CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 32

CYCLING.

NOTES BY DEMON.

The annual meeting of tho Dunedin Cycling Club has been fixed for Saturday evening, 13th inst. I understand the report and balance sheet which are now in the printer's hands show the club to be in a very flourishing condition. •

> At a meeting of the Debating Class connecbed wibh bhe Chrisbchureh Bicycle Touring Club, the vote at the end of the debate proved to be against the extension of bhe franchise to women. Twelve of the club's lady members were present, bub they refrained from expressing an opinion or voting on the question. A. C. Duff, in his attempt to lower Con Dwyer's Australian one hour record which has stood at 19 miles 200 yds since 1886, was mounted on an "I vel" pneumatic safety, and made a good start by putting the first mile away in 2min 49sec. The eleventh mile was the fastest and was done in 2miu 48sec, and the slowest was 3min. He covered 20 miles 700 yds in the hour, beating the record by 1 mile 500 yds. The 20 miles was done in 58min 43sec.

A cable dated July 20 states that Zimmerman, the American crack, on July 19 lowered, by 15sec, the record for the five-mile tandem race.

The managing director of the South Yarra Pleasure Grounds Company is responsible for the statement that in or about December of this year ib is the intention of the company to give a handicap race for 500sovs. This beats the far famed L 250 stake of the Austral wheel race hollow.

On the 20th July, at tho Central Police Court, Sydney, one James Orr was charged with having stolen a safety bicycle, the property of a young man named Clarence Chapman. The owner left his machine outside a business house, and returning, found that someone had ridden or walked it off. Subsequently the bicycle was found in Orr's possession. Mr Giles, D.S.M., fined the accused LlO, or four months in gaol.

The Sydney Bicycle Club are arranging a squad race for members, to take place during the season. The race is a novel one, and should prove a good afternoon's amusement. Two teams are chosen from those present at the ordinary afternoon run, and the team getting six men home first wins the race, and the losers " shout" tea for them.

Stephane, the French cyclist, during the recent road race from Bordeaux to Paris, was attended by the French ex-champion, F. de Civry. Stephane always had three men with him in the day, and about four in the night. The pacemakers had all that was required on the machine in a bag in front of the head. Stephane had nothing whatever on his machine, which was a full racer, weighing complete only about 251b. He had no feeding, but drank beef-tea all the way, as well as tea and a little coffee, and two or three bottles of French lemonade. He did nob have a mouthful of solid stuff, but nearing the close of the long ride he was sustained with champagne with eggs beaten in it.

Charron, riding a "Clement" machine, has lowered the French mile record from 2min 31 l-ssec to 2miu 24 2-sscc. His cycle only weighed 16|lb all on. It was pub on the scale before the press aud other people, aud was voted a marvel of wheel-construction.

M. A. Holbein on Juno 14 succeeded in breaking the 12 and 24 hours' tricycle records made by himself in May 1891. Starting at midnight from Biggleswade on the Monday he covered 185^ miles in the 12 hours (an advance of 11 miles on the old record), and 341 in the 24 hours (previous best 3!1£). He rode grandly throughout, finishing strong and fresh. His mouut was a Malboro' tricycle, and the course was the usual selection over the Great North road.

The adjourned nionthly meeting of tho New South Waleb Cyclists' Union was held on 20th ult. at Milthorpe'f) Hotel, King street. The business of the meeting was to deal with the following notices of motion by Mr G. A. Richardson: — " 1. That Rule 5 (relating to race meetings), be altered so as to read : 'Prizes shall consist of trophies and open orders, such open orders to be issued by the hon. secretary (acting on the instructions of the executive) on receipt of the amount of prize money from the body holding the race meeting. In no case shall an open order be issued except on the following conditions : (a) The order must be returned to the hon. secretary with a full account of the goods purchased. Two members of the executive will then inspect the goods and append their signatures, (b) The order will not be honoured unless presented within four weeks from date of issue, (c) The council of N.S.W. Cyclists' Union will not be responsible for the amount unless these conditions be complied with, (d) All trophies purchased with these orders shall have engraved thereon the name of the winner, description of event, and date of meeting. (c) Any article coming under the folio wiug headings will not be admitted as a trophy — viz., soft goods (including all wearing apparel) and drapery of any description, kitchen utensils of auy kind, groceries, or ordinary household crockery, (f) Tho executive will appoint proxies to act for them iv other coloiiic-h, and in country districts where deemed advioable." "(2) Tli.it Rule (5 (referring to race ni'-etings) bo altered so as to lead: 'All trophies purchased prior to tho date of meeting shull have engraved thereon tho name of winner, description of event, and date of meeting, before presentation.' '' Mr Richardson moved the following new cl.mse :—(</): — (</) "That in no case shall one prize be purchased with two or more open orders, unless wju at the | same mooting, nor shall any receiver of an j opon order be allowed to add to tho value of I his order to a greater extent than 10 per cent.

of the total value of such order or orders." The clause was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned.

