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Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 60

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the route are applying freely for the privi- ] isgß of carrying the dispatch over the ; different sections, and it looks as if the > trouble will aaofc ha in obtaining sufficient I cycl'sfcs to carry through the undertaking, ! but in selecting tine best ridds from amonorst 'the YCtlunrc-ens. At prs--ent the ' Durrlcp Co. consider that the whole route J will be divided into about 55 sections, the ' changing stations being arranged in almost J every o?.se at a township or village, thus ! affoitlilng protection from haat or rain to ! relieving cyclists waiting vo pick up tho despatch. All rold, about 120 rids,xs will be engaged in carrying the mascsge through across the three states from Adelaide to Sydney, and given decant Wotithar con-cli- j tions it is thought that th« whole journey J can be accomplished in about 80 houns, I equal to an average, specd 1 of about 14 I miles an hjour. j Several novelties in connection with bicycles are promised for next season. One of these is a, saddle adjustment which is well spoken of. It consists of an attachment on the under-side of the leather, mads of a specially d«"signed strip of beech, cut into sections to give flexibility. It is riveted to the leather, and its object is to provide a ©cat free from all injurious pressure, the centre of the saddle being prevented from forming a ridge and securely held in i<te original shape. It can be fitted to any saddle- for a few shillings. Another novelty will be a back-pedalling brake that will ope.rate on both wheels. Its claim to originality Lies in the fact that by a downward pressure on 'the rising pedal a brake is applied to both back and front wheels aimultarieously. Each brake operates on a drum fixed to the hub, a clutch being provided on the left-hand side of the bracket, and oonroeotion with the front wheel established 1 by means of rods and a bell cramk lever. Sti.ll another novelty consists of a bill-climbting crank. Many devices have been introduced' to enable cyclists to feuirmouait stiff gradients more ' easily, butt name have come up to this- one for originality, according to EngLish papers. The dievice does- away, in , the inventor's opinion, with " dead centres," and gives an equivalent of a 20 per cent gear reduction when climbing hills. This is attained by introducing a spring at the inner end of the- orank, xmoeaLed under a drum. At the top of tie stroke the pressure on thj crank slips- or'" glides " ovear about 3:n of the circle described by the pedals. • — — An interesting motor tyre efficiency trial was" recently conducted on- the Brooklar.'d's motor .racing track (England). A car with detachable rims was selected, upon which were in turn fitted plain pneumatic tyres, steel -studded pneumatics, and solid rubber tyres. The mod* for testing was, as follows: — Car was started- off dowai> a ibng sloped banking of the Brookland's oement , track, and allowed to coast out of gear, no power being used. The total distance of each trial was then recorded, the resoiJt being as follows: With fully inflated pneu- ■ matics (901b), the cax, weighing with passengers about 30owfc^ coasted 1086ft;' with a 701b pressure, 1039 ft; and with a 501b inflation, 960^; with Tcrkington cushion itynes (a eegomantal solid rubber tyre, with cavities to increase its resiliency), 1050 ft; with solid rubber tyres, 994-^ft ; wihilsfc studded pneumatics (551b) regist'ea-ed 959ift, or Ift lees than plain praeumatice wiiith- a • 51b higher inflation. The result of the test clearly indicated what an important ! bearing the proper mflation- of a, pneu«wttic ! tyre has on its running efficiency Mr E. A. Wilson, chairman of the New Hudson Cycle Company, Birmingham, at the annual meeting said there was a distinct tendency in favour of a better, class of machines. " The nonsensical policy of ■ forcing cheap and indifferent bicycles on the public has failed."