CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2111, 9 August 1894, Page 33

CYCLING.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Raleigh. — In fair weather the Springfield to Kumara trip is a most enjoyable one, and should be tried by all cyclists, but at the present time I would not recommend anyone to attempt the trip. The roads are very similar to our own in the centre of Otago, and the main difficulty would be the fording of the rivers, which are all mountain torrents, and even in the summer time, after a heavy fall of rain, are sometimes impassable for weeks at a time. January or February is the best time of the year for this journey. In fine weather the distance could be covered by an average rider in two days. The following are the stopping places, with the distances between : — Springfield to Castle Hill, 20 miles ; Castle Hill to the Cass, 16 miles ; Cass to Bealy, eight miles ; Bealy to Otira Gorge Hotel, 14 miles ; Otira to Jackson, 14 mile 3 ; Jackson to Tipo, nine miles ; Tipo to Kumara, 17 miles. Springfield to Castle Hill is one of the stiffest parts of the journey, and is a good afternoon's work. It would ba advisable to stay the first night at Castle Hill, the following day pushing on to the Bealy for dinner, then to the Otira Gorge Hotel, staying there overnight, and making Kumara the following morning. There is no settlement between the various accommodation houses, and I would strongly advise anyone trying the trip to be sure that his repairing outfit is complete, and that he carries a complete change of clothing. — Demon. NOTES BY DEMON. A committee meeting of the Dunedin Cycling Club was held in the clubroom on Monday evening, the president (Mr Stilling) occupying the chair. A draft of the annual report was submitted before circulation among the members. It was resolved that the club's delegate be requested to bring forward and support certain amendments at the annual meeting of the Alliance, in reference to the present racing standard and classification of machines. It was also decided that the annual meeting of the club be held on the evening of Saturday, the 18th inst. The Austral "Wheel Race in Melbourne has been fixed for December 8. A tandem record for English professionals was established lasb month by E. Oxborrow and H. H. Sansom, who covered 100 miles in shr 18min 7sec. The honour, attached to the holding of a record is a somewhat ephemeral possession nowadays. Two Austrian riders, Lurion and Lugert, recently succeeded in establishing, on a tandem, at Graz, what was claimed as a world's record for any kind of machine Their performance, 2000 m. (li miles), in 2min 47sec, was eclipsed on the very next day by three Italian riders, Gnesutta, Marchand, and Boz ; no, who covered the same distance at Milan in 2min 31sec on a triplet. Adelaide cyclists have already one good cycling track, and another of first-class quality is to be laid down for the incoming scißon. The new track will be four laps to the mile, 18ft wide in the circle, with a straight of 90yds to 95yds, widening out to 25ft, and banked to 3ft.

Zimmerman, the world's champion cyclist, has made his appearance on a French track, aud has beeu defeated. Parisians had been Beading all sorts of rumours regarding the champion round Paris, and the quiet taciturn manner of Zimmerman could not beumlurst-od by the excitable Frenchmen. On the evening of June 13 Zimmerman and his trainer, throwing the admiring Frenchmen oil the .scent, took traio for Florence, and on Sunday, June 17, news came to Paris that Ziinmermau had made an appearance in a 3000 metres race, and Cjine in fourth, behind Wheeler, an American rider, and two others. This defeat must not be

looked upon as anything ominous, as the American champion gradually works up to firstrate form, and on the track gathers experience of his opponents. When ho reaches his best form his pace will bo something torriflo and a surprise to the speedy Frenchmen.

A. V. Linton, an English rider, iB riding very successfully in Paris. Towards tho end of June ho won a six hours' race after a long and desperate struggle, during which all the world's records from 100 kilometres were broken. There were 12 starters, of whom live were- foreigners. During this marvellous struggle Hureb rodo the 50 miles in 2hr 4min 52Jsoc, and tho 100 kilometres in 2hr 34min 25sec. Tho effort had a perceptible effect upon Huret. It was quite otherwise with Linton. During the first hour he only gets warmed to the work, but after this the harder he rides the more he improves. From the 100 kilometres Linton was always in front, and beat his own 100 miles record by no less than 15min, covering tho distance in 4hr 14min 39fjsec. All the new records, trom 100 kilometres, were made by Linton. Desperate efforts were made to get Huret iv front, but he could only stick to Linton's hind wheel, and no more. During the last lap, Huret made another effort to beat Linton, but ho had to succumb by a length. Linton continued ruling at a marvellous speed with a view of beating tho record for 220 kilometres, which ho did in 6hr Omin 20£scc. The distance covered in the six hours was 219 - 866 kilometres, thus beating the record by nearly 15 kilometres. Huret was second, and received a splendid reception at tho hands of the public. A. J. Watson boat tho 10-mile record by no less than 25 2-ssec at the London County Club's race meeting, doing tho distance in 23min 4§sec. This time is a world's record, amateur or professional, for the distance Fournier rodo 10 miles on a continental track in 24miu Bscc, but Meintjes's record is the nearest approach, and that is £sec behind Watson's time.

The annual inter-university cycling contest betweon Oxford and Cambridge was decided at Reading on June 13, when Cambridge won two of the threo events, but Oxford won on the aggregate by 25 points to 38. Three men represented each 'varsity in each event. A clergyman at Pueblo, Colorado, recently preached a sermon specially intended for cyclists. The church was crammed, and at the conclusion someone sent round the hat. Later on the pastor was presented with a magnificent safety.

— - A cycler on a unicyclo has started from America on a tour round the world.

