CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2272, 16 September 1897, Page 37

CYCLING.

NOTES BY DEMON.

The answer to the bioycle puzzle given last week is 361b. The N.Z. Cyclistß' Touring Clnb has elected the following vice-presidents :—Canterbury, Mr J. B. Fisher ; Ot»go, Dr Batchelor ; Southland, Mr C. R. Edmunds ; Hawke's Bay, Mr J. W. Carlile; Wellington, Sir Robert Stout ;"Auekland, Mr G. D. Ingall ; Westport, Dc M»c»ndrew ; Marlborougta, Dr Cleg horn. 'Xhe election of president was deferred.

A hoy cyclist named Lazaius, while riding from the top of Sbortland street down to Beach road, l«sb his pedals, and having no brake bolted down hill. The bicycle aud rider were unable to make the turn at the end of the road and crashed into & street railing and over an embankment, dropping 30ft. The boy escaped •with - a scalp wound, but the bicycle was wrecked.

The Wellington Amateur Cycling Club decided latt Friday night to oppose the proposal for amalgamation between the League of New Zealand Wheelmen and the Cyclists' Alliance on any terois, and resolved that all clubs affiliated to the Alliance be communicated with suggesting a reorganisation of the Alliance, with the employment of ft paid secretary, and shifting the headquarters of the Alliance if necessary. At the meeting of the Pioneer Cycle Club on the Bth inst. it was unanimously decided to instruct tbe delegates to vote against amalgamation with the League of New Zealand Wheelmen. Members were of opinion that the Amateur definition - of the proposed constitution was so constructed as to make amateurism so difficult thai all riders would join the cash division. Messrs Hay ward and Sutherland, members of the conference that drew up the proposed constitution, spoke strongly against the amalgamation. A resolution was carried that the dab's delegates vote in favour of a paid secretary for the alliance.

At a meeting of the committee of /the Otago CO., held on Monday^ it was decided to fell in with the amalgamation schema now

exciting the minds of cyclists throughout New Zealand. Messrs S. Myers, J. M'Donald, W. Begg, and A. Harris were appointed M.C.'s for the annual social to be held on the 17th inst.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club has decided to instruct its delegates to vote against the proposed amalgamation of the Cyclists' Alliance and League of WheelmeD.

A London cable atates that Barden, the English professional cyclist, has sailed for Australia.

The Linwood Bicycle Club (Christchurch) has been formed, with the following office-bearers : — P/reaident, Mr A. Marshall (mayor of Linwo«d) ; vice-pre«ideots — Messrs J. R. Brent, G. Marshall, J. W. Walker, and T. Beresford ; treasurer, Mr G. Marshall ; secretary, Mr T. Reid ; committee — Messrs Reatieaux, Mole, A. Mar*hall, V-'zer, Taylor, H. SDd C. H&ydoD, Barrett, and Walker. The club is to be affiliated to the League of New Zealand 'Wheelmen.

„ An attempt i 3 being made in New Zealand' to amalgamate the two governing bodies — the Alliance (amateur) and the Le*gue (cash). There is no reason (writes " Philibuster " in the An&tral&sian) why one body should not rule' and mauage both branches, and such an amalgamation would be beneficial to both sides. As far as New Zealand is concerned this must happen, or one side will meet surely go to the wall, and then those on the brokea-down Bids will quietly cut in their lot with the strong, so that the resulb in tbe long run is pratically the same. Amateurs have certainly more to gain from amalgamation than the other tide. It is a well-known fact that it i» quite as difficult to draw a paying gate to an amateur cycle meeting aB it is to sell enough tickets to nil a house at an amateur theatrical performance. Ao amateur lovea to be actively engaged in sport quite as keenly as a professional, yet under present conditions his chances of a fair amount of racing are extremely uncertain. If the two classes wera managed by one head, amateuts would be assured of a race at every sports meeting.' New Zealand need not take these remarks to herself alone.

