CYCLING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 41

CYCLING NOTES.

The formal opening of the cycling season, particulars of which ceremony are given below, now launches us in a proper manner into the enjoyments of our time of pleasant cycling. All thoughts of winter seclusion are at an end, and we now look forward with lively anticipation to a dry spring and summer. At present there is little local newf stirring, but I have no doubt that what with racing and other fixtures coming on we shall soon have enough of interesting happenings in our midst.

That Platt-Betts has sustained no serious injury from his recent smash-up lie further showed in August, when »on the Crystal Palace "track he annexed a couple of world's records, the quarter mile and half mile, with a flying start. The new figures are 2^l-Ssec and 44- 2-ssec. The previous holders were Megson, the Australian, and Taylor. A cycle race meeting was held at Mayence at which the chief event was the race for the Emperor's prize, and an enormous crowd had assembled to witness the contest. According lo the conditions stated on the progiamme, the winner of the race was to receive the prize ; but at the last moment a telegram came from the Emperor's Civil Cabinet in Berlin, stating that his Majesty wished the prize to be given only to one of the former three winners ; if anyone else came in first he was to receive merely a diploma and the usual large gold medal. Some unpleasant scenes followed the announcement of the Imperial order. 'The public demanded that the Emperor's prize should be given to the victor, as promised; and in the end the race was postponed.

A balloon v. cyclist race was recently held in Paris. Four balloons, each carrying a cyclist with his machine, started from the Tuileries Gardens at 5 o'clock one afternoon, their object being to descend at some distant point where the aeronaut could pack up his balloon and the cyclist despatch a telegram before being captured by their pursuers, mounted on bicycles and motor-cycles. The pursuers had an hour's start, taking their direction from a number of small pilot balloons, and they succeeded in capturing one of the aeronauts and his bicyclist near Ablon. One lucky one, however, descended at Corbeil and escaped. Frequent bathing, regular habits, plain diet, plenty of sleep and abstinence from alcholic liquors are the regimen prescribed by the doctors for the avoidance of sunstroke by wheelmen. This prescription, carefully followed, will make a pretty good citizen out of any man, and it would be well if everybody would accustom himself to it on that account quite irrespective of the weather or cycling. There is greater inducement to practice it in hot weather, however, and it should be begun at once. Now is the time to reform.

Fast friends : a couple of scorchers on a tandem.

The cycling season was officially opened on Saturday afternoon, when a combined club run to the Botanical Gardens was held. More auspicious weather could hardly have been desired, and the afternoon turned out warm and sunuy, with but little wind and dust. About 200 cyclists mustered at the foot of High street at tho appointed hour, and shortly after 3 p.m. the procession moved off with the Mimiro Club in the lead. Next in order were the Dunedin Cycling Club, the Otago, the University, the Boys' High School, the Massey-Harris, and the N.Z.C.T.C. Considering the large number of members belonging to these clubs, it must have been a little disappointing that there were not more cyclists in the procession, but still 200 can make a very good show, and this number must have been considerably augmented en route. Passing along Cumberland street, the procession turned up Stuart street into George street. Here the copious watering from the corporation sprinklers had made the roadway very slippery, and between dodging now metal and steering past trams and vehicles some of the ladies became apprehensive i\s to their ability to get safely through. Happily, no mishap occurred to cause delay, and progress lo Duke s-treet was the matter of a. few minutes. Tho Gardens were entered from the Castle street end, and wheelmen and whcelwoinen swept round the a-phalt curves safe in the conscioubnesb that lor one day they were immune from the dire penallie« of riding on the footpaths; permission for thin invasion bavins; bfien duly obtained from the City Council. Up tho hillside above the Gardens a halt, was made, and a huge group photograph was taken of the whole party. The eagerness of a large number of small boys to figure prominently in tho photographic record was very marked, and cauM-rl the photographers (Messrs George Moodie and W. Melville) no little trouble to ppruiia'le them to obscure themselves for the time baing. Half it dozen plates having been exposed, the group broke up, and the 1899 combined club run was over. A word of praise is due Captain Bell (D.C.C.) and Captain Gunthorpe (0.C.C.) for the way the arrangements were carried out.

