Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 41

CYCLING NOTES.

BY DEMON.

Mr D. Haynes, of Dunedin, has purchased the New Zealand business of the Austral Cycle Agency. The price has not been made public, but it is freely rumoured that £20,000 is somewhere about the figure. E. A. Wall, under most favourable conditions on the Leeston cycle track endeavoured on Friday last to break existing records. He Was paced by five tandems and a triplet and a quadruplet,, but his attempts failed. His time for 10 miles was 23min 18sec, Archer holding the record with 22min 28sec. For 25 miles Wall's time was 59min 32sec, whilst Archer's time was 57min 52sec. In one hour Wall travelled 2§ miles 410 yards, Arol.er's record for this time being V 5 miles 1585 f yards. Before starting for the hour's record Wall endeavoured to break the quarter, halt, and one mile record, but owing probably to the pacing being too slow, failed in his attempt. The total takings at the Balelutha Cycling Club's fancy fail amounted to £95. The club are now in a position to clear off all debts and hold a small credit balance.

A smart young drivei got taken down pretty sharply at Timaru the other day. He had persipted in keeping the wrong side of _ the road in order, that he and his two mates might have some fun out of two cyclists who were approaching. As there was a bank by the wayside, the latter were completely hemmed in, and barely scraped past the wheel of the trap, while the smart one laughed and was cheeky. The cyclists gave up their journey and dogged the trap for miles. The driver didn't like the look of things, and made a long detour, hoping to shake off the riders of the wiry steeds, but in vain, for at last, in a wayside village, they got a policeman, who fixed up the preliminaries of a charge before Magistrate Wray. His Worship remarked that although there were three witnesses (the occupants of the trap) against two, it was not reasonable to suppose that the cyclipts would have followed the vehicle for so many miles unless there was* a good reason for it. He therefore fined the practical joker J&l, and he had to pay 13s 6d costs; the complainant too considerately claiming nothing for loss of time. The act, Mr Wray said, was very clear: "Who drives any vehicle whatever, or rides any animal, and when meeting any other vehicle or animal does not keep on the left or near side of the road or street

. . . " and the fine for the offence might be as much as £10. — Timaru Herald.

Mr Clem Fisher, well known here as a champion in. the days of the old ordinary, is over from Melbourne just now, arranging the transfer of the business of the Austral Cycle Agency to Mr D. Haynes. He leaves for Christchurch and Wellington to-morrow to complete the sale.

The Cycle of 4th March, has the following, which should prove interesting to my readers. I have not heard of the contemplated visit, but the sentiment of the paper is welcome : — The team of New Zealand footballers yclept, but incorrectly, Maoris secured a hearty welcome when they visited us a few years back. But should we bo visited next emnraer by ajjaxty of New Zealand cyclists

their greeting will be of an eyeft more enthusiastic character. An effort is being made to secure such a visit, and many letters have passed upon the subject, r Money matters remain to be arranged, for- the expense, of such, a trip must necessarily -be great, but it ip not proposed that the. New Zealanders should take the visit in quite a serious sense. They would be warmly welcomed ; they would be provided with ample opportunities to secure a full share of sport, and their brief stay in the old country should strengthen the bonds of unity with our brothers across the sea.

The action of the Dunlop Tyre Company against W. S. M'Combe, of Sydney, came on for hearing before his Honor the Chief Justice last month. This was an application, by the plaintiff company for an ordor for an injunction restraining the defendant from selling, offering for sale, and .advertising for sale, oi otherwise placing upon the market, in the colony of New South Wales any of the j>laintiff company's tyres or tyre covers which are not wholly .manufactured by the plaintiff company or which have been in any way altered after being manufactured by the j)laintifFs until the hearing of the suit. By consent, the application was turned into a motion for a decree in terms of the prayer in the statement of claim, and his Honor thereupon? granted a perpetual injunction os asked for. Several othei actions of a similar chnracter are pending throughout the colonies, as the pioneer tyre company have decided to put an end to illegal trafficking with Dunlnp goods.

A bill against six days' races has been introduced into the New York Legislature. This bill makes it a misdemeanour for any contestants in a bicycle race or other contest qf skill or endurance io continue in such contest after the expiration of 4-8 hours for a longer time than 12 hours out of each 24 hours, and any manager of a track permitting such violation will also be guilty. This bill is the outcome .of the disgraceful exhibition which took place in New York last year, at six daye' races, when men, disregarding the laws of nature, refrained from sleep, and persisted in continued pedalling until their reafous tottered and they laboured under hallucinations, amusing the onlookers with insane anlicn just as though they were .under the hypnotic influence of a Professor Kennedy.

