Cycling Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 18, 4 August 1900, Page 3

Cycling Notes.

From New York come particulars of a wonderful piece of sustained road riding- by an American cyclist named W. R. Brown, who succeeded in covering- two thousand miles on the road in nine days, nine hours, six and a half minutes. Brown was only out of the saddle sixty-nine hours during that time, more than half of which was enforced by rain or heat. His total sleep during the nine days only amounted to twenty-two hours fifteen minutes, and yet, strange to say, according to the report by the physician who examined Brown after his long ride, the record breaker gained one pound in weight during the ride. Allowing for the sixtynine hours which Brown was out. of the saddle,'his average pace during the whole journey was close upon thirteen miles an hour, a -wonderful performance considering the bad weather met with, it having rained continuously for twenty-four hours during one period of the ride. * * * The English Society Journal £ Madame ’ says : —‘ Anyone can avoid spending the greater portion of his leisure in repairing his tyre, by seeing that his machine is fitted at the start with ‘ Multifiex ’ Dunlop tyres, which have proved themselves to be admirable travellers and are so easy to manipulate.’ * * * The great advantage of the Dunlop Multiflex tyre is that it can be fitted or removed from the rim with the greatest ease, so much so that a lady may easily manipulate it. When fixed and inflated it remains immovable, and does not show the slightest tendency to- ‘ creep ’ on the rim. * * * Another creditable amateur record was created on the Sydney Cricket Ground a fortnight ago by Arthur Smyth, the sixteen stone weight amateur rider. Owing to the departure of the Dunlop motor tandems for Brisbane, Smyth had to rely on a triplet (manned by Megson, Lewis and Payne) for pace. From a flying start Smyth tackled the record (mile) which stood at one minute fifty seven seconds, and being well paced throughout by the triplet,

succeeded in riding the distance in one minute fifty five and one-fifth seconds or one and four-fifth seconds better than the old time, a very creditable ride considering that Smyth weighs sixteen stone ten pounds, and is forth-five years of age. The Australian Professional Beco/d for the same distance is held bv Bobby Walne in one minute thirty-eight and one - fifth seconds ridden on the same track in June, 1898. * # * It is recommended to users of the free wheel and back-pedalling brake, especially when the brake is applied to the rim, that they have the rims of their cycle wheels plated, as it is found that the continual use of brake locks acting on gira wears off the enamel, generally resulting in the rim becoming rusty and unsightly. By plating the rims this difficulty is overcome, besides giving a neater and cleaner appearance to the wheels, for a plated rim doesn’t show the mud like a black enamelled one.