CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 20

CYCLING.

KOTES BY PEDAL-PIN.

To ride, or not to ride, that is the question which a good many are debating at present. Riders outside the town are not so much affected by the weather as wa town men are A shower of rain does country roads good, but in town, where numerous wheels (uot bicycle wheels) churn up the mud into in some places An impassable barrier, men are apt to think twice before venturing on their wheels. If, however, rain, only holds oil and allows King • Frost to make his presence felt, the mud boon hardens, and some streets known for then roughness in summer time are hardly recognisable in their present state. Then, if time can be got for a spin away from the town, I venture to aay that it will bo found more enjoyfltole than any summer spins. There is a cri^p feeling in the air which seems to make ii more exhilarating, and one feels as if tired muscles were a thing unknown. What matter if in early morning or evening one feels cold at first? Ten minutes' brief action soon drives cold away, and then comes enjoyment. lam a strong advocate of winter riding, and can look back with pleasure on tho many mornings and ■venings I have spent on my wheel. I suppose, as Club ruus are over till next season, clubs will be going in for social evenings, and other methods of keeping the game • aliTe during the winter. Ifc might be a good plan to adopt the idea of some of some of the Home clubs, and go in for gymnastics, boxing, fdnoing, singlestick, and all and any other . exercise' which can be had under cover. Our American cousins go in for indoor cycling, having even races during the winter months ; but I am afraid that our wheelmen could • hardly go in for that, for want of a building with a track. English Kqlch. Some of the members of the Bicycle Touring Club have lately como to the conclusion that a change of name is necessary and desirable, as, owing to the large number of ladies and tricyclists in the Club, the name bicycle is a misnomer. Members have been invited to vote

on the subject of change — first, as to whether a 1 change is needed; second, what name to ehango to. Three na-mes are given to choose from — "The Touring Club," " Cycle Touring Club," "Cyclists' Touring- Club." The vot« will have been taken oio this, and by next Sin Francisco mail I expect B.T.C. members

I.i New Zealand will know their new designation. The Club has lately changed the colour of its uniform from dark green to grey, and has adopted a standard pattern »f material, ■which only members have the privilege of weaiing. The uniform now consists of a grey 8 ut, made either with knfo-brcochcH, kniekorb ickern, or tmmew, and a polo cap or helmet, a "cording to individual liking. The lady mem bars are also thought of, as the cloth is woven specially thin for their use. The great wheel show this season has boon tai Stanley at the Albert If all, where every conceivable machine — bi, tri, quadri, and any other cycle. Of course riders attended in any vumbers to see the novelties, and experiment when room allowed. Eacers this year are being built wonderfully light — ono 52-inch built by the Surrey Machinists' Com pan y weighing only 17£lb ; whilo Andrews, the tc Sanspareil " maker, has brought down his weight for a 55-inch machino to 191b, hit> standard running about 201b ; in fact, 251b saems to bo the limit for an ordinary racer tins 83ason. With these light weights and good t**cks, there should be aomf fast times made. Th» principal firms are making a point of nuns Harrington's famous enamel, which is decidedly the bebt thing for a woiking Woyole. As tho American advertisements put it, "If you have Harrington's enaniul on your bicycle, you can bonow a machine to Uab ; for yours won't need ib." The well-known firm of Singer and Co., Coventry, have added a novelty to their li-1 in tho shape of a lripte-?bw'mi> lricyclo, and, for tho first time, they have turned owt borne fine, Btrong-lookiny racers.

The " Matchless " no:i-\ ihratiii^- bicyclij ha>-. been much improved in homo j)aiticulain, and cut down in weight. It has" also tlio sinull hubs, which seem to be a feature of the year. Tho well-known "'ialoo " tiicyclr hat f-oine alterations also. It now has tuo \isnal tube frame, instead of tho old pattern. The Moc-ial ii also much improved. .The Centaur '" JTour-in-hand,'' which «.ocin» to be the only one whiih has survived of the many out-of-the-way niitclnnes. bnmgh(, ( .ut last year, has a new arrangement of the driving-chain, and is improved in other waja. '£be" 3?leet tricycle's (Settle and Co.) 'are

turned out in the careful style which distinguishes this firm's work, but have nothing special about them. Hillinan, Herbert, and Cooper have their " Premiers " turned out in their well-known style. They have also a racer — light and strong. The Coventry Machinists' Company havo a splendid list of machines. Their racers are builo very light, one or two running about 19 and 20 pounds. Their Sociable and front-steer-ing tricycle— and, indeed, nil their machines — are splendidly turned out. The old-established firm of Humbor, Marriott, and Cooper of course have a Bplendid s,how. They rely on their well-known and highly-spoken-of workmanship, and do not seem so eager to pufeh to the front with novelties in the shape of light racerß and wonderful tricvcleß as Home of the newer firms.

Then, with the numbers of other exhibitors, great and small, makers of all sorts of machines, and .everything a cyclist can want, one is apt to get bewildered, and I had better stop with this comparatively short notice. The shows fairly open the season, and with the first fine days we shall see riders out on their new mounts trying the well-known Riply road and many other favourite haunts. With the Easter holidays riding and racing will come into full swing, and I hopo a good season will give plenty of enjoyment.