WHEEL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 21

WHEEL NOTES.

Br DEMON.

3<Yom the latest files to hand I learn that the Chicago Bicycle Club's 1200 mile tour was a splendid success. The tour waß the second of tha kind inaugurated by the Club. It began at Niagara Falls and termiuated at Boston, after traversing a route 1200 miles long through tho most picturesque parts of Canada, New York, and New Eugland. Of the 13 daya occupied in the tour, four entire days and parts of half daya were spent on the wheel, the rest of the time being occupied by steamer, train, and eight-eeeibg. Tho tour is spoken of as the beat planned and managed grand excursion ever arranged in the United States. The whole affair was mamged in splendid style by B. B. Ayras, of Chicago, who was presented on the journey with a beautiful gold watch in token of the tourists' appreciation of his laboura. The tour was noted for the exhaustive thoroughness of the statistics gathered by the secretary. I cull a few of tho most interesting figures :— Number of tourists, 57. States rf«prot.euti d— lllinois, 10 riders; New York, 14; Canada, 11; Pennsylvania, 7; iVtassaohusotts, 6 ; New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Ohio, 2 each ; Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan, 1 each. Oldest rider, President Bates, 52 years ; youngest, W, L. Armstrong, of Cleveland, 16 years. Heaviest rider, 1821b ; lightest, 1001b. Largest wheel, 60-iuch Expert ; smallest, 40 inch Facile. There wern 20 EXperts, 10 Rudgeti, 8 Challenges, 5 P«oyel Mails, and smaller numbers of other makera. The average weight of riders at starting waa 1361b ; at finish, 138^11*. Nearly every rider gained in weight during the tour— a mosi notable fact—while not ooe lost weifiht. The Western men were the heaviest and youngest, and rode_ the largest wheels, their average being 55 inches 3 average age 22, and weisrhfc 1451b,

Thomas Sfcevene, who rode across tile Continent of America on a bicycle, is writing an interesting accouut of his adventures in the Wheelman. Tho rido was undertaken alone, and though tho obstacles were exceedingly great, they were ajl surmounted. A great part of the distance bad to be done on foot, aad sometimes the rider had to Bleep outside with the heavens for his canopy. Generally speaking, he was hospitably treated} jtrat in some parts of the back country he was refused lodgings and food. The bicycle was an objpofc of wonder to the Indians, and one Washos chief, who thought be could ride is % maio aa attempt, buf CAiuaignominiously to the ground, Another chief was cured of B»veie complain^ by a few mystic passes of. the rider's Challenge wrench, which hi.q tribe looked upon, with wonder.

Sinco writing the abovo I leara that Mr Stevens has been compelled to temporarily abandon the continuation of his proposed trip round the world It was his intention to iea&ii Constantinople last fall, and passing the wiata? there finiah the journey across Central Asia to the Pacific Coast in China. After his experience in crossing the Rockies he thinks this journey quite feasible, for bo has found thaieven in a roadless country there are stretches that have a certain amount of surface suitable for wheeling. Mr Stevens must be a wonderfully plucky man. His description of his ride across America on a bicyclo ranks among the. most intoreßfcing and remarkablo articles oa adventure of recent years. So much for tha devotees of the v/heel.

The King of Siam ?>as ordered a tricycle, and it is stated that King Kalikaua, of tho Sandwich Island?, ridea over Iris kingdom on a tricyelo.

A bkyolo ol'.^b has been etartod in Venice. I should fancy Iharo would be aomo difficulty iv i?nd>Bg roads in Venice. Moat of its streets are canal*.

In St Petprsburg a number of Ecglfck re-. Bid?ota who wished to form a bicycle club had to obtain » chartt-v from tho Goveinment. A cyclist was recently ordered on to the sidewalk by a policktnao, but the next policeman be met ordered him on to the road. Fancy a

Dunedin "hobby ' gidering a cyclist on to the side-walk — Bliss !

The >,'etherland Bicyclist Union, formed in Holland, July 1, 1833, with 17 members, has now 20 clubi incorporated, with a member ship of 400. A bicyclist song book has been published in German at Pe-lin. The muuic to some of the songs is said to Qe firat class.