The monthly. meeting of the committee of the Otago Cycling Club, held on Monday evening, was attended by Mepsrs M'Donald, Courtis, Moller. Alloo, Jago, Begg, Crawford, Cowie, Townsend, and Stokes. It was resolved that the annual road race take place on the 24th May next, and also that a billiard tournament bo held at an early date, when good prizes will be given. Several new members were elected.

■ William Martin, American cyclist, much-travelled, much-abused, and withal not without fioiisands of admirers, is in Australia again. A mass of nerve and muscle, with the heart of a lion, the speed of an express, the peculiarities of a genius, the temper of a Satan when crossed, as gentle as a lamb otherwise, and as generous and open-hearted as one could wish, is in Melbourne. He intends to stay. The Australian Cyclist presents an excellent photo of Martin taken on his arrival, in which he appears the picture of health, with the same bland expression as of yore. Martin is well known in Adelaide, and he knows more of this city and its surroundings than -a good many who have lived here for years. His South Auetralian experiences were none too pleasant, but I take it that should he appear here again on the racing path the attraction would eclipse even Zimmerman's first appearance. Martin is anxious to race any one willing to take on for £250, and does not seem particular as to the nature of the contest. Martin fell into the hands of thtf A.C. special, whoso chat with the

American makes good reading. "Marfcirr coiv siders Van Heerdon the king of South 'Afrfc can cyciisls, and describes him as a-wonder-ful rider, standing over 6ft high, and weighing close on lost. Not unlike Merkel, surely ! Referring to the Boers, Martin said : " About Grahamstown and Johannesburg you run across them everywhere. The racial hatred, as it is called, between the British and the Boers is mostly newspaper talk. All the while I was there I did not witness any extensive disturbance, although I musfe say that some of the Boer cyclists treated me in hardly square" fashion. In Johannesburg the police force is very strong. At almost every corner you will find a police officer parading- up and down. Judging by their numbers, I reckoned that there were more policemen to the square acre in Johannesburg than in any town -I ever visited. The fortifications around this town are of the most quaint description, and are manned by native troops.' The way they strut about reminds one very forcibly of a small yard full of turkeyepeks. The German Jews are very plentiful, and want to bos 3 the whole s,how. ' As to his future movements Martin continued : "I have not finally settled what I shall do, but as my disqualification by the Adelaide League finished up last October, X am free to do as I like. Sly present idea is to fix up with a good wheel. I am not going to ride anything but what I think the best, ond then turn right in on training. A few days will make all the difference, and work off the effect of my lazy spell aboard ship. When I have had time to Jook about I shall be in a better position to. say what my plans are. However, I think I can safely say that I am here to stay. I shall ride at- the forthcoming metropolitan meetings, and then probably visit Western Australia or Queensland for the off season', returning in time for next season's "racing. I hope 'to give a good account of myself this trip, as I am in perfect health, and feeling as young as a 24-year-older." — Adelaide Observer.

On Saturday, April 15, A E Fuller, of the Albury Bicycle Club, succeeded in lowering the Albury to Melbourne recbrd (200 miles), lately established by E. A. Pearson, the umll-known Sydney road rider. Fuller reduwd his previous record by 4hr 16min, and beat Pearson's record by 14min (says a Melbourne exchange). The rider left Albury at 5 a.m.. and teached the Melbourne G.P.O. at lOmin past 8 p.m. The pacing arrangements were good- for the first part of the journey, but in the remaining portion one of the pacers punctured, and another did not know the road. The first 101 miles of the journey were negotiated in the fast time of 6hr 50min. The roads in parts were" bumpy and rough, and cross winds had to be encountered. Fuller hae lowered three, road records within as many weeks — Albury to Benalla, 150 miles, in lOhr 55min : a local 25-mile record, in lhr 15min 4sec; and his latest achievement, Albury to Melbourne, in 15ht lOmin. He has also ridden a little over 1400 miles in five weeks.

; Long Wing, a smiling Chinese, was the first cyclist amongst his countrymen to appear at the District Court in Victoria charged with riding on the wrong side of the road. A bad expuse is better than none, but when. Long Wing . told, the Bench." the wind had blown him across the road and he had been unable to get' back, the #tatoment raised a smile in court, and he paid a 5s fine.