■ A meeting of Otago Centre delegates was held at the D.C.C. Rooms on the 27th. Twelve delegates were appointed, and Mr S. S. Myers took the chair. The appointment of secretary resulted in Mr A. J. Sullivan being elected. Mr W. liegg was appointed official handicapper for the season, and Mr A. J. Sullivan consul for race meetings. The next delegates' meeting was fixed for the third Tuesday in October. The registration of all ridor-t was left in the hands of the secretary. The clubs unrepresented are to be written lo ro appointing delegate. 0 . The Labour Day officials were left in the hands of tho secretary for appointment. The opening day for the season takes place next Saturday, the 30th mat. The following is the route: — From the Triangle down Cumberland street up to the Octagon and along to the Botanic Gardens, where a photograph of the ru'i will be taken. The order of procession will be : — Mimiro Cycling Club, Dunedin C} r cling Club, Otago Cycling Club, Railway Club, University Club, Boys' High School, Massey-Harris Club, N.Z. Cyclists' Touring Club. The procession will start at 2.30 p.m. sharp.

Facts are facts, and figures cannot lie. In spite of the many alarmist statements concerning the dangers of cycling, it would Feem, from the public reports, that the proportion of people injured in cycling accidents is very suuill when compared with the accidents of

the streets from other causes. In the streets accidents are mainly due to the greasy or slippery nature of tho roadway, to tramlines, and to incompetence in the management of the machine. The proportion of accidents to ladies is somewhat alarming, and we have frequently inveighed against the practice of lady cyclists riding in the thickest of traffic at a time when they have by no means learned the -mysteries of the bicycle. Expert riders, men who can ride their bicycles with all the assurance of years of practice, will not venture into thick traffic — they kno\y the dangers there. But it is the inexperienced who are the most reckless. No man, for instance, would care to drive a spirited horse through London traffic if he had ne\er handled the reins before.

Zimmermnn is nettled at a recent criticism, which included the assertion that he is a physical wreck. He says: — "I do not feel that lam a candidate for a hospital. lam as stout as ever I was, even in m}' best days, and I don't feel that I ever mounted a wheel in any other than an awkward way. T always look like a farmer, anyway, and know of no reason for being ashamed of the fact. I trained hard for my appearance in New York, and doubtless trained down in weight. I was never over strong in appearance of my arms, and I believe I never rode in a racing suit which seemed to fit me. I have no lovely curves to show. I believe in my own mind that my ride at Ambrose Park was a credit. My time from scratch for half a mile was lmin 0 JL-5s2C, and that is pretty fast, inasmuch as I did not have the opportunity of taking pace. lam open to just criticism, but feel that an injustice has been done me. I am at least ready to meet any of the riders of to-day, and will race 'them with single pace, the pace to drop out at the quarter. They may come right along now. Mind you, there is nothing- about mo different from what I always was, and 1 want nothing different."

Rat-trap pedals are all but universal in America. They do' "not escape criticism, however. The Wheel indulges in the following soliloquy : "We suppose that manufacturers of pedals, bicycles and shoes do not lie awake nights hating the rat-trap pedal. It it i? simpler and cheaper than the rubber pedal, and it has the additional advantage that it wears out shoe 3. But this particular editorial is not written to please either the makers of pedals and bicyclea nor the manufacturers of shoes. Nor does it concern a few racing men and their imitators. Builders of bicycles have no more right to fit rat-trap pedab to practically all of their bicycles than they have to fit rat-trap saddles. It is not meeting a piiblie demand, but pinching a penny. Which is, in a way, enterprising, flat- trap pedals cause the sale of too-clips. That is good. They hinder the sale of rubbers. That isn't good- There is more money for manufacturers and retailers in rubbers than in toe-clips. Rubbers wear out. And retailers could easily convince people that toe-clips are desirable anyway. But we know some retailors who don't think much. Some riders buy snap-on rubbers for their rat-trap pedals. Most riders don't. Having become hypnotised into the idea that they want a certain bicycle, they accept it as it comes, and keep it so. The percentage of those who know, and say so, is email. Some clay this rat-trap problem will be solved. That will bo when something cheaper is discovered."