Tons the Hub:— "Mrs Seddou, the wife of the Premier of New Zealand, is a notable cyclist in her own country. The rational dress movement has her warm sympathy, and she carries her enlightened view into many other departments of activity. . She is radical and progressive, with an intelligence seldom found, and always admired, in the fair sex. She is president of the Women's Social and Politioal League of Wellington, and in that capacity did more, perhaps, than anybody else- to bring about female suffrage in New Zealand. Her husband, by the way, was the chief instrument in passing that measure through the New Ze»laß<s Parliament. Mrs Seddon has several grown-up daughters, most of whom have cultivated the plea&ant art of wheeling-." At a meeting of the committte of the Lawrence Cycling Club, held ou 7fch insfc., Dr Nicol wan appointed btsndicapper, Mr W. Martin timekeeper, and Mr C. Stokes starter. The opening run was fixed for Wednesday, October 8. A medal has been donated the club for presentation to the member who has the best attendance record at club tuns. It was decided in this connexion that no run shall count until v the annual subscription has been paid.

The annual meeting of the Invereargill Cycling Club was held on the 3rd inst., the president (Mr C. R. Edmunds) occupying the chair. The annual report showed that the club is now in a batter financial position than in any former year. Beginning l&Bt year with liabilities of £71 9 a 7d, the club has paid &VJ Is Id of these, leaving a debit balance which, added to acsounls due, totals £51 13i 6d. Agaiesb this there is £18 18s 2d. leaving a deficiency of £32 15s 4d. It is intended to hold a complimentary race meeting in October to clear off this ameunfc. The officers elected for the year are: — President, Mr C. R. Edmunds ; vice-presideufce — Messrs C. Norfchcote, A. F. Hawko', and T. Thompson ; secretaries — Messrs E. Norton and E. Carter ; treasurer, Mr L. A. Bone ; c»p!ain, Mr T. W. Poole ; vice-captain, Mr D. Mitchell ; committee — Messrs A. H. Stock, F. J. Wilson, W. Heyward, Gr. Double, aDd A. B. Edmonds ; bugler, 6. Double ; auditor, C. Ca.ntrell. Several alterations and additions were made in the rules. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers closed the meeti&g. At a later meeting it was unanimously resolved to .support the amalgamation of the Cyolists' Alliance with the League of N.Z. Wheelmen.

J. Platt-Betfcs, the champion English rider, left EDgJand for Auatralivon August 27. Sydney will be hia headquarters, and he will ride only in paced r*c«s and go for records.

■Last year Pktt-Bstts put up the following records in England :— Flying start: Quarb«cailc, paced, 23 3-s!ec, October 17 ; balf-mile, paced, 49 3 ssec, July 28 ; three-quarters of a mile, paced, ltnin 1<- ssec, Jaly 20 ; one mile, paced, lmin 4-leeCi Jaly 20. Sfeapdine start :

three-quarters of a mile, paced, lmm 21£ sec, August 3. This year,, on April 2T,~'fee rodo a mile, paced, from a standing start, in lmin 47 3-ssec, completely. r< losing " previous records for that distance ■■ under , those donditions, the best of. which was lmm 50£ sec, by the American, J. S. Johnson.

The Dunlop Pjaetttahbic Tyre Company hare succeeded in obtaining-* perpetual id junction Against a firm trading as Woodbridga and Co., Birtmugham, restraining them from farther infringing the W&lch pateats, the property of the Dunlop Company. Mr Justice Wills, before whom the matter came, aleo directed the infringing company to deliver up the infringing tyres, and ordered Messrs Woodbridge and Co. to pay damages and costs as between solicitor and cliec-t. The Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company huve determined to remain no longer quiescent whilst their patent rights are infringed, and will in future exact similar penalties.

