CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7232, 19 October 1901, Page 6

CYCLING.

. - _ + — : STATE OP THE ROADS. General. — In the early part of the -week dust lay inches deep on" all the main highways to the country, and the prospects of a pleasant outing "on. Sunday were small inaeed, as even a breeze was sufficient vto raise clouds of dirt and grit, whilst 'a nor'wester was simply unbearable to the cy.clist. Thursday night's rain," however, proved a veritable godsend, and most of the roads are now in capital condition. New Brighton.— Tb.3 old road past Professor Bickerton's is good, with the exception of the stretch between Burwocd. and the Tramway Uridge. The tramway lino road, branching off beyond the Cemetery, is unfit for riding. A cycle stand capable , • of accommodating forty cycles, has been . placed inside the lawn by the New Brighton Hotels and a complete set of tools and tyrerepairing materials are also obtainable there.; Opsuwa. — The Opawa roads invariably" supply a pleasant route for an afternoon* ride-, though the main Opawa: Road, is nol in the first-class condition of former yearsj dray traffic having, ctft it up considerably. Sumnev. — Worse than usual is the- condi« tion of the Stunner Road, -which is so un« satisfactory irom a cyclist's point of view that the proportion of those who cycle there on ' a Sunday is probably a tenth of the number w&o would, make tne journey were the road in better order. ' " ' .'Little River.— Roads uniformly good', excepting a patch on tine Gebbie's Valley Road. This route has much to commend iU when other roads are covered with dust. Gebbie's Valley. — A capital day's tour for riders in good condition is to Lyttelton and .Governor's Bay, thence to Gebbie's Valley, and home via'Tai Tapu. The roads, with the exception of the Sunnier Road, are at present in splendid condition. The bad part may be avoided and the trip shortened fyy taking train from Christchurdh to Lytielton or from Heathcote Valley to Lyttelton. . ' " ,'jlangiora. — Now that the dust has been laid, this old-time route is as good as ever. A little loose at Belfast and beyond White's Bridge, but net so bad as it will be later in the season. Waikail— Very suitable for Saturday afternoon and Sunday's xide. To Kaiapoi good, after that the roads are superb. Kowai River must be>forded, but this caa be done at present without dismounting. Waipara River can also be forded, although by making a slight detour it can be crossed via the railway bridge. i Oxford.- 1 — Roads in first-class order. B[ororata.^ — Reads in good order. Yaldhurst.— -A pleasant afternoon's ride;roads good. Lincoln. — To Sockburn fair; after that perfect. LeEston. — To Hornby fair; remainder very good and in parts perfect.