CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 49

CYCLING.

»OTES BI D>JH»N. I fear that soon I shall be accused of writing a subject to death, but on the matter now in my mind I am determined to keep the ball rolling till such time as the nuisance ceases. I had thought that my note of last week regarding the very dangerous practice of child carrying on bicycles would liave* acted as a deterrent, but such is not 90, for the evil seems to have become aggravated. Last Sunday morning people in CargUi road, South Dunedia, were surprised to sec a cyclist riding along with, two children seated on the front of his bicycle, and his efforts to turn the narrow corner leading round the tram line into Ocean Beach road were watched with a fear thai the traffic or the rails would bring the hampered rider down, with what consequences one can hardly imagine. The corner was, however, safely negotiated, and the cyclist went on his wav utterly oblivious of the danger he was running the two mites into, and the scorn of the people who watched his madness. I cannot say more than I have already said on this child-carry-ing craze, and must be content with the hope that now and then a note on the subject when the evil is noticed will help to bring about an extinction of a practice that for the sake of the children should be taken firmly in hand and stopped once and for all. The Daily Times employees held a bicycle handicap at their annual picnic at Outram on Saturday last, w hen eight competitors faced the starter. The distance was about two miles, and except for occasional patches of accumulated dust — especially at' the turnings— the road was in fairly "good order. The race was keenly contested from start to finish, and notwithstanding that most of the competitor? had previouFly ridden out from town, merely doffing their coats during the race, the pace was fairly fast J T. Paul (scratch) secured the place of honour, with F. Kail (115 yds) a good second. An accident of rather an amusing character occurred during the race. The office-boy, quite ' : a miniature affair," and j not so muscularly built as his opponents, was given a good 400 yds start This distance, owing on the part of Nature to an inconsiderate dip in the road, precluded the starter from keeping the neces^aiy eye on this diminuthe competitor. Furthermore, being out of earshot, the latter could not hear the verbal instructions. These included a "bla°t" from a toy trumpet as a t-ignal to get ready. Our friend, however, interpreted this to mean "go" and he "went" — disappearing round a corner at an astonishing pace; his coat-tails freely fluttering in the breeze as if to say. "oood-bye, I'll see you anon." To bring him back was hopeless, and it afterwards transpired that he nrver once looked round, but pedalled away like a true Briton, his eyes, metaphorically, glued on the winning post. Needless to say. he received quite an ovation when he arrived there, tlip crowd naturally thinking he had legitimately won the race It may be mentioned that the starter acknowledges that he was personally to blame in the matter, and the 0.8. will be duly rewarded for his plucky attempt to lower an imaginary record. Two bicycle races were run at the High School sports, held last Saturday afternoon. The first race, One Mile Handicap (for old boys), was won by F. Meek (120 yds). with H. Reid (120 yds) "and O. E White (80yds) second and third respectively. Time, 2min 27 2-ssec. The second race, for boys attending the school, __was won by D. Whitson (80yds). J. Douglas (50yds) came in second. Time, 2min 43 2 ssec. — • — The following are the handicaps for the cycling events, to be held at Clyde on Easter Monday, April 5 : — Wheel Race. Two miles. — Randrup scratch, Ralston 50yds. Cushnie 59, Watson and Wilson 80, Begg and Sangster 95, Gibson 110, Pine 120, D. Cahill 160, Varcoe 200, Renshaw 220. Muitagh 230, Phillips 240, Cahill 250, Waide 260, Holden 270, Tamblyn 280. One Mile — Randrup sciatch, Cushnie 35yds, Ralston 35, Watson and Wilson 55, Sangster and Begg 70, Gib<=on 75, Pine 80, Cahill 95, Varcoe 110, O'Buen 120, Renshaw 120, Murtagh. 125 4 Phillips 130, Cahill 135, lusoa and '

