Cycling Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 10, Issue 31, 8 November 1902, Page 12

Cycling Notes.

MOTES. At the monthly meeting r of the Invercargill Cycling Club on Tuesday evening ten new members were elected. * * * i On dit that Andy Ralston, the popular cyclist, will shortly set out on the track of life on a bicycle built for two, in other words, that he is about to take a life-long partner. He left on Wednesday for Burnside, where the lady lives. Andy has the best wishes of hosts of friends. * * * Understood that a local constable made a big haul of night owls the other evening, whose lights had gone out in some mysterious fashion. Cooper’s patent perforated jam-tin is said to be an excellent substitute for the King of the road lamp. # * At the risk of being voted ungallant, a correspondent wants to know why the ladies who ride unlighted bicycles are not even admonished. The danger of accident is just as great in their case as in that of others. * * Bill Martin will probably tour jtsT.Z. after the Austral meeting. * * * The Invercargill Cycling Club are determined to bring their racing cyclists to the fore, and as a step in that direction will hold another road race for. the'c members next Wednesday evening. The pleasure of the billy run to Otatara on Wednesday was interfered with by the strong gale, and only a dozen riders turned out —this after a postponement of a fortnight. Those who did go out, however, had a very pleasant run in with the wind behind them. * * The Gore Cycling Club opened the club rooms on Oct. 31st. Prior to the opening, a slow race was held in Main street, and was won by O. J. Wilson. The rooms were opened by the Mayor. Afterwards, a progressive euchre party was held, first prizes being won by Miss Pleming and Mr Lambourn, and the boobies’ by Mrs Wallis, after which dancing took place. The club is to be commended on the wise step it has taken, theirs being the only club room in Gore. * * * It is on the cards that a road *race will be held in Gore early next month. * * * George Taylor went out for a ride with Jim Strachan a couple of nights ago, and came back conudent that had Jim gone to Invercargill to take part in the 25 mile road race, he would have won it hands down. George is showing splendid form on the track, and when on the job can do a rattling sprint. * # * . The growth of motoring in Pans can be gathered from the following figures issued by the Parisian officials : —Around Paris and its suburbs there are 3807 cars registered, and fully 4000 automobiles not registered ; over 13,600 people have taken out driving licenses. * * * The pitiable display made of the horse’s inability to comply with modern requirements for sustained speed, as proved in the cavalry race held from Brussels to Ostend (distance 85 miles) in August last, has drawn increased attention to the advantages of cycling and motoring. In the Ostend race the course was covered in 6f hours, the winning horse arriving in a dead beat condition, though specially trained for the event. Many of the cavalry horses died during- the ride, the contest being described as “ degrading as a bull fight.” The result of the ride proved that any ordinary cyclist, including many cyclistes, could give the horses a bad beating over the course, and then finish comparatively

fresh. Farther, a crack road rider could do the journey under four hours, whilst a motor car could cover the course in from two to three hours, according to power. There can be no comparison between the feeble efforts of the horse for long distance work, and that of the cycle and motor. It seems a difficult matter to impress this fact on most people’s minds, for tlffiy cannot, or will not, grasp the fact that the evolution of the bicycle and motor has placed them far in advance of the horse as a means of locomotion, either as a question of economy or speed.