WHEEL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1858, 1 July 1887, Page 27

WHEEL NOTES.

By Demon.

The following standard times have been fixed for the N.C.U. championship races : — Bicycle. h. m. s. One Mile „. ... ... 0 245 Five Miles ... ... ... 014 45 Twenty-five Miles ... ... 1 20 0 Fifty Miles ... ... ... 245 0 Tbioyclb. One Mile ... ... ... 0 3 0 five Miles ... ... ... 016 0 Twenty-five Miles ... ... 1 28 0 Another of Mr H. E. Ducker's pet schemes has gone wrong, the Toboggan Club, of Springfield, having decided to sell up. The movement in favour of the military use of oycles shows no signs of abatement-— far from it. Singer's Victoria has been arranged for 10 riders, and for, if necessary, dragging a baggagewaggon after it. The following letter demonstrates that* the matter will not be allowed to remain untried much longer : — " The encouragement the Cyclists' corps have received from those high in authority, and also from the press generally, at the Dover march and review, has encouraged the officers and a large majority of the men who served with the corps on that occasion in the hope that their services may be accepted as a permanent branch of the volunteer forces. lam at present endeavouring to form such a corps, to be called the Cyclist Guides, assisted by the officers who served on the occasion alluded to. I have communicated with the proper authorities with a view to asking permission to raise such a corps, and in accordance with the Queen's regulations I am now' prepared to receive the names of gentlemen willing to become candidates for admission to such a corps. Full information will be given to them on application, and the fact of their sending ia their names will not in any way involve them in the preliminary expenses. Applications to be made by letter only, in the first instance to the acting adjutant of the late corps at the temporary headquarters, 28 Ashley place, Victoria street, S.W. — U. W. Wallace, Carpenter Major, Reserve of Officers ; late Royal Fusiliers and 32nd Light Infantry ; late second in command Corps of Cyclists."

From a later paper I clip the following: — Singer's Victoria — arranged to carry 10 riders tandemwise and drag after it a baggage waggon laden with 3001b of stores— has been doing great things at Aldershot, getting up steep hills and going through dust and across country in rare sbyle. The authorities propose investigating the whole question of cycles in connection with military matters, and this should presage a good time coming for the cycling body. Of course, the sharp edge of impracticable enthusiasm must first be worn off, and then something practical will be done with them.

It is stated that the business of the wellknown firm of Humber and Co., Beeaton, Notts, has been purchased by a Birmingham capitalist, and that the affair will soon be put upon the market in the shape of a limited liability company

English has not made a very cceditale debUt in the professional ranks, as he was beaten by T. Batfcensby, at Jarrow, in a 20 miles match by a yard in lhr llmin 20 4-ssec. This time shows that the match was little else than a procession until the final burst. English has evidently forgotten the art of riding straight through which won him more than one of his previous races,

A curious accident is reported from Coventry. A young man named Parker was riding a bicycle along the road, and as he was passing some children one of the urchins threw a 11 tip-cat " , at him, which brought him to earth, spraining his wrist, and shaking him severely.

The following is from the Athletic News, regarding the cyclists' corps at the Easter review : — " I have been informed that the Duke of Cambridge was inclined to look askance on the wheelmen, and ask Colonel Savilie to show him what really could be done by a cyclist. Fortunately Mr Rucker was on hand at the time, and the Duke at once ordered him to report himself to the commander of a brigade some miles away. The route was not easy — a precipitous hill, a thick wood, several big ditches, and a considerable amount of plough had to be gone through. Many riders would have shrunk from attempting the task, but fortunately M. D. R. is not only one of the cleverest cyclists we have, but also one of the pluckiest, and he got through it in such a manner as to merit — and receive, too — the congratulations of the Duke himself. Numberless funny anecdotes are going about respecting what took place during the review, but as far as I can glean there was not a single machine smashed or a cyclist damaged. All classes of cycles were tried, but the general consensus of opinion seems to be that if a cyclists' corps is to be organised, and is to be of any real service, the rear driving safety must be their mount. A machine of this* class can be ridden where it would be impossible to take a three-wheeler, and where it would be absolute madness to use an ordinary. If a tricycle is to be used, our old friend, the Coventry Rotary, is a long way in front cf any threetracker, besides being far better suited for the carriage of a a rifle and other impedimenta indispensable in warfare. The success of the wheelmen has been so complete as to elicit praise from even the Commander-in-chief himself, while jthe mighty Times deigns to signify its gracious approval of the good work done by the cyclists.

In spite of the talk there has been about Howell'B falling off in form, the big champion managed to win all the championships at Easter — the 10 miles at Leicester, and the one mile and five miles at Wolverhampton. In each instance Fred Lees was second.

The M'lntosh fund has reached £20, and & cheque for this amount was sent to Dr M'Crae, of Newport, Fife, for the purpose of purchasing a phir of artificial legs for the legless tricyolist.

An interesting table of comparative records— a culling from an American paper — was published in last week's Bicycling News. The mile record for ice skating is returned at 2min 12 3-sthsec. This must be wrong, as in England, where there are some of the speediest skaters in the world, the fastest recorded time is just under 3min.

Abticb to Mothbbs I— Are you broken In your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at ouce to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Wikslow's Soothing Sybtip. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to the taste ; it produces natural luiefc sleep, by relieving the child from pain ; and the little cherub awakes • ' as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Wixsi.ow'6 Soothing Stkup is sold by medi-cine-dealera everywhere at It lid per battle.— Auvy.j