The American rider, Zimmerman, won the One-mile Open Handicap at the Anerly B.C. and East Dulwich CO. joint meeting at Herne Hill on June 11, although he only got home second to A. Maltby (20yds), but the latter was disqualified on the ground that the man who had started him had run a few yards over the mark with the machine. Maltby's time was 2niin 24 2-ssec. Maltby has taken part in 75 races, without ever getting a prize in an open event, and now he has proved successful he loses the trophy on account of a slip of his starter.

T. A. Edge, who broke tho Land's End to John o' Groats' record previously held by G. P. Mills, by 10 hours and a-half, not content with this splendid performance continued his journey back towards Laud's End, and, after encountering cold and unsettled weather, decided to rest on his laurels at the 1000 th mile stage of his journey. This stage was reached in 5 days llhr 38min, and the performance stands as the quickest and best long distance ride of the time. Mills after his rido expressed an opinion that the ride from Land's Eud to John o' Groats could be accomplished in about three days and a-half ; and such a thing seoms to be not at all unlikely, as Edge finished up in grand form, looking very strong, aud but for being taken eight miles out of his way by a pacemaker would have done the distance inside of four days. The record time now stands at 4 days 40min.

The bicycle has just been brought into use by the Paris Post Office. Letters posted after the usual closing hour of the mails are received up to an extended'period and taken to the station per bicycle. To remove rust from nickel first grease it well, let it stand for a few days, and then rub it briskly with a cloth moistened with ammonia. If this does not completely remove it, wash it carefully with a weak solution of hydrochloric acid, thoroughly rinse afterwards, dry carefully with a cloth, and polish with a soft leather.

The "Ortnede" Cycle Company, America, gives every applicant for a catalogue seven days' accident insurance free.

The new uniform of the London County Club consists of alternate stripps of black and white, about 6in wide. They must be a plucky body to turn out in such a glaring outfit.

When Stephane finished his long ride from Bordeaux to Paris, Dr Oscar Jennings at once took his pulse and his heart's action (with the stygmograph). At the same time he did the same to one of the officials standing near, and the man who had only just dismounted from a 350 miles record ride showed a normal pulse and a more steady heart action than did the official.

Early in June upwards of L 260 was paid over to three of the hospitals in the Liverpool district as the proceeds of lantern parades, &c, promoted by local wheelmen. Another method of driving a bicycle without a chain has been devised, this time by a Dane — Ingo Kohlmeger. At first sight (says Cycling) it would seem as though the idea was similar to the Fernhead gear, but instead of a tooth wheel there is a cog wheel, the cogs revolving and fitting into small holes turn the bar, and thus drives the back wheel. It is claimed that friction is considerably minimised and the propulsion of the machine rendered much easier.

Hewitt Griffin says cycling is now in its zenith, and the sport was never more vigorously followed than at present Like all quick-grow-ing things, it needs constant watching, curbing, and pruning. Now that women are taking more and more to riding safety bicycles, the vexed question of feminine cycling costume becomes increasingly important. Iv France they dress very much like the men, that is to say, in tunics and cloth knickerbockers or knee breeches, the chiof difference between a man and woman a-wheel being in the rather longer cut of the lady's tunic. In AmeSca the dress is much the same as in England, although there also there has been a deal of discussion on the subject. A Cincinnati paper recently offered a prize for the most convenient and becoming lady cyclist's costume. The costumo which won the prize consists of a divided dress skirt supported from the shoulders by suspenders ; a light silk blouse, held in position at the waist by a rubber baud inserted in tho lower edge ; a Windsor tie at the neck ; a jacket of the same material as the dress skirt, cloth or flannel, and suitable material in "black, grey, navy blue, or brown ; a yachting cap and gauntlet gloves ; and for underwear a " union suit."