Waide 140, Holden and Tamblyn 145, M'Lean 150. Half-mile. — Randrup scratch, Ralston and Cushnie 15yds, Watson and Wilson 30, Sangstei 35, Bcgg and Gibson 40, Pine 45, Cahill 50, Varcoe 60, O'Biien 65, Renshaw and Murtagh 70, Philbps and Cahill 75, Inson and Waide 80, Holden and Tamblyn 85, M'Lean JO. Three-mile. — Randiup scratch, Ralston and Cushnie 70yds, Watson and Wilson 120, Sangatgbuid Besg 150, Gibson 175, Pme 200, Cahill W&; O'Brien 263, Murtagh and Phillips 300, Holden 320, Tambyln and M'Lean 340. A youth named Percival Denis Mulconory, who \\\ ed at North Carlton (Melbourne) died in the Children's Hospital last month from fiaeture of the base of thr> skull and internal injuries, sustained while " coasting on a bicycle down the Exhibition hill in Nicholson street. He was trying lo rcco-. oi his pedals, and was riding with his head down, when he ran into a buggy at the Elgin i-trept intersection. The Motor Vehicle Review (€)hio, 7th February) is responsible for the fo'lowing: "To the Winton Motoi Vehicle Company, of Cleveland, belongs the credit of being the first concern in the woild to manufacture motor ■vehicles for the pervee of his, Majesty Edward VII. On Monday of ihts week the Winton Company shipped to Sydney, Australia, for use in the mail service of that place, three Winton mail cart=, winch aie said to bo the most complete and modern of any like vehicle yet turned cut. On Thursday afternoon one of the machines was brought down town, and as it made its way swiftly along the crowded street it attracted no end of attention and admiration. The feature that caused many persons to ttop and wonder was the coat of arms of England, surmounted by the letters ' E.R. on the sides of the waggon box, and beneath these the inscription, " General Post Office.' At the Winton factory it was said that the vehicles were chosen by an agent of the British Post Office department, who was in the United Slates a few months ago. These mail carriages are the first built for King Edward VII. Each weighs 17001b, has a 9 h.p. cngire, and can run 16 miles an hour. The cott is 1200do1. Each will carry from 8001b to 10001b of mails. The carriage is beautifully finished in maroon, olive green an 1 black, with red wheels. The engine and machinery are visible, ami are finished in silver bronze." — [Note.— Queen Victoria died on Januaiy 22. The Motor Vehicle Review must be stretching its imagination when it says the=e motors were ordered for the serj vice of his Majesty Edward VII. The date of shipping is given as February 4. — Demon.] At the Wilhamhtown (Victoria) meeting last month, a competitor's watch and chain w ere stolen from the diessmg room. A day later he got the watch back through the agency of a bookmaker for n sum of money. The bookmaker was given in charge for receiving, and subsequently a well-known lacing man was also arrested because of his ajleged implication. — A commission sent out to the Philippines by the United States Government has submitted some reports and recommendations It learned that European bicycles were introduced about 1890, but, being bought by the well-to-do classes only, did rrofc exceed more than 200 in number during the ensuing d«cade. Last year, American machines were introduced, and now there are some two thousand of them in the City of Manila alone. They recommended that a million dollars be s>et aside for road improvcj inent, as the first necessity for commerce, j and this alone should be a great stimulus to the cycle trade there. It is stated that the demand for tyre 3 will be disprcportionI- ately large, as rubber does not la?t well in that climate. * The manufacturers of motors appear to be paying the greatest attention to the building of motor bicycles, while the motor tricycle has been relegated to second place. The reason of this is that t^v foresee a mveh larger demand for tW natuially cr-eaper vehicle, and are trimming their yails accordingly. Many of them seem to think that the motor car will be u«ed more in -'the conveyance of passengers and merchandise. A New Jer°ey wheelman, Matlock by name, is ciedited with having tidden 38,205 miles during 1900. He claims to have established a national century lecord for the year, bavins; made 261 100 miles run.: in the twelvemonth. The P]ngli=h trade papers continue to have long