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Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 49

CYCLING NOTES

BY DEMON.

The programme of the Caledonian Society's thirty-ninth annual gathering, to be held at the Caledonian grounds on Ist and 2nd January, 1901, provides nine races for cyclists. On the first day four events — viz., One-mile Novice Handicap, One-mile Handicap, Three-mile Handicap, and Five-mile Handicap (open) — are to be run off. On the second day five events — viz., Two-mile Second Class Handicap, Half-mile Handicap (open), Eive-mile Handicap, One-mile Consolation Handicap (open), and Caledonian Cycling Championship (two miles) — are down for competition. Entries for the*cyeling events close at 5 o.m. on Thursday, 27th inst.

There are no amateur cycling events included in the Caledonian Society's programme for New Year. I understand representations have been made to the society to put on one or more amateur races, and if it is not too late the society might well add to their programme, or if need be alter some of the cash events to amateur. lam of opinion that amateur events will be a feature of this season's racing, and the Caledonian Society might well be in the van to encourage amateurism.

An Auckland telegram states that at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Cycle Roads Leage it was decided to appoint A. A. Davies, E. Reynolds, and P. A. Vaile as delegates to confer with other cyclists re the Cycle Board Bill, and to instruct the secretary lo write to the leading cyclists in Dunedin, Wellington, and Christchurch, asking them to also appoint delegates to meet at Ohristchurdh during the forthcoming Christmas holidays and discuss the bill at length. It was also resolved to invite members of the House of Representatives to meet the council on the 11th December for the same purpose.

The Dunlop Tyre Company announce a novel competition that will interest all cyclists. The company has decided to place a second grade Bunlop tyre on the market, to meet the existing demand for a good wearing tyre at a Lqw figure. TKey invite cyclists and others interested to send in what they consider the most appropriate name for the new tyre, and offer -a prize of £20 to the sender of the best name,- The following conditions .will interest all- intending competitors : —

The nanie to be concise and appropriate. The competition is' open to all. Competitors may send in as many selections as they like, provided' they are sent in separately, with, the selected name on one side of a sheet of paper, ajid the sender's name and address on the other.

Should more than one competitor select the winning name, the award will be made by priority ; all letters will be numbered^ and filed "as received, so that it is advisable for contestants to, send in tlreir selections as soon as possible. '~' "' " "

Letters to be' a-ctdreSSed to " A," care of the Dunlop Pri'euntatic* Tyi-e 'Company of Australasia (Limited), 108 Flinders street, Melbourne, or Sydney; "Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Christchurch, N.Z. - . The competition will close on 31st December, and our award advertised early in January.

The Dunlop-Tyr« Company to be sole jxidge of the winning name, which will be the property of the company.

A M r ell-kno\vn Melbourne cyclist, who does a considerable amount of touring, becoming thirsty after a three hours' ride in a sparsely-populated district, stopped at a stream, running cool and clear, to slake his thirst. He was confronted with a difficulty in getting to the tempting water, and solved the matter, by unscrewing the dome of the bell on the ha-ndla- bar of his machine. After washing it well, it made an excellent cup. and a well-earned draught- was enjoyed. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention.

Sixty-six entries have been received for the Supplementary Two-mile, Handicap, of £60, £30, and £10, to be decided at the Austral meeting. All the entrants except three are Victorians. The handicapper has placed Mutton and Goodson, of New South Wales, on scratch, and Chalmers, of New Zealand, and J. W. Parsons (Victoria) on 20yds.

J. M'Kimmie, of Kyneton (Victoria), just after passing the post as the winner of the second road race of the season held by the Kyneton Bicycle Club, met with a nasty accident. The forks of his machine snapped about 3in below the crown, and he was dashed on the hard roadway on his face, receiving some ghastly wounds. He is reported to" be getting on fairly well, but it is feared that his features will be permanently disfigured.

— ■ — Another instance of breaking forks resulting in serious injury the rider comes from Benalla. I'he victim is J. Irving, and he, too, was engaged in a race at the time the accident happened. His condition is said to be rather f-erious, but the doctors are sanguine of eventually pulling him through.

Ga&coyne, the old-time racing man who Went out with the cyclist section of C.l.V.'s to South Africa, sends home an account of one of hi& recent experiences (says the English Cyclist). He was deputed to carry some important despatch??, and stowed them away in the handle-bar stem of his machine. A Boer palrol'sighted and eventually overhauled and captured him, but the wily Boer -was not artful enough to look into the tubes of his machine, although the} 7 carefully searched it's rider. Gascoyne was captured, and, although his desratphe^.were ljiuch, delayed in consequence, they never fell into the hands of the Boer?. ...

The arrival in Paris of two Polish lady cyclists' is .recorded by Le Velo, they having cycled from Warsaw.

The' 'finest rycling track in the world is in Moscow ,"one' of the principal cities of Russia. In dimensions it is a little less than three laps 'fo {Fie mile, and the timing is carried on by an electric pystem which has been found to aiiswer very satisfactorily. It is owing to this, fine track, that cycling has become so very papular in. the R.ussian city. There are 4000 cyclist? within its boundaries. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, has one of the finest oyclkig tracks in the world. It i& magnificently illuminated at night. Fiftyfive arc lights and 70 incandescent lamps are placed round the track at intervals of 35ft. There is a fine cycling track at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, and anothei at the new grounds of the Aston Villa Football Club. — Tit Bits.

The American pace follower, H. TSlkcs, has covered the remarkable distance

of 39 £ iles 1045 yards in the hour, in competition during ?. paced contest with W. Ross (U.S.A.). This new record is only a few yards behind Bange's world's record, ridden behind a powerful motor tricycle, but of the two rides the Yankee's is the more meritorious. Another fine record by an American rider named W. C. Stinson has also to be recorded. He covered. 2s miles, in competition, in 37min 52sec.

Coventry, England, is generally recognised as the cradle of cycling, but the home of the wheel to-day is, by all accounts, Paris. There are said to be more cyclists in the gay capital than in any other city, and this is borne out by those who have visited the French metropolis. Almost everybody rides a wheel, the poorer classes contenting themselves with more or less antiquated mounts as their means will allow. " Parisians have a great advantage over us and most other wheelmen in tho matter of roads, and contrary to the custom obtaining- m'^this and many other cities, the roads are not only good and level, but in two, at least, of the principal streets, special paths are reserved for cyclists. In the Avenue de la Grande Armee, there is a cycle path from the Arc de Triomphe to the entrance to the Bois de Boulonge, and which, of course, is greatly used. It is 12ft in width, composed of tar macadam, and shaded with trees on each side. Not even automobiles are allowed on this track. In the Bois de Boulonge there are also special paths for C3 r elists, and which are kept in first-rate order. There ' appears to be little restrictions as to speed, for in most of the principal 'thoroughfares cycles and automobiles flit along at a ■great rate, and the wonder is the infrequency of accident?.

With those riders who have toured often, and especially* during the hot season, early morning spins are fully appreciated. It is, however, a bad plan to attempt to start out unless something eatable lias been partaken of. A basin of hot bread and milk is easily prepared, and quite solid enough, and will prove rather tasty. Seasonable ripe fruit also is first class, and with some people more beneficial on account of the medicinal properties contained. If riding during midsummer, fruit should constitute a portion of every meal; salads, too, will prove most acceptable. Fruit and salad are, unfortunately, not always obtainable in the provinces.