CYCLING NOTES BY DEMON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 45

CYCLING NOTES BY DEMON.

During the last few days cycling has been delightful by reason of the very good weather we have experienced. The roads north and south are in good order, and now that the weather seems settled we may reasonably look forward to a slight taste of proper summer weather. Recently the most frequented roads about town have been those leading to the Forbury Park, where the Otago and Southland Scouts are in training for thenwork in South Africa. Numbers of cycles arc to be seen stacked together on the ground during visiting hours, and I sometimes wonder however they become disentangled. It is a pleasant thing just now to mount your wheel after tea, and run easily out to the camp, watch the interesting operations of camp life and drill, and then spin home in the dark. Lieutenant J. M'Millan, of theDunerlin Cycle Corps, has returned from camp. He put in several days drilling some of the squads, and regrets were expressed at his departure. A Christchurch telegram states that the secretary of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen has received a oablegram stating '.that George Sutherland, of New Zealand, now racing in Australia, will leave on February 28 for this colony in order to take part in the test match which is to take place in Christchurch next month to decide as to .who shall represent the League in this year's World's Championships, which are to be held in Paris in Aiigust or September next. A Sydney cable states that Sutherland of New- Zealand, won the mile race at the League of Wheelmen's sports, beating Walne. Time, 2min, 0 l-ssec. — — The test race 3in connection with the proposal to send a New Zealand representative to the World's Championships, are to he run off at the Christchurch Cycling Club's race meeting on Good Friday. Richardson has completed his long journey round Australia. His cyclometer registered 11,150 miles, covered in seven months, less one day. ' He arrived in Perth in good health and spirits, and suffered no serious illness on the road. He intends to proceed to South Africa, to offer his services as a despatch rider. White brothers and M'Kay, who are touring 'round Australia from Melbourne in the opposite direction, have arrived at Perth, and have since resumed their journey. They have very litfclp chance of beating the record, as they have 2500 miles to accomplish in a month. Particular* of a marvellous cycling ride accomplished in Chicago by " Major " Taylor, the crack coloured rider of America, are given in the Cycle Age. Taylor's latest feat is that of riding a mile on the track in the almost incredible timp of-lmin 19sec. paced by a steam motor fitted with wind shields. The halfmile was covered in 39sec. He subsequently rode a quarter-mile in 20sec without the assistance of wind shields. His mount was a chainless machine geared to 121. Different oils have different actions upon certain metals. Experiments recently mnde with lubricatina oils show that iron is least affected by seal oil, and most by tallow oil, when it i« not deacidised. Brass is not affected by rape oil, least by seal oil, and most by olive oil. Frosty weather is a delightful time for cycling, provided the extremities can be kept waim. Cold hand? and feet, though, are ap_t to nip the enjoyment in the bud. To keep the feet in a glow, however, is not a difficult matter. Shoes of an extra size might be wpra, and either a warm sock, or c laj^er of lightly-packed straw placed in the sole. Straw is the bettei of the two, and those who have lived in the country have recognised

its value on a cold, freezing day. For the hands, woollen glo%'es rapidly wear through at the fingers, and palms. A loose pair of dogskin gloves is the best, with a woollen mitten drawn over. The circulation is not impeded, and the cold wind fails to pierce the protection.

A Pennsylvanian judge, in sentencing a "bicycle thief recently, inflicted the same punishment that would have been meted out to a horse thief. Although the avei'age machine may not cost quite as much as Ihe average horse, it is much more easily stolen, while the *f acilities for hiding and disposing of it are so much greater that the difference in the value is levelled. In some parts of the world cycle-stealing has developed into a profession, and has become a regular branch of criminal science, just the same as was the case with horse-stealing.

When riding in cold weather the fingers of a cyclist are frequently almost benumbed by the cold. Warm mittens or thick gloves lessen his pufferings slightly, but the effect is ungainly, to say the least of it. If, however, a pair of moderately thick gloves be treated with vaseline, the cold does not penetrate, neither does the hand become deadened by the cold. The way to do this is to first turn the glove inside out, After warming it slightly by the fire, a little pure vaseline should be well rubbed in with the finger until the skin has taken up as much as possible. A little warmth will cause the grease to sink in completely, and after that it is ready for wear. The colour is naturally darkened, but the hands will not be stained or greased in the slightest, provided these directions have been carried out. Quite as important is the fact that the blood will be induced to circulate freely, and chilly fingers will become a thing of the past. The British Acting Consul-general afc Odessa, in a recent report on the cycle trade of South Russia, states that English machines are held in high esteem in Russia, but in the matter of price they ai - e out-distanced by American machines, which can be supplied of good quality at 40 per cent, cheaper than English, bicycles can. and therefore they undersell the iatter. The reason of this difference is that American bic3'cle3 ha%'e many of those parts cast which in English machines are turned. German-made bicycles have a good reputation for durability, and consequently, although only a little cheaper than English machines, have a fair sale. Rudyard Kipling' (the author of the "Absent-minded Beggar") has now taken to motoring, and has purchased a Daimler motor car. Kipling is also an ardent cyclist, he having been a devotee of the wheel for some years past. The income from subscriptions to the C.T.C. for 1899 represented a sum of £16,129 19s. He took hie seat in the dock with an innocent, much-injured air, and ran his fingers disconsolately through his tousled hair. "Perhaps you will explain what the bicycle was doing in your possession?" quoth the judge, with the manner of a man getting at the root of the matter. "I dunno." said the innocent. "I can't remember nothing about it, except when the gentleman what owns the bike ftops me sort o' forcible like, and wants to_ know what I'm doing with it. 'Then you might ha' knocked me down with a feather." "A truncheon would be a bit nearer the mark," growled the owner. "Come, come !!' said the judge. "That sort of thing won't answer here. Have you always been so curiously absent-minded?" The prisoner shook his head sadly. "No, mv lord." said he ; "it's all owing tc that fellar Kipling. Since I read his poem — 'The Absent-minded Beggar' — it sort of acted on me nerves, and I haven't been the same man since. I keep on saying it over to meself, and when I'm took like that I never know exactly what I am a-doing of." "Poor fellow," said the judge, sympathetically. "I've had many cases like yours, and there's nothingbetter 1 than a thorough rest and holiday. Three months 1 Next jase, please."