Cycling Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 9, Issue 5, 4 May 1901, Page 10

Cycling Notes.

A great sprint matjh between Jacquelin (France) and the flying Darkie Taylor (America) is to be held in Paris on the 16th May. These two riders are recognised as the two fastest sprinters of the day, both being practically invincible in their own country. Both these .sprinters have held world’s Championships, but Lave never yet met on the cycle track, so the result of the match is being awaited with interest by cyclists throughout the world. t * * sfc The announcement of the Dunlop Tyre Go’s intention to establish large rubber mills near Melbourne has caused a stir throughout the cycle trade, who recognise the big advantage derivable from having tyres and other rubber goods manufactured according to Australian requirments. Vehicle solid rubber tyres is one item that the big tyre Co. intends • pushing. # Neglected lubrication, says Mecredy, of the ‘ Irish Cyclist,’ is a disease many modern cycles are suffering from. He is one of the opinion that riders no longer give proper attention to this important matter. The principal reason of this neglect is because the modern cycle is so well constructed in the bearings that the want of oil is not so apparent as in the old machines. But it is a gross mistake to think because the bearings do not squeak, dr fire, or stick, no injury is happening. Ball bearings absolutely require oil, and, more important, they require good oil of special qualities. In these bearings there is only point contact; that is, a point on the surface of the ball is in contact with a point in the bearing cup. Pressure is, therefore, greater than in a plain bearing, where the weight would be divided over a greater surface. A fairly thick oil must be used, consequently, in ball bearings, so that it may not be squeezed out from between the bearing points when the pressure is upon them. Most of the cheap oils gum or clog, thus interfering with the free action of the balls; and any action which causes the balls to bear unduly on any particular part of the cup or cone tends to cause wear at that point. ,If this is allowed to go on, the bearing may be ruined or some of the balls be worn flat. * * * A Melbourne cyclist named Hubert Child has died from injuries received in a cycle accident, the result of a collision with a buggy on the St. Kilda Hoad. An inquest on the deceased has resulted in the driver of the buggy, a Mr E. Hanbury, mining manager, being committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. It appears that the driver of the vehicle was in pursuit of three men who had assaulted him, when, to avoid colliding with a tram which was stopping in front of the baggy, he swerved at a sharp angle to the wrong side of the tram, and the deceased being unable to get clear in time crashed into the vehicle. Mr Hanbury was adraitted“to bail in his own recognisance of £IOO.

There seems to be a great deal of misconception among cyclists as to the proper degree of hardness to which Dunlop tyres , should be pumped. Many riders are disposed to ride them too slack, and, when so ridden, the tendency to slip on greasy roads is much greater than when they are pumped bard; they are also more liable to puncture, and to wear ont much quicker. Cyclists will find that ‘ Dunlops ’ wear longer, puncture less, and run easier when pumped that hard that there is only a very slight depression in the tyre when the weight of the rider is on the machine. The heavier the cyclist, the harder the tyres want pumping.