CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13495, 15 June 1914, Page 2

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

ACROSS AUSTRALIA

E. F. " lleichenbach, who is endeavouring to establish new figures for the trans-continental cycle ride from Adelaide to Port Darwin, telegraphed to the Dunlop Rubber Company on May 28th, slating that lie arrived at Alice Springs —the centre of, Australia—at noon, having picked up 12 hours of the 3!) he lost on his ride up from Adelaide to Charlotto Waters (858 miles), lleichenbach reports having had a very trying experience in crossing the Finko river, which was in flood. His troubles began with having to negotiate heavy quicksands. Thes.e surmounted, "he tried to wade and push his 'machine across the rushing flood waters, but could not hold his cycle, which was torn out of his grasp and carried away. He got ashore, then' stripped and_ went back to look for his machine, which he found floating upside down, his cycle and kit being kept afloat only through the air in. his tyres. Nearly a day was lost getting across the Finke, and the submerged surrounding country, and all told Reichenbaeh had to walk some 20 miles. All his kit was ruined by water. Despite his strenuous journey the overlander stated that he was feeling well after his 1013 miles ride. Barrow Creek telegraph station (1173 miles) wired the Dunlop Company on Saturday, May 30th, that Reichenbaeh had arrived there after a fast ride from Alice Springs, the overlander having covered nearly ,200 miles in two days. Reichenbaeh has now caught up with Macdonaid's time, and given fair weather conditions has a good chance of establishing a new record. His next stage will be to Tennant Creek telegraph station, 180 miles north of Barrow Creek.

After making full inquiries into the performance of the Sydney Northern Suburbs Cycling Club in connection with their winning ride in the Dunlop 100 miles relay test, the Dunlop Rubber Company has dismissed the protest lodged against the- winners by the Granvillc Club, Sydney, and the £100 first prize will be awarded to Northern Suburbs team. Investigation proved that there was no evidence of outside pacing, but there was an irregularity as regards the running of the test. It appears that A. C. Walcott, a member of the team, started off with the ? first relay and towards the end of his 10 miles' ride punctured. His official time was 26min. oOsec. The second rider then took up the running with the despatch. It was then (decided, owing to Walcott losing time on account of his fiat tyre, that his ride should be deleted, and that he .start again as tenth man. This was done, and on his second attempt he recorded 23min. 25sec, and this time was included in the club's report sheet, in place of his first ride. The Dunlop Company decided not to accept his second ride, and that the time registered - in his first attempt must stand. This' makes the club's total riding time for the 100 miles 4 hrs. lOmin. 20sec, which still leaves them the winners of the test. The final plaeings and allocation of prize winners will therefore be as follows: —First, £100, North Sydney Suburbs Cycling Club (Sydney), time 4hrs. lOmins. 20 sees.; second, £50, Ixion Cycling Club (Melbourne), 4hrs. 13mins. lOsecs; third, £20, Marslilands Cycling Club (New Zealand), 4hrs. 13mins. 28'secs. The fastest individual 10 miles relay 'winners, are:—H. G. H. Horder (Sydney), 21mins. 50secs,,-1, £5 os ; P. O'Shea (New Zealand) 22mins. 42 2-sth sees, 2, £3 3s; A. Bonis (New Zealand), 22mins. 42 3-sth sees, 3, £2 2s.

One objection many motorists -have to using wire wheels is the difficulty of properly cleaning and keeping clean this type of wheel. The RudgeWhitworth people have now marketed celluloid discs which can easily be attached to wheels—the inside of the disc being permanently fitted, whilst the outside can readily" be detached for tyro replacements by unscrewing one nut. As the celluloid disc can be made in any colour and can take a brilliant polish, the addition of this attachment rather adds to the appearance of a car. Apart from this the fitting of these discs is said to save considerable time in washing a car, experiments having proved that a wire wheel takes ten minutes, an artillery wheel 7 minutes, and a wire wheel with celluloid discs fitted two minutes.

The. German Cycle Tracks Association has refused to pass as a world's record Nettlebeck's recent hour's ride on the Munich track, upon which he claimed to have covered 63 miles 1090. yards in 60 minutes. It is stated that several inaccuracies were discovered upon investigation by the Gorman authorities. Paul Guignard's long standing record of 63 miles 253 yards therefore still stands as the world's best for the hour paced ride.

France possesses more cyclists than any other nation in the world. For 1913, 3,477,991 cyclists paid a 2s 6d tax on their machines, bringing in a revenue to the French Government of £432,220. Based on th'o above figures ■one person in every thirteen of the French population rides a bicycle. The method of collecting the tax is for cyclists to purchase' at the beginning of each' year a small Government plate from tobacconists' shops. The registration plate has to be affixed to the machine, and carried throughout the

current year