long well known in lumting : circles, has latterly turned his attendnn to mechanics.- with tho result (says tho Morning Post) that ho has just patented what promises to be of great servico to those responsible for tho cleanliness of the streets, particularly in London. The apparatus is a combined sweeper and scraper, and, besides being admirably adapted to a tricycle, can bo driven at tho rate of about six miles an hour by steam, gas, or electricity. At the same lime that tho thoroughfares are purified, the filth, hv a clever device, is raised into an accompanying tender, and it is believed that at small coat to the cities using it. their mud can be deported for the manuring of farm land to the mutual benefit of town and country. — The Bishopric of the Falkland Islands covers all tho Church of England in South America, except British. Guiana. Its area is therefore seven and a-quartcr million square miles. I ... WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS 1 , For "that tired feeling-'*"