A statistical fiend says that if a man could move his legs at the same rate that an ant can he could travel about 2400 mile 3 an hour on his bicycle.

We hear on very good authority, says the Cycle, that next yeajvtsjso^well-known London tracks will be ncr-^ittore,' and that the hands of the jerry builder ""will press heavily upon them. In many ways this Js to be regretted, for it will mean a further diminution in the sport of the metropolis. At the same time one cannot wonder at it. For the past three years cycle sport has dwindled and dwindled in public estimation, until it has become almost impossible for sports' promoters lo make ends meet. A cycle track is an expensive luxury. In the old days, when athletics were, in the ascendency, cyclists used the ordinary running tracks on which to train and race. Nowadays, however, owing to the great pace obtainable, properly banked and cemented surfaces must be provided for the cyclist. This means a great expense, and with the declining public interest in cycle racing it is impossible to make the game pay. Many assert that the growth of professionalism has killed tho public interest, and in some instances this is perhaps true. The public will not go to look at anything about which they are not clear as to the bona fides, and while we give every credit to our present clay professionals for fctraight running and honesty, there is the old smirch of the old professionalism which cannot be wiped out. Professionalism in spoil smacks of the betting man and nefarious practices. It i.-; to be regretted that such is the fact. Every form of athletic sport ha? declined where professionalism is cencerned. We have only to take foot running and rowing as examples, and the worst of it is that in cycle racing the amateur brigade of the present day furnish but poor sport for the gate-paying crowd. The great automobile race of 14222 miles through France has ended in a \ietory for M. de Knyff." A tremendous crowd assembled at St. Germain to see the finish, and as the big Belgian autombile came in sight travelling at a terrific pace, the wildest excitement prevailed. M. de Knyff rode a 16 h.p. Panhaid car, and his time for the whole dihtancc was 44-hr 44min. This v/ork.s out at an average of 31 4-sths miles an hour, so that Charron's record of 29 6-7ths miles an hour in the Paris-Bordeaux race is completely eclipsed. Mr Girarclot came in second, his time being 49hr 33min, and M. Chasseloup-Laubet third, feix minutes later. Both rode Panhard cars. Mr Pinson, who used Charron's famous car, which he purchased after the Paris-Bordeaux race for £1800, suffered a sharp disappointment, as he was unable to obtain a place in the first throe. His total lime was 52hr 32min, which gave him fourth place in the raca. In the motor cycle class M. Teste came in first, his time being 51 hours — a fine performance! M. T.u'l gained second place by arriving 39 minule.-> later. The race is considered the most successful yet organised, and has aroused considerable excitement throughout France. Washington thinks that both police and firemen should be mounted on bicycles. At the last session of Congress an appropriation was made to enable the superintendent of police to purchase 36 bicycles for the use of the police department. The appropriation is now available, and the superintendent has called upon a number of manufacturers to furnish bids for supplying the department with the required number of machines: It is understood that quite a number of bids have been received, and these will be gone over carefully by someone who is familiar with the various makes of bicyclea, who will recommend to tho district commissioners the make of wheel he thinks best suited to the purposes of the police department. .With the addition of 36 machines to the bicycle squad, a very efficient force will be constantly on duty, and it should prove to be one of the most im-