To prevent thirst while cycling, get a email l«ad bullet, and with a chisel cut a notch in it, moderately deep, wedging a piece^of cord into the cavity so formed. Calculate the length required, and tie a 'small knot so as to allow the lead to rest upon the tougue, with the cord beVween the teeth, knot outside. With this upon his tongue, the rider will find his month and throat remain cool and moist for any length of time.*

At a charity sports meeting held at the end cf last month in Sydney there were two Chinese bicycle races on the programme. Only one rider (Hock Sing, of Narrandera) showed any pace. He won his heat so easily that he decided to go for the mile record (unpaced), covering the distance in 2min 43»ec. Alt bnt one of. the Chinese competitors rode in touriDg or ordiaary clothes. Hock Sing, who is a member of the Narrandera branch of the league, went to the other extreme. He appeared in a pink satin jacket and cap and white knickers, and on his breast he wore a large spray of pink flowere. HockSinp, starting off 140 yds, rode ia a heat of the Carnival Handicap, but at the end of two laps he was behind everyone.

Tbe question, " What gear shall I use ?" is one that is often asked in these, bicycling days. No absolute rule will apply to all, but suggestions from people of experience may be followed *o good advantage. Comparatively . few people have a , clear idea of what "gear" means. A mechanical expert describes it as follows : "A safety bicycle has a chain running over two toothed wheels, and as the toothed wheel at the back is eroaller than the one in front it revolves more rapidly. The toothed wheel at the back is fixed to the driving wheel, and consequently the driving wheel revolves offcener titan the driver's feet.. Now if the driving wheel is 28iu in diameter — the usual size of men's machines— aud if ibis made to revolve twice for every revolution of the pedals, it will propsl the machine just; as far eich time as if a driving wheel double the size were used which only revolves once for every time the pedals go round. It ia the same thing as if the diameter of the driving wheel were doubled, and we apeak of such a machine as being ♦ geared ' to 56. If the driving wheel is 26in in diameter — the usual size of ladies' machines— and it is made to revolve two and one-half times for each revolution of the pedals, it becomes the equivalent of a 65in wheel, and the machine- is said to be • geared ' to 65." In choosing a gear it should be borne in mind that the higher tbe gear tbe more slowly the pedals revolve wheu the machine is travelling at a given rate cf f peed ; but the harder the rider has to preßS on them. If no difficulty is experienced in getting his feet around fast enough, but he finds that pressing so hard on the pedals makes his muscles ache, ib is a euro indication that the gearing ia too .high. On the other hand, if the pedals go round almost without any pressure, and it is the rapid up-and-down movement of the legs that tires him, he will know that the gear is too low. The convenience of th^e muscles is the chief thing to study. A ■ rider having plenty of strength in bis legs can advantageously use a high gear, while a rider weak in the legs, but whose movements are rapid, will find a low gear of greater service. For men who like to travel at a moderate rate of speed a gear ranging from 66 to 72 is not too high. For riderg who aspire to the speed of a Stocks or a Barden a gear ranging from 75 to 105 will be found within the bounds. Little "Jimmie" Michael, the wonderful Welsh racer, uses a gear of the last-meutioutid feize. For women, gears ranging from 56 to 65 will be found advisable.

In a letter to a Melbourne friend, Parsons relates a little experience he met with on the voyage across from Southampton to New York on board the ocean liner Sb. Paul.' The beds in the cabins are pneumatic, and, in common with othfr ladies, Mrs Parsons has a habit of sticking her hat pins in the b>kl when she takes off her hat. On this occasion she stuck the said pins in Mr Par«on»'s bed, and when he turned in he. found his couch punctured and the &ie slowly escaping. By midnight the ex-champion hnd sunk down to bedrock, and slept on the hard boards all night. Tho steward repaired the puncture next day.

If yon have taken to cycling for healthseeking reason;), and in consequence one of the chief objects of a ride is for the purpose of inducing perspiratioß, let not the perspirationstarbitig part of your ride be on the run out — that ie, if you intend halting at the outer end of the j»urney. To the turning point for homo let a moderate pace be taktn, as a sorb of preparatory warming-up ; but when once your face is turned toward home, then pile on as much steam as you can carry to the fioishing point without let-up. This once reached, lose not a moment; in sheddtrvg every garment you have ridden in, rub your»elf vigorounly with a coarse tewcl, and then get beneath the shower bath. If tke Jnttsr bo a bit too rigorous for you, let its pluce be taken by a sponge baVb, with the water as cold as you can stand. Fioish oo with

alcoh»l well, rubbed in by the naked hand, and the reault will -. be entirely satisfactory, no , matter from what standpoint it is considered. ,

In a dangerously'hilly district in the North of England a^ religious enthusiast has , stuck up notice* in»tead of the ordinary danger boards. These run to such phrases as " Prepare, to-inset thy Doomy&or " Are you Saved ? " and the effect on passers-by- is more thrilling than pleasant.