Sunday cyclists having increased so enormously in the United States, tho clergy have been taking counsel as to how they should approach the movement, and in lieu of endeavouring to preach the pastime down as a sabbath-breaking practice they have issued invitations to wheelmen to attend their services and made provisions for safeguarding the machines during the course of the service.

We are informed that George Pinkert, of Hamburg, the inventor of the "Land and Water " tricycle, intends crossing the Channel from Cape Griz Nez (near Calais) to Folkestone at the end of Juno. After various practical trials and improvements, tho "Land and Water " tricycle, it is said, now answers to all demands, and its inventor anticipates that his sensational voyage will prove novel and interesting to the cycling world. The wheels of the tricycle consist of huge air-chambers fitted laterally with projecting blades at intervals, by which propulsion is achieved. A sketch of the •machine afloat with its rider mounted represents the wheels submerged for less than a quarter of their diameter. — Bicycling News. A ladies' bicycle club has just been s l artedat Vienna, under the presidency of Frau Therese Schulz. The uniform chosen consists of a blue skirt with knickerbockers and cap of the same colour, set off with a red silk bodice. The members have determined to cycle for pleasure only, and racing is to be strictly tabooed.

Max Lpbaudy, a millionaire, is a prominent figure in French sporting circles. He is about 21 years old, and is very fond of sport and athletic and other varieties. His enthusiasm for .cycling is great, bub the wheel does not occupy the whole of his attention, for he owns an extensive stable and a yacht.

Albert Schock, an American rider, is riding five miles on the stage home-trainer inside lOmin, and ,the American Wheelman says the excitement at 1 he finish of the exhibition at New Jersey during the Elks benefit was intense. Schock believes that the constant practice has made him so fast that he could now ride a miie in 2min lOsec on the track, and may give races outdoors this summer.

An Edinburgh paper comes out with the very startling information that the bicycle is superseding the horse. It says: "Tho noble equine has long been regarded as man's chief and best help, but it would almost seem as if it was destined to be entirely superseded at no very distant day. That wonderful invention, the bicycle, has quite taken the ' shine ' out of the horse both in the town and country. The man on horseback can ' hold the candle ' to the man on the wheel neither for speed nor endurance. But greatly as the horse is being superseded, it does not appear that tho number in the world is decreasing ; on the cont rary, it is increasing, both in number and quality. It is doubtful, however, if this will continue, for already have the motor and the bicycle caused a perceptible decline in the market value of horses. Truly this is an era of change."

During the month of May last the value of cycles and cycle parts exported from England reached £177,235, tho highest amount on record.

The wheelmen of France are mourning the death of the oldest of their clan — by name Thiret. He passed away at the age of 87, at Hermonville, near Reims, France. He never learnt to master the tricacics of the safety balance till he was 80 years of age, and thus stands a monument to the truth that "it is never too late to learn."

An American paper is responsible for the following: — "Since Zimmy left Mauasquao, N.J., the cyclists do not have their own way. The mayor fined a clergyman sdol the other day for riding on the sidewalk. Oh, Zimmy, come back ! "

A ta'e of a tricycle is related in the Liverpool Courier. The rider of the three-track machine was proceeding through deserted streets late at night when he suddenly felt a blow on the back. He stopped to see who hid thrown some missile at him, but nobody was in sight. On restarting there was another blow on the back. So he turned round and rode back a little, but there was nobody near. After a time of speculation and examination, he discovered that a quantity of thick wire had become attached to the axl-^ near the left wheel, and at nearly every revolution the ends of tho wire rose up and inflicted the mysterious blow. J. ft. Johnson is credited with riding a flying half-mile against the watch in 60sec dead at Savaunah on May 11. A girl who is a sufferer from a loose kncecip has told the writer of a certain cycling paragraph that she gets a great deal of comfott out of her bicycle. She was rather dubious at first in regard to her ability to ride, as che had never been able to sland the strain of skating, horse exercise, or walking, but, after giving ifc

a fair trial, she is enthusiastic in favour of her wheel, and feels that complete recovery is not an impossibility after all. A similar case came under my own notice (writes " Violet Lome" in Bicycling News) not so very long ago. A lady of my acquaintance had suffered from the samo complaint, and took up cycling against the warning of many horrified friends. She afc once found the necessity and benefit of ankle action, and became in a short time one of the prettiest pcdallers I ever remember to have seen. In time the knee becamo stronger, ceased to trouble her at all, and she can now skate, walk, and ride as she has not done for years. Sympathising Friend : " Do you think the brake was at all defective, old man ?"— Cycler (surveying the ruins) : " No, old chap, the break seems quite complete." OTAGO CYCLING CLUB. The annual general meeting of the Otago Cycling Club was held on Thursday evening in Watson's Hotel, about 30 members being present. Mr Sim was in the chair, and moved the adoption of the report (already published) and balance sheet, which was carried unanimously. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows : — President, Mr A. Thomson ; vicepresidents, Messrs W. A. Sim and H. B. Courtis ; captain, Mr W. Begg ; deputy captain, Mr R. Jay ; hon. treasurer, Mr B. Howlison; hon. pecretary, Mr O. Moller ; committee — Messrs J. M'Donald, Oaborne, M'Phie, Muir, Hart, Munro, and Barclay.

Votes of thanks were returned to the retiring president (Mr W. A. Sim), officers, and committee ; also to Mr J. A. Taylor (now in Wellington) for past services as treasurer.

The meeting terminated by Mr Sim, for the members of the club, presenting Mr Howlison, the retiring secretary, with an .elaborate gold albert chain with a neatly engraved pendant attached, for his valuable services to the club since its formation.