CYCLING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 45

CYCLING NOTES.

BY DEMON.

The Clyde Sports Club hold a sports meeting on the Clyde Domain on Easter Monday, April 16. The following cycling events are to be run off at the meeting: — One-mile Open Handicap, Wheel Race (handicap), Two Miles, Half-mile Open Handicap, Three-mile Open Handicap, Goldfields Championship (one and a-half miles). These events are to be run under League rules, and entries, which are to be sent to the secretary, Mr A. E. Gye, close on Saturday, 7th April.

In the County Court, Melbourne, the Dux Cycle Company sued Albert J. Body, the well-known cyclist, for the recovery of the sum of £21 7s. The claim was made tip as follows: — To one Dux cycle, £20; 820 saddle, 12s 6d; handle-bars, 14s 6d ; total, £21 7s. The plaintiff's case was that in November, 1897, an agreement was made, under which defendant was to receive 30s a week wages, a bonus on races won by him, and a commission on sales of plaintiff company's machines, on the condition that he rode only Dux machines in the various races in which he engaged in the Australian colonies. There was a condition in the agreement whereby defendant undertook to return any machine that he might have when his engagement with the company terminated. Mr Body went to England in 1898, and the engagement terminated. Defendant then had a Dux machine (the subject of the present action) valued, as per agreement, at £20, and he said that ho gave it t x o his brother. It had never been returned. The defence was that the defendant never bought the machine from plaintiffb, and never obtained the oilier accessories, but that, under the agreement, defendant wa-. willing to return the machine now claimed, and had offered to return it. Judge Casey found a verdict for the plaintiff company for £20, with costs. — — £159,929 were the profits of the 65 cycle manufacturing firms in 1899. Twelve firms lost £49,952.

At the thiid ordinary general meeting of the Dunlop Tyre Company, Mr Harvey Dv Crois, who presided, said that the profits from oil sources for the 18 months to September 30, 1399, before providing for interests on debentures, as shown below, including £28,718 0s 2d carried forward on March 31, 1898. amounted to £473.262 3s. From this sum appropriations had been made : Interests on .debentures. £34,777 6s 7d ; depreciation of plant, machinery, etc., £4018 6s 7d ; interim dividend on the 5 per cent, preference shares for the half year to September 30, 1898, £25,000; interim dividend to March 21, 1899, £25,000; interim dividend on ordinary shares, £40,000; rebate reserve account, £40,000 ; £50,000 added to special reserve account, and £50,000 to patents re.-evve account, leaving a balance of £204,472 19s 2d. Out of this sum, after paying £24,875, which represented a half year's dividend on the 5 per cent, preference share*, to September. 1899, there would remain a balance of £179,597 19a 2d to be carried to the next account.

Here is a tip in connection with cycle tyres which may be new to some. The first time a tyre is detached, thoroughly smear the inside of the cover with powdered French chalk. Or if you are one of those lucky individuals who are almost immune from puncture, it is well worth while to dismantle the tyres and French chalk them. Olherwice, after long and undisturbed use, the inner tube sticks to the outer cover, and there is then danger of tearing the tube when the tyre is taken apart for repair. -At the Paris Exhibition there will be on view military motor vehicles for the transport of ammunition and ordnance. The most favoured pattern, which has been

tested in recent field manoeuvres, is a train consisting of an engine attached to two or three cars. Trials reveal the fact that 25 motor trains, of half a dozen cars, can transport over a distance of 25 miles ammunition enough for an army corps of 60,000 men in 18 hours, or convey 50 field pieces of 24 tons each 10 miles during the night.

A simple and easy mode of stopping a brakeless machine when riding down hill is to jam the heel of your boot or shoe between the back wheel and the down tube of the cycle frame, when the machine can be brought to an immediate standstill. It is far better to stop a- machine this way than to use the toe of the shoe on the front tyre bet-ween the forks — a practice that throws too great a strain on the front forks.

The question of head-dress is an important one from a cyclist's point of view. During the summet* the pros and cons of hats and caps are discussed exhaustively, but very little attention is paid to the matter of winter wear. For those who do not care much for appearances a Tam-o'-Shanter is the most comfortable for dry, cold weather, but it is lacking in wet-resisting qualities. For everyday wear a travelling cap, with peak both in front and behind, is by far the best. The flaps may be brought over the ears if the wind is felt, whilst, if raining, the wet is shot over the edge of the collar, and the nape of the neck is protected. A silk handkerchief carried inside the hat, folded closely, also adds to its warmth.

Regarding the recent efforts of the National Cyclists' Union (England) to compel the railway companies to carry cycles free, it is interesting to note that in America the three judges of the St. Louis Circuit Court of Appeal have declared that bicycles are not baggage. The guard of a Missouri train refused to recive a bicycle on his car. The owner brought suit for mandamus to compel the company to carry his vehicle under the same provisions as those for ordinary luggage, and was successful in the Circuit Court. On the matter going to appeal, however, the decision of the first court was upheld.

The greatest sufferers in the trade during the past year have been the tube makers and parts manufacturers.

At a recent meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry, Mr Walter F. Reid, F.1.C., F.C.S.. read an interesting paper, entitled "'Velvrill : A New Substitute for Indiarubber and Guttapercha." This new mate-i rial can be prepared from semi-dried linseed oil or castor oil, preferably the latter. These oils are treated with nitric acid, forming what is termed "nitrolinolcin" or "nitroricinolein." This preparation is then mixed with nitrocellulose of a very low degree of nitration, and the whole worked into a perfectly homogeneous mats. The product which most nearly resembles Para rubber is said to be formed by combining two parts of the nitrated oil with one part of the nitrated cellulose.

The one-mile world's professional champion, and holder of the one-mile world's 5 record, is known to the cycling world as Major Taylor. To be more correct, however, the coloured crack's Christian name proper is Marshall Walter, he having been nicknamed Major at the age of 10, on account of his authority over Ids playmates when they practised boy soldiering. Born at Indianapolis on November 26, 1877. he is now 22 years of age. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to a firm of cycle makers, and three years later he commenced his career as a racing cyclist, when he won a 10-mile road race, creating a great purprise by the way he rode. Then for the next four j r ears he took part in all the local races very successfully. In 1895 he -non a 75 miles road race, running all the other competitors off their legs, and finishing alone, and at Worcester he won a 10 miles road race from scratch. Then came his performance in the six days' race at Madison square Gardens in 1896, when, without training, and without any assistance .in the way of feeding arrangements etc., he rodeVlike a demon, and finished eighth. After this event Taylor was persuaded to try sprint racing, and in 1897 he met and defeated the pick of the American riders, including Bald, Cooper, Kiser, etc , and since ,then he has always been able to hold his own. Bebides being a good sprinter, he stays well, and at bhort-distance paced work he stands alone, having held the mile record on and off since '98, being now the present bolder. - Last year he won 22 firsts

five seconds, and one third, including the World's Mile Professional Championship. He was only defeated once in match racing, and that by Tom Butler, but in the return match Major made amends by winning by lengths. What he is capable of doing is not j r et known, but should he pay Europe the promised visit, he is sure to beat many more than can beat him.