Kexb to notions for pneumatic tyres, inventions for accelerating the speed of cycles or increasing power up-hill have probably contributed most liberally to the funds of the Patent Office. ' Over dodges foe storing up power in a coiled spring which, winding up on down grades, assisted the rider when a hill was to be climbed inventor* haVe racked their brains for years. The latest thing in this direction is the cycle-motor, which, whether it proves a com-plete-success or not, is certainly a wonderful little machine. The invention of two American gentlemen, ib weighs but 12-^lb, nnd is only 14-in high ; yet it iuaa at a speed of 1200 revolutions a minute, and develops l£-h p. Oil or petroleum is the fuel that is commonly used, : and the contrivance can be attached to any safety bioycle in five minutes by anyone. Without Vany assistance from the rider, whose feet wilPVimply ttavel round with tha pedals, a speed 'of 10 miles an hour can be maintained until the supply of oil, carried in the hollow framework of the machine, gives out. With eatle'aid froru the rider, a trip of over 200 miles on English roads was recently made at the rate of 14£ miles per hour, and the motor stood the- test perfectly. Cyclists are by this 'time somewhat sceptical whoa assured that a perfect power provider has at last been devised ; but the faotthit one of tho biggest motor firms is at the present time, fittiug this clever invention to Us motor-cycles will raise a hope in the breasts of many.

Most of »s know the delightful experience of travelling ia tbe wake of a firing b»ud of wheeler* when thcTroads are de«p< with dtist, and which, thrown up by tbe wheels of 'the aforesaid wheelers, forms a thick cloud, through which but very little of the perspective is visible. Ey^s, nose, and ears choked with dust, and tha body transformed into an ambulating dust you determinedly charge the floating wall, whilst forcibly anathematising an unkind fate that cast one in such a clime. But Eogli»h cyclists don't know what; dusb is — if some foreign travellers are to be believed. Anyone who has been to Kashgaria will readily admit that the dust which prevails there knocks the whole of creation into fUs. Kasbgaria does not do things by halves. We are told that " daring a storm complete darkness prevails. Itmay happen that it may culminate in a heavy fall of rain ; but tho raindrops evaporate during descent, and the dust carried with them forms in lumps like hailstones ! Entire forests of poplar trees are continually being buried in -.deep • floods ' of this detestable dust, which rises here and there in hillock* 40ft ia height. Even if tbese deposits are afterwards swept away by the wind, the trees that have been buried cannot recover from the damage inflicted, and shortly, if not immediately, wibher [ and die." These, that's dust, if you like ; and I the next time you get a speck in your eye don't < sulphurise the ground around you, but think of I Kasbgaria.

