CYCLING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11101, 16 December 1897, Page 2

CYCLING.

CYCLE LETTER FROM ENGLANDLondon', October 26.— The bicycle polo rrhich has been played for some weeks at> the Ciystal Palace, has had the effect of making thia branch of cycling very popular. The game as played by the Society is very tame compared with that witnessed at the Palace, for instead of driving the ball by means of flicking the front wheel the use of a mallet is brought in.- One would imagine that it would he more excitiDg work to see a lady endeavouring to bit a ball with the wheel oif her machine, bat still with the mallet thft Bpectatois arc [not debarred excitement., for they are apparently unruly things to< | manage, and will become entangled in tiro opponent's ppokesj while a charge broadside certainly relieves the monotony of the exhibition. Road record breaking is still receiving ; attention from cyclists in North Briton. On Saturday, October 23rd, tha brothers Robson, of the Hawick C C. rode 50 miles in fresh time of 2 hours 26min 18se r tery creditable when the soft condition of tbe roads and ehe cold' weather is taken into consideration. Johnson, of Lockerbie, who broke the Lockerbie to Moffafc record, was favoured with better roads, and iha cold weather did uot effect him so much. He covered the 16.mi1e3 in 39min 57sec An adventurous journey is shortly tofee undertaken by a Caj tain Oldhara, who Las jjiven otic his intention of crossing tho Atlantic in a cycle boat. The> boat, will only measure 84 feet long by 2$ afe the greatest width and tbe occupant wilt ait in a sort of hatchway in the centre,, there by means of treadle* he will work, a twiu screw which will propsl the boat. Ha is going to take sufficient food audJ water for 7 and ns soon as a* favourable opportunity occurs widl 3et. sail foji Liverpool . British roads are gradually getting itAo ; a finer condition every year, thanks to ! the care bestowed upon them by the locaJ boards and it is becoming a known fact amongst the Council men that to repair a road thoroughly in the first place is by far the cheaper in the end. On Tuesday, October 26th, the famous Dunlop pacers were entertained at the Balcony EfeL', Crystal Palace, to their annual dinner", and a most enjoyable evening was spent nmong them. Thi* team of pacers, who have made their name known throughout the whoi«j world by the perfect system employed in posing: their men, by dropping and taking tbefco up without any check on their speed, areV^ a right good set of fellows, and it is -■ mainly ihrongh their desire to help in world's records that ao mnny fresh times hava been made at the Crystal Palaco tract*, (Sydenham. They have tho distinction of being the team who have paced in nearly all tho present world's records from §-mUe to 616 miles. Irish cyclists have certainly moret privileges than the English, for in many cases they are allowed to use the pathway, and lampleas riders are not interfered i>o much with by the police as English riders, yet for all this they must not expect to have it all their own way, xnd the practice which has been in vogue for some lime of riding fast on footpaths? in* Phoenix Park could only lead v,> to i?io Dublin police taking steps to suppress thisf path riding. Constables have received official instructions to stop all cyclists in future using the footpaths. Many ■of the London cycling clubs during the coming winter will discard their machines and favour the original form of locomotion, " walking." In club life generally there is no off sr ason for the Saturday runs, for though in th» summer the distance is extended, and variojs places^are ri»ited, ia the winter the hostelry is selected about 7 or 8 miles from the club'y headquarters, and there* week by week the members collect andi join in song or cards, and discuss TeminLscences of tbo summer cjcliug. The circular sent round to the various* District Councils by the Cyclists Q'ouriag; CJub with respect to leaving the hedgo cuttings on the highways has in many cases been favourably received by tho conncilraen, who have promised to see thac the roads are cleared up after the hedges have been clipped. This is a mDvement in the right direction, which together with the case which cave before the Epsom Magistrates, shows that the cyclists have some power ia demauding that the public highways Hbould be kept in good order. The cm I refer to at Epsom was where two boys had beea charged with placing nails on the Leathcrhend Road, in such a manner as to cause damask? to tha cyclists' tyros, and wore fined ten shillings each for their little joke. Tha well - known composer Mons. Jacobi, who recently had the misfortune: to break his leg iv a cycle accident is making go >d use of his time while being lai'l up. It is rumoured that Jacobi is composing the music for the new Alhambra Ballet, aud in order that this may uot bs delayed whilo confined to his bed he has had a piano moved close to h'S bedside, and is making favorable progress with the musical production. Saturday, October 23rd, will be long remembered amongst cyclists, for it was on this day that Mr Biitten, of tho Rational Cyclists Union, bought a ticket for himself at one of tho Great Northern Railway stations and then demanded that his machine should bo carried free of charge as parsonal luggage. Of course, as every cyclist ia England knows, this would bo refused, yet it is a steppiug sloue which will load to tha great test case betwoen the National Cyclists Union and the 'Jreat Northern Bailway, as tothe latter's power to refuse to carry cycles as personal iuggajjo. Now that this move haa beon made N.C U. cyclists ought to give every possible help to gain the day.