lists of the "increasing number of c'o'od German cycle works," several cf them with such long, unpronounceable names that, perhaps, it was no wonder they could not survive. A humourist suggests that if they had used fome of their wo; ds as file 3, there should have bpen room for considerable saving in the workshop 0 . Major Taj lor, the coloured Yankee crack, is to receive the sum of £600, in addition to his travelling expenses, for racing at six: midweek race meetings to be 1-el'l in Pane Had he agreed to race on Sundays, which is the great sporting day in the city of the Gauls, the flying darkie would have icceivcd £2000 for his Continental sea.-on. The great draw will consist of a srriep of matches between Jacquelin. the champion of Europe, and the " Maior," who is regarded as being practically invincible at .sprint races in the land of the Stars and Stripes-. As a result of the scarcity of rrbber and the anticipated increasing demand of this natural product, the forest admimsfu; tors of India intend to plant an island m the contiguous Mergui Archipelago with ri.bber treos, with a view of meeting the call for rubber. They expect to bo cblc to place the product in the market in five ytais from planting. As a general rule, it it- asserted that women sit their machines much more giaie fuly than do men. Without a doubt, they a.vi unequal to the stronger pcx in those extraordinary trials of 'peed and endurance which reqtme a power possessed only by n^en, but when we consider the grace, er^e of movement, adaptation, and regularity of motion, women use the machine much more easily and effectively, by comparison, than men. A French medico, Dr Champoaniere by name, considers the true cause of tins superiority to be that, as the v bicycle is a gymnastic device, it is at the same time an apparatus of progression and equilibrium. For progression it demands only a minimum exertion of power, which in moderate movements is very much less than walking, J and for equilibriuni it employs, without effort, but in combined and very harmonious movements, nearly all the muscles of the human body. It is the necessary harmony in. the movement that caii3es the triumph of women on tl;e bicycle. In short, the doctor considers women to be natural equilibrist*. — — It is stated that several factories, notably in Germany, are being started for the reconstruction of motor cars of older types, and it is thought that it will be a paying business. Motors and cars- which were built four or fi\ c years ago are, ere this, out of date, and the owners, who paid heavy prices for such, do not like the uso

of antiquated vehicles. The progiess of pen fecting the existing car; will surciy ccntimit for the next few yeare, perhaps tor a considerably longer period, and the reconstruction of motor Cars should be a thriving branch of the motor industry. PIONEER CLUB'S SPORTS. CHRISTCHURCH, March 31. The- Pioneer Bicycle and Athletic Club's meeting «as held on Saturday. The weather wa-i fine, and there was a good attendance. Results. — 75yds Flat.— E D. Donald, 4yds, 1,00. Keating, Ijd, 2. Time, 8 l-ssec. One-mile Bicycle Handicap — F. W. Whittle 1. Time, 2min 35sec. One-mile Walk —P. H. Stubbeifield, 100 yds, 1 , J. W. Stubbeifield, scr, 2, F. L. Boot, 120 yds, Half-mile Bicycle Race.— G. E. Owen, 90yds, 1, U. H Kell<uvay, 80yds, 2, W. G. Haw- | thorne, 95yds, 3. Time, linin 3sec j 120 yds Flat.— E. D. JJonald, B yds. 1, C H Mason, 3yds, 2 , A. O. Keating, 2}d9, 3 Time 13sec. ' Recce Challenge Cup. Half a mile — S. Pentecost 1, J. M. Lynpkey 2. Time, 2mm 1 4-ssec High Jump.— £. I. Harper (6m), sft 7im, 1. 120>ds Hurdles— J. L. Anderson, 12yds behind, 1 , E. 13. Rice, Byds behind, 2. i"ime, 18 4-ssec. One-mile Bicycle Race.— W. H Kellaway, 105 yds, 1; T. E. Gates, 30yds, 2, H. Lindsay, 120 yds. 3. Time, 2m in 18 !-ssec. Long Jump.— J. L. Anderson (15m), 19ft 3m, One-mile Plat.— W. C. Flewellyn, 100 yds, 1; S. D. Robeitgon, 90yds, 2, F. b.mpson', scr, 3. Time, 4mm 34 2-ssec. Putting the lGlb Weight.— F. M. B. Fisher (4ft 3m), 36ft Dim, 1. Two-mile Bicycle Bump Handicap.— H. J. Co.lms, 210 yds;, 1, D. M. Rodger, 50yds 2. Time, 4m:n 3 2-sscc. 410 yds Flat -A S.m=. 15yds, 1, C. East, 11yds, 2,i M. J Lynskey, scr, 3. Time, 50 3-ssec.