Cyclists will be intereited to hear that a French doctor has been investigating the proper nutriment for a long-distance ride, and bas concluded that no meat or other nitrogenous food should ba taken whila doing the day's work, but that the ideal refreshment h» fruit and milk. He says that if fluid be taken, ia frequent rather thau long draughts, with fruit when milk cautfbt be had, the body loses le&sb heat. ' — ~- The almost universal use of the bicycle and the appearance of diseases that arise from its use havtt developed the bicycle physician. Dr Eirl S. Bullock ia a bioycle specialist. A wheelman for many years, he has made a study of tbe so-called bicycle diseases, and has gained much interesting information. " The trouble all arieen," says Dr Bullock, "from overdoing." The century run has proved a popular fad, but a very fcolish one. The wheel, as a means of exercise, is valuable, provided the cyclist rides just enough to gain a pleasant feeling of exhilaration without so greatly fatiguing himself that he is a wreck for hours afterward. " Take the century run, for example. You have no idea of the aggregate of foot pressure that is necessary to pcopel a wheel 100 miles. It must of necessity iujare the rider, so great is the strain. This strain does not, ac some suppose, bear upon every muscle, but only upon a certain set. The effect on the heart of riding is the same as that produced by alcoholic beverages. Both stimulate. If a little stimulant — alcoholic— is occasionally taken, do evil effect is discernible. Over-in-dulgence, however, makes one a physical wreck the next day. So it ia with cycling. Ride a few mileo, just; enough to exhilarate, and the result is beneficial. Take too long a ride, and the next day the rider feels as if he had drunk too much. These facts have been demonstrated to me by personal experience." Indiarubber is in a fair' way to become one of the prime necessities of civilisation. Numberless human beings in the class which could not afford wet nurses owe their lives to the feeding bottle. Everjbody knows that the use of pneumatic tyres for cycles and solid rubber tyres for horse vehicles has enormously increased our consumption of this article ; but, quite apart from that more obvious fact, indiarubber is daily introduced more and more into all sorts, of machinery. Highly competent judges say that if the oubput could be doubled within a year so many new applications of the material would instantly arise that the price would not fall appreciably. As a matter of fact, the »xport of Para rubber bas increased within the laat 25 years from 5600 tons to 20.000 from: tttd tbo price fetched >j..tbe b«st

quality has risen coneider&My daring the last few months. It it the one jungle product which society finds indispensable. Hundred* of men hay» racked their brains to produce a substitute, but none hare in the least? degree succeeded ; and such attempts must be pcrinaneatly discouraged by the knowledge that: indiarubber exists in limitless profusion upon kaown spots of the world's surface which may at any time be made accessible. In any of the swampy equatorial regions, where vegetation gcowa tank and sappy, so that a knife will slash through branches as if they were choose, there is pretty certain to occur some one or two of the score of trees which produce rubber. Whole forests of thern^ are known to exist in Central Africa, only waiting to be tapped. But the regions which produce them are precisely the regions most deadly to the white man ; and when the rubber is made it has to, come to the ooasfc on the "heads of negroes, and will not pay the cost of transport. When an accessible forest is discovered it pays like a gold • mine. For example, " a. tree was. discovered, bear Lagos which was believed to produce rabber ; specimens of bark and foliage were gent to'Kew Gardens, in London, and the authorities there ' pronounced it the" right thing." In 1895 the export from this «ne source began, and amounted in the year to 2263 tons, with a v*lue > 0f.£275,000 in round figures. The Willow Grove track at Philadelphia it s»id to be the fastest in the' world. The aurf*co is of pinowood, 2 x 4-, laid lengthwise. The finishing straight is 40ft wide, ' and the narrowest point is the back stretch, 26ft wide. The maximum banking is Bft. The surface has been planed aud painted olive-green. ■'' • The writer who 12 months back pre« dieted that the finality of all records was near at 'hand was evidently living before' his time. The Brighton-nnd-back record is a case* in point th^t; fibality is still a myth of the dim and distant future. Nine years ago, when thrf l*-tJ Jem Selby created the Brighton-and-back ot^Ph record of 7nr 50miu with his almc^t unF.w&vd relays of horses, it \»*s thought highly sumptuous that 'four- oyclisto — Q. L. KLvw&t W. Walker, S. W. Schaf*r, and E. J. WittU— should hope to lower bii. colours <xc » fitiylo safety. When they succeeded in tfetir aAlotawd task, taking turn and turn abcu*> wn! -vi»fs-?f our memory Borvei us faithfully, 7&c KtoW an. their solid-tyred " Ormonde*" all the worM tusg with the plaudits of their feat. From time to time further onslaughts bnve been made on Frtther Time, until, a few weeks ago, Neason succeeded in doing shr 19min 36sec. This wai again reduced last week to shr 9tnin 45rec by "Dick" Palmer, and now the question is — not has finality been, reached, but' — who is going to be tho fh**t man to crowd the classic 106 miles into five hours? — Bioyqling News. Could there' be a great handicap race in which contestant* along various lines. were engaged, the importance of the bicycle would be apparent:. The swimmer would travsl. over the shortest course. If -the,' track were 10 designed as to gfte him a tbrie-minute 'task, his distance would bs 251 yds, which ik .his.record for swimming.- ' Next would come a man rowing, ,with a distance of 83tyds. A? man rmmh>g would be the next highest, the distance giron him to cover being 1274 yds. Next the skater, with 1920 yds. Immediately in front oE the skater would come the trotting-borse, which lis able to go 2520jrds in 3tain. A iiiau on a bicycle can tr*-v»l faster. than any horse 'can trot. The record for , 3min is 2840 yds, riddsu by James Michael— a distance only beaCeia by ' a racehorse and a train, and a woiideif ul ■ y*ca for a. vehicle propallcd by the ruusculir jjowec of a human being. The record for .the racehorse is 3080 yds in 3niin ; but tVi&t of tKo train far «ceed» thi», of course. The highest speed for 3tnin by a train is five miles. *-