French , cycle thieves, wbj> havenertainly raised their profession to the dignity •of a fine "art. have lately been .practising a new trick o£ great ingenuity, .The "'gentry work in pafrs, one without- a s machine - and the other provided with a thoroughly up-to-date 1^ cycle. This is put with the others that may be found at any popular house of call. After a short interval the wheellesa man casually walks up to the stack, and, taking a bicycle, quietly rides off. Nine times out of ten he gets safely away. If the 'right ful owner notices his loss, the thief looks over the mount, and then, discovering his " mistake," apologises profusely. He points out his companion's mount as his, and , laughingly congratulates himself that the error lias been discovered in time, for he, and he alone, would have been the loser by the exchange. And then drinks round is the order of the day, and the riders separate on the best of terms. The ' German military authorities propose spending at once £5000 on motor cars. Tf they should be anything like the following, extracted from Cycling, no wonder they find fa your amongst war officials: — (Seene — A narrow lane. A man springing oui of the way.) WRRR! Louder and more loud. O'er the hilltop appears at last, Smells pure petroleum round the tank's, brim; Where, panting and puffing, it lies. Many a waft comes o'er the-rinr -Down yonder lane; it cornea thie.-way Just on me, not an hour away. But forth a wavelet of smoke curls, Till the whole world is quite suppressed. Dark, smelling, and its puffing breast Flickers, throbs, grows hot, and overthrows, With noise — the world. 0 noise! if I hear another sound of thee, . A mite 61 thy great treasure, The least of thy smells or throbs, O .noise, I shall collapse at leisure. •' Nearer! nearer! on me it comes, Whirring, jai-ring; where the pleasure? On me, near me; on me at last — " Pip-ip, pip-ip/' it cries. It thumps— The motor car is past. In the .course of some experiments with a new tyre, recently invented by himself, Mr W. J. Boothroyd discovered a new method of filling tyres with air. and at the same time dispensing with the ordinary valves which are at prf-sent fitted to all tubes. Mr Boothroyd was experimenting with single tube tyres, and he desired to fill the tyre with air without having recourse to the valve. To do so he burnt a small hole in the tyre, and inserted an ordinary single tube rubber patch— rthat is, one of the flat-ended rubber teats — out first of all he pierced it with a long needle. After solutioning the patch in the^ usual way, he inserted a fine pump nozzle into the needle hole, and blew up the tyre. When he withdrew the nozzle he was surprised tc find the air did not escape. This invention will enable valves to .be dispensed with in singls tube tyres, as a patch may be put in near the rim, and should answer the purpose of a valve equally well. '-- — Yet another cyclist in America it essaying to coy.er 100 miles a day throughout the year, this time an American nam« Stafford, of Boston, Massachusetts, a pacemaker for "Plugger" Martin during las* season. One would have thought that, seeing the hopeless collapse of " Teddy " Edwards after he had completed 250 centuries, others would have been deterred from attempting a repetition of this foolhardy kind of record-breaking. Stafford also rides a chainlets eyclo. lie is checked six times during each hundred by responsible people, «ho read his cyclometer and mark the tiffi*

pf his arrival and departure on a card cariied by him. An acetylene "candle is the latest 'development. It is intended to fit -the well 6f an ordinary cycle lamp when the usualwick burner has been removed. The " candle" is manufactured from calcium carbide, yhioh is wrapped in blotting paper. The oilWell forms the reservoir, being partly filled ;with water, which enters through a valve at the bottom of the candle. The blotting paper

Assists in the equal distribution of the moisv ture, while the gas pressure is said to control the valve and prevents too large an influx of Crater. A point made in its favour is (says She "Wheel") that upon taking it out of the water it will cease burning in ten. minutes, thus preventing the unnecessary waste of carbide.

The majority of the bicycles to be seen Jn. Upper Egypt are of American and German make An amalgamation of eight of the leading American saddle makers has taken place. The total capital is £400,000. ■ A general impression exists amongst those interested in paced racing and record Irials that the rider being paced by multicycles practically rides in a vacuum. This is taofc so, for an English authority states that to create a vacuum a body must move at the rate of 600 miles an hour, which of course is not attainable nor desired by cyclists. Whilst fcreaking up the old illusion with reference to the existence of a vacuum, there can be no getting away from the fact that the difference between paced and unpaced trials is positive proof of the advantages derived by the paced rider, who undoubtedly is assisted by being protected from the wind, and also helped by-a certain amount of suction.