portant branches of the police service. Th"< police bicycle squad has achieved such a large measure of success,' and has become such af satisfactory feature of the capital's police department, that the municipal authorities have decided to establish a similar squad in the fire department. A number of the fire' companies will therefore be provided with ,a wheel each, to be used by a fireman in responding ta what are known as local alarms of fire. The bicycles will be placed in a convenient position in the different engine houses, and th« riders will carry each a pump, provided with several feet of hose. The machine and pump will always be kept in readiness for instant use, and the bicycle will only be used in responding to an alarm. The chief of tin fire department has been experimenting, and in several of the companies men who had bicycles of their own were designated for tha purpose. A report was submitted advent to the innovation, it being stated, among othei queer things, that the company could reach a firo about as quickly as the man on the bicycle would. The report failed, however, to impress the authorities as being worthy of acceptance as a conclusive argument against the establishment of a firemen's bicycle squad, but rather as a disinclination on the part of the chief to adopt the wheel as an addition, to its force. The outcome of the larger experiment to be conducted here will now be ,watched with interest by fire fighters all over the country, and if the Washington trials should prove successful, and there is every reason to believe that they will, it will open up a large field for the sale of bicycles to municipalities. Like all the rest of Europe, the Dutch I apparently have plenty of leisure. At least there are plenty of people who do have leisure (says the American Wheel), and the streets and public places aro filled with holidaymakers to juv extent that seems strange to one fresh from New York. Nowhere, however, in the parks or the streets of the city, are there bicyclists in any noticeable number. A few of either sex are seen, occasionally a soldier in uniform or even an officer with his sword across the handle-bars, but they are few and far between. The Dutch women, in particular, oro not graceful on tho wheel, especially as thoy appear to wear, one and all. their ordinary skirts. A girl or woman in costume has not yet been seen. It might be imagined that the Dutch would take kindly to the wheel, since the roads of Holland are uniformly excellent, and it is possible to go long distances in any direction along the dykes, but this is palpably not th« case. It is evidently not because the paca is too rapid for them, but simply for the reason that they are conservative and are not readily o\ erlaken by a novelty ; in this respect they arc the very antipodes of people in America, who are quick to take up a, thins?, but aro also quick to lay it down apraiu. A wedding couple near Vienna, have been the latest to turn to account the possibilities of the cycle from the matrimonial point of view. The bride (says the Vienna correspondent of the Daily News}, who is a well-known cyclist, and the bridegroom^ who is a repairer of cycles), the bride's page, and about 200 guests rode lo church on bicycles. The gentlemen wore dark blue clothes, white caps, and favours; the bride a, cream skirt, black silk stockings and buckled shoes, a whiie blouse with orange blossoms fastened in her white leather bolt and in her white cap. Thebridal bouquet was attached to 1 the cycle. The bridesmaids wore white, and the bridegroom white flannele. Every wheel in the procession was decorated with leaves and flowers. After church the party took a long spin out to a country hotel, where the wedding breakfast was held. One of the objections to acetylene lamps is the sickly smell of tho calcium carbide when the lamp is opened for recharging. A French scientist recommends paraffin as a way of overcoming this difficulty. He states that if a little of the oil, mixed with a pmall quatity of nitro-benzol, is poured over the carbide, the air will be kept from it, and none of the objectionable fumes will arise. Tha preparation does not interfere with tho propel generatioji^of the gas when the water is introduced, it is said. Tho chairman of an American Cycle Co. lias been expressing the following views on tho subject of the great "combine," or trust, that has recently been formed : — '"A customer will not be permitted lo say v hat sort of saddle, tyres', or handle-bar shall be put on the wheel he is going to buy. That is one of the best things we have done." "Will a customer have any latitude in the exercise of his taste?" asked the interviewer. "Oh, yes; some." " Will he be permitted to say what colour lii« wheel shall be?" "The syndicate shall agree before the season opens what colour each make of wheel shall be, and what sort of attachments shall be provided." * "Would you give a customer the kind of handle-bars he wants?" No. If we <lid that he might want o different coloured frame and different tyres, and there would be the same interminable confusion that has loapt wheelmakcnj from achieving any kind of success. "As conditions are now a manufacturer cannot make wheels ahead and store them, ap in every other line of business, because he does not know what the public taste will be a month ahead. Last season I made nine thou Hand wheels, and had them ready for" trade. As soon as spring opened they had to be made oil over again to satisfy the whime that had arisen." At the Lord Mayor's Court, London, Mr Walter Robert Shire, of Anerley, claimed from Messrs C. T. Swinden and Co., bicycle manufacturers' agents, 15 Walbrook and 22 Queen Victoria street, a sum of £11, the price paid for a lady's bicycle which, ' after trial, was found to b edefeclive, and which the defendants refused to make good under their guarantee. Mr Lewis Glyn (instructed by Mr Trinder) wa3 counsel for tho plaintiff, and Mr Wildey Wright (instructed by Mr Wells) fot the defendants. The plaintiff said that shortly before last Easter he saw a notice in the defendants' window inviting the public to buy of the' maker and save 50 per cent. Pie saw Mr Swinden, and had his OFSuranco that the metal used in the manufacture of the machines was of the finest quality, and that the machines (Fairbanks) wera perfect. On that occasion he took away a catalogue. On reading it he saw that it contained a guarantee for six months only. He saw pomeone at the defendants' premises/ and told him that the majority of English manufacturers gave a twelve months' guarantee, and he should not deal with the defendants unless the lime of the guarantee was extended. It was arranged that a twelva months' guarantee should be given. In consequence of the statements made by the defendants, and also those contained in th« catalogue, he eventually purchased a. machine foi £11. After a few days' trial the tyrea were cut up, and the machine failed to run properly. In consequence of the chain upon the machine becoming tight it was taken to the defendants' place, and the cause could not Ibe discovered. He (plaintiff) uftevwarda