A paragraph having gone the rounds of tbe Bogligh prnss to the effecb that the bicycle of the late M Bl'ondin was put up for auction, in Fraece and knocked down for the mi*er*blo sum of Is Bd, Mr H. G. Blondin, the son of " the hero of Ni»gar»," came forward with the statement that the whol* affair is a mere fabrication of some imaginative journalist. " The bicycle of my deceased father is still in my possession," he eaye, " and h«.snobbfeen offered for sale at any time. He never had anything sold in Frcuce. I may mention that my father never crossed the IWle on a bicycle. The Qrsfc time be crossed the rope on a bicycle was in London, a* the Crystal Pa-lace." — - Dr E B. Turner has been writing about the c-ff«cb of cycling on the band*. He says any distortion of the kind is only possible in v the< case of a very delicate girl under 20, whose muscles are entirely deficient in tone. The doctor added tbab'he had himself ridden for 13 years on all kinds of machine), &nd hi* bands, if anything, are a trifle smaller than before he began. Cycling, the same authority sayp, has no effricb on the feet. It certainly does nofe enlarge them. At sunset, when tbe cloudless sky Scarce hides from view the realms above % When whispering zephyrs sweetly sigh' - Of harmony, and peace, and love- ; - When night }s hastening to her birtb, , • O'erspreadiag her encircling gown, f ' ' Then sallieth the cyclist forth,' ■ „4

To find hig ble3«ed tyre's gone down !

DUNEDIN CYCLING CLUB. ' • A general meeting of the Dunedm Cycling Club was held in the Chamber of _ Commerce on Wednesday, Bbh inst. Mr C. B. Grierson occupied the chair, and there wera about 50 members present. For the position of deputy-captain, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr F. M'Kechnie, Messrs A. Ailchesop. and J. M'Milltn were nominated, wad en a ballot being taken *br former was declared duly elected, while Mr W. Speight was appointed treasurer. Mr Tonkiwson moved, and Mr Belk seconded — " That the resolution passed afc the anuual general meeting in favour of holding an art union be rescinded.'' Mr Dk Beer moved as an amend men t, sad Mr R. Crow -seconded — "That the art union be gone on vr ibh." The amendment, on being pub to the meeting, was declared losfc, and the motion war subsequently carried. The meeting then proceeded to the consideration of the proposed amalgamation of the New Z«aland Cyclists' Alliance with fcho League of New Zealand Wheelmen. After considerable discussion, Me Suixivah moved -and Mr Obbbll seconded — "That we instruct our delegates to voto against the pro* posed amalgamation." Mr R. Ckow moved as aia amendment, whidt, Mr Minn seconded — " That this club supports the proposed amalgamation." The amendment w&a carried.

Messrs Bell, Minn, Grew, and Arndfc irere appointed a •üb-commifctee to consider the pro* posed rutes of amalgamation, and report to fl* general committee.

Messrs R. Crow and Minn were cppowtcrif dolsgates to meeb the directors of .the- HJalqn donian Society and qonfer as to the beet meant of improving the track and conveniences. A vote of thft&» to (to chair.m*u tetmjjaft^l thopw«wdwfi«. .