CYCLING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 49

CYCLING NOTES.

Some 20 members of the Otago Cycling Club rode out to Brighton on Sunday under the superintendence of Captain Gunthorpe and Deputy-captain Cole. The roads were in good order, and a pleasant outing is reported.

The annual soeif.l of the Otago CyclingClub was held in St. Paul's schoolroom on Friday evening last, when there were about 50 couples present. Songs were given by Messrs Myers, Courtis, and Evans, while the catering .'and music, in the hands of Messrs Krobn and Yates respectively, v/ere all that could be desired. A special word of praise is due to the Music Committee for their elaborate decorations, and the successful carrying out of all arrangements in connection with the social.

"What Happened to Jones." — Mr L. J. Lohr sends me the following particulars of "what happened to Jones" at the Lithgow League sports meeting. From the results of the racing it will be seen that "Jones" was very much in evidence: — Half-mile Handicap — Jones 1, Honey 2, Jones 3 ; Mile Handicap — Jones 1, Jones 2, Honey 3 ; Mile and a-Half Handicap Race — Jones 1. Jones 2, Yates 3 ; Scratch Race — Jones 1, Goodwin 2, Jones 3; S. Jones ran four firsts and W. Jones two seconds and two thirds.

The members of the Dunedin Cycle Corps fired a Morris tube match at the Garrison Hall on Monday evening. Conditions : 12 shots each. The following were the principal scores : — Sergeant Howlett 45, Corporal Balfour 41, Cyclist Brut on 37. Colour-sergeant Wolstenholme 37, Corporal Scales 36, Cyclist Whitehead 31.

The Anglo New Zealand Cycle Company, by their advertisements in the columns of the Otago Daily Times, invite inspection of their cycles for this season, We have had a glance over their varied stock, which consists of the celebrated English " Humber " and their now well-known "Anglo-Special" built by the company at their Christchurch factory. The assortment is large, from the dainty mount for the lady cyclist to the sturdy roadster for the heavy weight. Our attention was specially drawn to the construction of the head and front forks of the " Anglo-Special." This is a special pattern designed to stand the hardest treatment a bicycle is subjected to. The manager put it: "We can't afford to have any accidents to this or any part of our cycle 1 ' ; and it appears that this idea is well carried out. The Humbcrs are a beautiful lot of cycles, with the high finish for which these bicycles have world-Wide celebrity. Free wheels are shown in all grades and a variety of brakes. An hour spent among these cycles will not be wasted by any lover of the wheel.

A Christchurch telegram states that at a meeting of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen E. Reynolds wrote from London, stating that, he had decided not to compete at the Paris Championship, as he considered it would be to the interests of the league to remain affiliated to the International Cyclist-,' Union. The N Z.A.AA. wrote, slating that it had appointed a subcommittee to meet the league, and asking for the date of a conference. W. F. Wilson (Auckland) was reinstated as an amateur.

Sutherland (New Zealand), who, with Reynolds, was sent to Paris to represent this colony in the world's championships, rode in the Great International Handicap — a mile and a bit, — and was given 70 yards to go on with : but the best he could do was to run second in the second heat to Oliverra (90 yards), who won easily in Imin 58 2-ssec. He, however, qualified for the final, and managed to get placed fourth to Thuan (80 yards), Collomb (70), and Grognet (90). The scratch man was Jacquelin, and he won the first heat.

A feature of the volunteer manoeuvres last autumn in England was the several thousands of soldier-cyclists holding forty roads in the north of Sussex, with the object of checking an invading army until the regular troops could muster nearer London and give battle in earnest. Major-general John Frederick Maurice, commanding the Woolwich district, who superintended the experiment, report? that the cyclist defenders fully answered all requirements. The result is regarded as estf^'ishing the superior mobility of C3'cle forces. The American cycle press, in commenting on the signal success of the experiment in England, congratulates it* contemporaries on the vindication of their attitude against the War Ofiice antipathy to cyclists.

Racing at Eaglehawk, Victoria, at the end of last month, F. Hunt (N.Z.) won the two miles handicap off 20yds. Gordon (scratch) second and A. H. Clinton (80yds) third. In the half-mile, the tables were turned. Gordon (who put up a competition record of 58 l-ssec in Ims beat) beat Hunt, syds, in the final in 59 3-ssec.