. foimd that the bearings of the sprocket wheel were in a crumbling state. The defendants had been asked to repair the defective parts fcut had refused to do so on the ground that the guarantee had expired, and that if the tepaivs were to be done the plaintiff must pay for them. He declined to do that, and brought the action to recover as damages the £rice of the machine. The defence was that in the material and workmanship of the machine there was no fault which they could be called upon to make good under the guarantee, some of the damage having been caused to the machine by its not being properly adjusted. The time during which the guarantee should run. was never extended in the case of the plaintiff with the defendants' authority.. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for £11, and the assistant judge (Mr Roxburgh) entered judgment accordingly. The New York correspondent of Sporting Life writes as follows regarding the display in America over cycle government: — •t'The war 'between the League of American JWheelmen and the National Cycling Association is as good as ever. The League is whipped, and knows it, the latter being the important point, for the L.A.W. was defeated quite a /while ago, but preferred burying its head in fthe sand rather than look at what was happening about it. With magnanimity that would (never have been extended to it by the League, the N.C.A. has attended its assistance in helping the League make some kind of a success of its annual fathering at Boston thi3 coming month. The League has no men that could draw any attendance at the race meet, and *he N.C.A. is to draw the crowd for it. There jwia no question what the outcome would be from the time I first stated the position of affairs. For quite a while I watched and Nraited till it was becoming assured that the ■men were going to the new body, and knowing that the tracks were solid for the movement, and that so far as the patronising public /was concerned they did not care a brass farjthing under which king the men did battle co long as they, saw them compete and give (good exhibitions in fast time, it was plain the tend of the old League was assured, and now it is leaking out, just as anyone might expect, that the president went abroad to attempt to 'prevent any recognition of the N.C.A. The • final settlement is a matter that concerns the (League, for the public has given up any interest to such a one-sided struggle for supremacy. The Leaglue membership is still steadily declining, and I suppose it will after j 'this year confine itself to the Good Roads (^movement and the supervision of legislation "affecting wheelmen. That is its proper sphere, '$nd -when it went into the control of racing it became the hotbed of wire-pulling for office emoluments that finally led to its downfall." A German has invented a thief -proof device in the shape of an attachment partly fixed on the saddle and partly on the saddlejjpin, which, when ridden by any other perjeon but the owner, produces a detonation, ■owing to the pressure allowing the two points Ifca tou/jh, the lower one acting as hammer, and Swinging about the discharge of the cartridge. liWhat a delightful idea! But we wonder, j«3ays v a Home paper, what would happen if ■■^fche rider- went -over a, stone, and the jerk «ansed the 'cartridge to- --explode. He might -•find it difficult to explain maters to the police. J " I see paragraphs in the -papers," teaicl Wiggles at the club the other night, "" about ' the faithfulness of horses and dogs iwhen their ' owners have met with accidents. Where was a case when a man fell off his horse in the snow, and the faithful Bteed remained hy hisi-master till help arrived. Well, now ■ff can give you a cycling instance. I went -out riding ones with my dog, and the beast - saw a friend on the other side of the road, ■and ran into my front wheel as he cropped 'over. I came down a howler, and lay unconscious for some time. When I same to my trusty bicycle was still lying on top of jne. What do you think of that? " " Well, but where was the dog? " " Oh, he'd gone off with his friend." - When inflating your tyres^^r em ember this. For the back tyre — which should always he harder than the front one — grasp the rim ibnderneath with the fingers of both hands, and press the thumbs into