LAND, AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 18

LAND, AND WATER.

CYCLING. NOTES BY PEBALPIN. After the rush of races and their accompany' ing training, affairs seem quite flat and dreary juat now. The Oval is occupied by small bays on their three-wheeled boneshakers; the racing men are elsewhere. The road race must be the reason for so tremendous , a club muster on Saturday. Actually five started from the Square, while some more followed or went before. The day was glorious, and the riders must have had an enjoyable spin. I have ; heard of some fast road- riding during the week, two men having riddon to Outrara in an hour and 33 mm;, the usual club time is about two hours, and another having done , the first 18 miles on the South road in an hour and' a half. The pace in the road-race will be warmer than I anticipated. ' l ' The races proposed to be holden tho day of the match between Dinnie and Matheson are, I suppose, now, off, with the match. O'Donnoll and M'Konzie have fixed their match for early in March, and I hear there will be a programme of other events aa well. O'Donnell gives an exhibition of trick rising on Saturday tirst at the Caledonian grounds, when, from all accounts, what we have already seen him doing will be shown to be a very small portion of his repertoire. He will use three machines in aome tricks, and a boy will assist in others, quite new to cyclists here at any rate. Tricycling here is really beginning to be taken up by ladies. On Saturday a lady member of the D.0.0. was out for a trial trip on a " sociable," and kept with the Club for a good distance. The Club hopes it will not be tho last time they will see a lady out for the Saturday afternoon trip. Tho way some of the members wore left to have an, elegant back view of the machine going down hill was a revelation to them. I had the pleasure of seeing a nice tricycle to-day, a latest pattern " Royal Saloo," with 4oin wheels. The .little improvements which the last .Saloo I tried wanted— an A cradlespring oii an t seat-rod— brought the paddle well forward over the pedals. The pedals were combined rubber and rat-trap, in order to prevent slipping in wet weather, and the brake seemed sufficiently strong. The, machine was painted, with sundry' parts, seat-rod, handlerod, and others nickelled, the result being a very "taking" tricycle (take one anywhere, in 'fact). The road race is to come off on Cup day, February 21. The start will, I hear, bo made from the eleventh milestone, and the race will be to Lawrence and back, making exactly 100 milee. The competitors all start level, and any number and length of' stoppages may be made, the first man back being the winner. The race is open to all members of. amateur clubs, and !of tho N,2,0.A- The hour of starting is 7 ' a.m., in oraefr to allow of any m'ea who wfeh to

do so getting out from town by the 5 60 a.m. train. The starting point is about 100 yards an the town side of the Springbank Hotel, about two miles from Mosgiel station, and just above the Owhiro station. Several of our best roadsters have entered — two of the four Lawrence and back men, and two of the Lawrence and back party a year or more ago. Some of the other men, though not so well known on the road, are to my mind I fully aa good, and better, on the hills. The level stretch boyond Milton will of course give some chance to speed, 'but endurance will, I fancy, be the quality most required, as considerably more than half the journey is over hilly road. Arrangements are being made for timing the men through Milton and Lawrence, and for meals and whatever else is necessary on the road. Entries must be made to Mr E. 'H. Burn by Tuesday evening next at latest, and all information can be obtained from him. Club News. Dunedin Cycling Club.— The fortnighly run, more honoured in the breach than the obr servance this season, was held on Saturday last. At 2 p.m. five members turned up on bicyles, and the captain and a lady member on a " Sociable" tricycle. Tho " Sociable " goinsr ahead, was overtaken on Look-out, and two other members joined here. The bicyclists led down hill, bur most were overtaken and passed by the " Sociable " boforo the bottom was reached. Through Green Island the orthodox order was kept, the "Sociable" loading, but on tho lises to Fairfield, against all Olub rules, the captain was left behind, and not seen again by the bicycling members. The whole Club rodo the " S:iddlo," the v Sociable" following some few minutes after, just in time to see the bicyclists flying the last slope "legs over the handles." Leaving them to follow the road to Outram, the " Sociable " regted content with a 12 mile run, especially.as it was tho first for the lady member, and all tho hills but Look-out were ridden. The Outram contingent, after tea in the township,, returned to town about 730 p.m. The next run is Saturday next to Blueskin, start as usual 2 p.m. E. H. B.