The committee of the St. Kilda Cricket Ciub, Melbourne, has been afforded by the League of Victorian Wheelmen an opportunity to secure the remo\ al of the disqualification of its track which resulted through not paying" the fine of £100 inflicted by the league on account of the discreditable surroundings of the Martin-Walker match. The fine has been reduced to £25, and when that is paid, accompanied by a suitable apology, the St. Kilda track will be reinstated.

The Dunlop Tyre Company are in receipt of the following cable: — "London, September 24-. — -Cordang (Holland) won gold cup 24-hours' international content, run Paris Sunday." The gold cup is the richest cycling event decided in Paris during the Cycling Oar nival held ip connection with the Exposition, and is run under the auspices of the Union Velocipcdique de France. The race — a 24- hours' one— -was resiricted to the recognised long distance champions of England, America, and the Continent. The first prize was worth £1000. A great struggle was anticipated. The race was to be paced by motor tandems. Matthiew Cordang, the winner, has long been recognised as \a ell-nigh invincible in "all-day" contests. Last September Cordang covered 61-0 miles 19b yards in "2A hours on the Hague track (Holland), but the performance, although officially timed, was not passed by the English and French cycle unions, on account of Cordang at the time being under suspension by tho French goverruug body for breacli of agreement. The next best performance foi this ride stands to the credit of the English crack, A. E. Walters, who last yea* 1 won the 80l dOr, a similar

event to the race under notice, covering 634 miles 7T4- yards. No mention of the distance ridden is given in the above cablegiani, so that apparently new figures have not been established.

Where punctures cannot be detected by sound, and there is no ■water at hand, a man who smokes can find them this way ; — After having taken I^he valve to pieces, blow two or three moxithfuls of smoke into the inner tube, then put the valve together, talcing care not to let the smoke escape. Innate the tiibe slightly, and a thin wreath oi smoke will immediately denote the leakage. It appears that Chicago requires that those who drive automobiles must first pass two examinations. One is conducted by the health commissioner, who pronounces upon the physical qualifications of the applicants for licenses. Nervous or timid persons, or those afflicted with any form of heart trouble, are not accspte.d. The other examination is conducted by the city electrician.

Some of the best authorities assert that 1901 will become famous for the introduction of the cushion frame bicycle. 1900 has seen the advent of the free-wheel, and undoubtedly the cushion frame is the next improvement that will tend to enhance the pleasure and comfort of cyoling. A handle-grip that has come loose can be refixed by the use of ordinary sealing-wax. Give the handle a twist when putting the wax on, to spread it round the bpr, and it will generally be found to be effective.

Motor-racing is fraught with great dan- j ger, for the pace at times is terrific, and as an instance the result of a race of this description contested recently at Baltimore is recorded. There were two motors racing, each with two men up, and by some means they managed to touch while travelling at railway speed. One of the steersmen lost his head, and dashed the motor, with himself aiid companion, over the steep banking into the midst of the spectators. The' man behind the steersman, Frank Starbuck (a well-known racer in the States) was hurled against a post with frightful force, the bones of one of his legs being driven through the muscles, besides being otherwise injured. The other man was thrown over the heads of the people, and sustained a broken arm and general shakeup. It is said that Starbxick may succumb to his injuries, although if he does not he will be a cripple for life. — ■ — The Melbourne Bicycle Club are spending £130 on the construction of a suitable scoring board for their Austral and other meetings. • When a nut is refractory, and declines to mo\s, drop a little oil around it, it nothing better be available. Warmed turpentine is irresistible, as also are a few drops of hot vinegar applied to the nut. If a nut is rather too Joose, and fails to grip efficiently, put a little resin on the spindle and screw up firmly. It is safer to procure a new nut as soon as it is possible. "Major" the coloured comet of the United States, has challenged the world to a match for any part of £1000, best two out of three mile heats. Most of, if not all, the American cracks have drawn the colour line against him. It would, perhaps, be more correct to say it's the speed line, for the "Major" is a great rider. He talks or coming to Australia. Many wheelmen will have noticed how hot the cylinder of an inflator becomes during the process of blowing up the tyres. It is not ou account of the friction between the plunger and the barrel, but because the air is compressed in the pump. The natural moisture of the atmosphere is increased in -proportion as the' air is compressed, and the greater the compression the greater the heat which holds this moisture in suspension. Mr E. A. Lykke, a South Australian cyclist, has just returned from a two years' trip around the world, and during his sojourn in England and on the Continent he mixed freely with the world's best rider?. He is reported to state that if the Australian Leagues will defray passage money, a strong team would make the trip to Australia. There is nothing to keep the men in England, as manufacturers limit themselves nowadays to payingcommissions on wins instead of paying a princely salary to teams of riders. Green told him that Platt-Betts, Gascoyne, Chirm, and himself would visit Australia if the leagues would guarantee them £75 each ; equivalent to a second-class return fare. For this they would race two days in each colony without appearance money. Should the League so desire, other riders could be substituted for those named. Mr Lykke considers the opportunity an excellent one to boom the sport in Australia, as some marvellous riding has been shown by those named during the season. A motor bicycle of American make has attracted considerable attention from those interested in motorlsm and those engaged in their manufacture. Practically it is the first machine of that description constructed in the Statep, and has already passed through its experimental stage. The Waltham Manufacturing Company, who built the machine, have fitted it with a 3i h.p. motor, which brings the total weight up to 1001b. On a trial trip of five miles on the track, with an experienced motorist aboard, the distance was covered in 7min 16 2-ssec. Motors ranging from 13 h.p. up to 3i h.p. are fitted to llipfs machines, the price ranging from £50. up to £60, according to the power of the motor itself. These figures appear very reasonable as against French and English prices.