the tyre. They should be able to make a distinct impression, ibut no more. The front tyre may be just a little softer. : In Odessa lady riders are exempt from ithe oycle tax. — It is really marvellous to notice the great -(popularity of the acetylene gas lamp. The oil lamp has been the only light giver of jany importance ever since the bicycle first appeared on the roade. There was some hope that with the rapid progress in invention in connection with electricity a really serviceable, light and cheap electric lamp would come about, but although there have been "several attempts to place an electric lamp on the market, none of the efforts seem to have ■been crowned with success. Indeed, it seems rto us that very few people have given their serious thoughts to-^ie subject at all, for most of the electric lamps which have been p\it forward in the. past have been crude, heavy and unreliable. We admit that there is a igreat difficulty in the matter of the power xequired; but there is no reason, surely, that $dl these years should have passed and nothing (better been obtained in electric lighting for cyclists than the old incandescent plan. Mark this Btagnation in. elpctric lighting with the great etrides which have been made with acetylene Igas lamps. Originally, and this only a few months ago, the lamps made for burning the gas of carbide were extremely heavy, and ."really dangerous to the user ignorant of their jpechanißin. Now, however, thanks to the i Concentration of inventive genius upon aeety,ene lamps, the new light giver is light, safe, axtremely practical, and at the same time cheap. — The Cycle.' , • A lady and gentleman, while en route to the Botanio Gardens, Calcutta, met with a (very unpleasant adventure. On nearing the Sibpore Engineering College (says the Indian "Cyclist), they were attacked by a cow, which managed to insert its .horns in the back wheel of the gentleman's machine, and hurled the machine and its rider off the elevated road into 'the ditch. The cow then gave chase to the lady, but, thanks to her presence of mind and - her ability as a rider, was finable to overtake her, and she found refuge ■within the gates of the Botanic Gardens. The . gentleman escaped with a few bruises and a slightly damaged machine. Two other lady cyclists were chased by the same cow, but managed to out-distance their pursuer. — — At the corner of the New York avenues you can generally see one or two policemen Standing with their bicycles ready to scorch 'after the scorcher when that objectionable " person comes tearing along. Recently the police were in need of a hundred new bicycles, and manufacturers were invited to Isend in their prices. The competition was keen. The highest quotation was £7 10s per bicycle and the lowest £3. Of course, it is hot -right to assume that these prices actually Represent the real value, though I have seen, Eays a writer in The Sketch, hundreds of

bicycles in Chicago offered for lOdol a. piece ; they are of the nature of an advertisement.

CYCLISTS' ALLIANCE. AUCKLAND, September 29. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance, it was reported that the work of the alliance has progressed satisfactorily since its establishment here, and evident signs of its regaining, with due energy and patience in its future control, its former influence and proper position. With regard to amateur cycling throughout the colony, it was decided to apply to the New South Wales Cyclists' Union and the Queensland Cyclists' Union, asking for recognition as the governing body of amateur cycling m New Zealand, and also to obtain their views on the question of forming an association, to comprise the New South Wales Gyclists' Union, the Queensland Cyclists' Union, and the New Zealand Cycling Alliance in those colonies under one head body. A permit was granted to the Auckland A.A. and C.C. to place a two mile alliance championship at their Spring meeting provided riders from the south will compete. The election of officers resulted as follows : — President, Mr Wynn- Williams (Christchurch) ; vice-presi-dents — Presidents of affiliated clubs and Dr Jennings- Messrs R. T. Lees (Christchurch), and F. W. Edwards (Auckland) ; hon. secretary, A. A. Davies; hon, treasurer, F. J. Ohlson.

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