Vandenborn, the Belgian professional, is the latest spring crack to occupy the top position in sprinting circles, he having ticcounted for the two Grand Prix — vix., the Grand Prix de Oslende and the Grand Prix de Vervieres, beating a good field on each occasion (says the Cyclist, Eng., of August 15). .Tacquelin, the Grand Prix de Paris winner, followed him home in the former event, and Grogna in the latter. Owing to his fine riding of late, he was naturally made one of the fii'ot favourites for the championship races. The second Thursday afternoon meet at the Exhibition track, Paris, last week, saw H. Meyers win the International Sprint Race, Prolin being second and Louvet third. Sutherland, the New Zealand crack, made his fii-Po Parifian appearance, not riding well. Green, the Englishman, won his heat, but failed to get ijlacad in' the final, while he and Jenkins only finished second in their heat in the tandem, event, which was won by Vanoni and Protin, Banker and Meyers being second, and Gougoltz and Mathieu third. Paul Albert arrived in Paris last Friday to witness, not to compete in, the world's championships. ■ A prominent English rider, who for several years was amongst the front rank of England's racing men, after years of exepriment, has finally returned to a low gear and a moderate crank length, and now uses 63in gear, viith 6£in cranks. With this combination he finds, with the free wheel to relieve him of excessively rapid pedalling down hill, and to give him an invaluable and momentary respite at times, that he is well suited. Even with such a low gear there is no diminution of the length of his average day's ride, whilst his condition at the end of a ride is in favour of the conservation of effort and movement which the combination Token, riakt

through, there is an inclination of the thinki ing wheelmen to reduce their gears. The motor is coming in for .all kind^ of work, the latest being in connection wit^i horse racing. It is proposed by the propiieV tors of a pew racecoxirsfc near St. Louis-, XJ-S^ to build an elevated railway track around tli<Y circuit, near the inner rail, for the purgosis of running a- patrol judge's motor Vehicle, to. keep pace with the flying steeds. Under tJu(A arrangement the judge could keep his eye §i\ the jockeys and horses all the way aro'unofy and it is thought that truer racing would be ai likely result.

The leather of the saddle may be kept • soft, and at the same time preserved, by the application of a little soft spap on the under side. This is especially beneficial after v "a rainy ride, the water having a tendency ib. harden the leather. The habitual user of effective mudguards will have no use for thili information, for the mudguards not only keep> the saddle clean and iii good order, but are a distinct advantage with respect ip the appearance of the enamel, as there is' very rarely occasion to clean, mud off the tubing, whicli process, no matter how carefully the operation is performed, almost always results in thqi enamel being scratched id a greater or less? extent". The chain, too, is also saved front 1 the dirt that the front wheel would otherwiptf have thrown upon it.