CYCLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XXIII, 5 June 1897, Page 702

CYCLING.

A SYNDICATE has been formed in Denver to build a thousand-mile bicycle tourist circuft in the mountains, starting front Denver and extending to Estes Park, 75 miles distant. The plan includes the building of cabins about 20 miles apart, and hotels about 75 miles apart, one of which is to be a sanatorium. The cyclist who tells this story must, we imagine, be an angler as well as a wheelman. He says that he recently hung his bicycle from the ceiling of his cellar not far from a swinging shelf on which food was kept. A mouse jumped from the wa'l to the tyre of the front wheel, evidently hoping thereby to reach the shelf. The wheel started, and the mouse naturally ran toward the highest part of it. It was able to stay on the top of the tyre, but could not get enough of a foothold to jump to the wall. When found next morning it was very much exhausted, though still running. The cyclometer showed that it had travelled over twentyeight miles. An enterprising firm shipped a consignment of bicycles to Central Africa, and the cannibalistic natives used them for grills. They said it was a capital contrivance. and wondered how they had managed to get along so many years without it. To assist beginners in learning to ride the wheel a new device has an overhead track, on which a trolley wheel is hung, to which the bicycle is attached by a rope to prevent fa'ling, the floor being fitted with raised guides to keep the wheel straight. A party of several hundred American cyclists has just arrived in England. Arrangements for the management of the par y have been made with the well-known and experienced steamship and tourist agent. Mr Edwin H. Low. and it will also be under the guidance of two wellknown and prominent members of the League of American Wheelmen, who are enthusiastic and accomplished wheelmen and cycle tourists, and who know the ground thoroughly. The party will ride for two weeks through Normandy and Brittany, with a stop of two or three days tn Paris, and will then ride back from Paris along the valley of the Seine to Dieppe or Boulogne, and crossing either to Newhaven or Folkestone, will ride up to London. After a two or three days' stay in London in Jubilee week the party will ride to Windsor Castle, to Oxford, and thence through Winchester and Salisburv to Southampton. Three attempts to cause the wind to aid the bicyc e rider in driving his machine have recently been made bv inventors ore American and two French. In the case of the American and one of the French inventions an apparatus constructed on the plan of a toy windmill is attached to the machine and geared to the front wheel in such a manner that the force of the wind can be utilised in turning the wheel. The third contrivance also acts on the principle of the windmill, but its motor, instead of having fans all facing one way. is shaped like an empty pumpkin shell, with the segments slightly separated and inclined inward. The practical usefulness of these devices remains to be demonstrated. The ' bicycle face' will now yield the palm to that awful visage known as the ' horseless-carriage face,'in the estimation of an observant correspondent. That expression known as the ‘bicycle face' is caused by anxiety, apprehension and actual dread lest the owner run over somebody. It is brought about by anxiety lest some bad accident occur, apprehension that the rider may be the victim, and positive downright dread that some one else may lie injure’.. These varying and powerful emotion, constantly p’.aving upon a synipathe-

tic soul, are reflected through ocular and nervous lines in the countenance technically known as the' bicycle face.' This cast of countenance, brought about by the mo : t humane emotions of a sympathetic soul, and reflected through the mirror of eyes and expression, is the opposite of that glare soon to become known as the ‘horseless-carriage face.' When the modern moDchisin full operation the face of the rider undergoes an awful change. The lines of the mouth become set. rigid, immovable and stonily grim—just the opposite of the sympathetic bicycle face, in that it reflects a determ nation that if anybody is killed it won't be the owner of the ‘ horseless-carrriage face.’ There is also a look of 'ear — not fear that he may run down somebody, but fear that he won't. The eyes have a fixed and steely glare while over the whole saturnine face is the impress of horror, a faint but ever present shadow that shows the modern moloch is impelled to pursue his work of devastation by some potent hellish power. Once seated on this powerful engine of destruction, with a firm grip on the lever, even the fairest countenance takes on some attributes of this ‘ horseless-carriage face.'

Mrs Charlotte Smith, who came to New York city a few months ago and inaugurated a crusade against women riding the bicycle, and also announced her intention of finding out where the typewri‘er girls of the metropolis passed their evenings, and. incidentally, of reforming them, has departed for Boston, leaving dismal failure behind her. Outdoor exercise has not only made girls' feet larger, but has tended to make girls larger and stronger in every way. Girls cannot cramp their feet in tight boots and enjoy athletics. lam told by one who knows a good deal about such matters that at dances you don't see nearly as many dainty feet as you used to. Wableigh : ‘ Bicycling will never be popular in South Africa.' Crosscut: ‘Why not?' Wableigh: ‘Because they have so much trouble about their bad Rhodes.' A feat foolhardy in itself but showing the wonderful strength possessed by the wheel he rode was that of William Shields, who on April 3rd rede down the west steps of the capitol at Washington mounted on a ‘ Rambler ’ wheel fitted with G. and J. tires. The descent is male up of four flights of steps and three wide landings. Starting at the top by jumping in the saddle Shields managed to hold the pedals until the bottom of the third flight had been reached, from this point, owing to the momentum the machine cleared the entire fourth flight, landing with terrific force on the front wheel. Shields rode the wheel to the store of the local agent, the handlebar only having been affected by the final mixup. and he himself being but slightly bruised. The great annual relay race of the California Associated Cycling Clubs, the biggest event of the year in Calfornian cycling, was run at ’Frisco on April 4th. Nine clubs took par:, and as each had ten riders and ten trailers, iso men were in the race proper. The officials and assistants brought this number up to more than 600. The course was around the bay from San Francisco to Oakland. For the third time in succession the Bay City Wheelmen won the race, and now to d the handsome silver trophy in fee simple. The Re iance and Acme Clubs had a c'ose run for second place, the former gaining the position by a narrow margin. The winning Club had a mile to spare at the finish. Previous records went by the board, the 100 miles being covered in 4b rs 49min.

The A. H. Pierce Manufacturing Company. Gieen and Kinzie-streets. Chicago, is manufacturingthe Nelson snap toeclip. The toeclip has a foot plate which rests on the side plates of the pedal, thus giving a secure feeling under the foot pressure. This plate has a rubber top to give a firm seat for the shoe, as well as to reduce the jar. The under side has a double-jawed spring clipwhich snaps over the barrel of the pedal pin. This latter device does away with the need ot tools to put the clip on. it only being necessary to press it on with the hand. Another feature of merit is that in case of an apparent danger the instinctive lifting of the foot will detach the clip from the pedal. Dear ‘ Argus. —Having a few hours to spare in the prosperous and picturesque town of Wanganui. I thought the time could not be better or more profitably sp=nt than in seeing the work going on for the advancement of athletics, and for general development of bone and muscle, viz., the formation of a cycling and running track, which is to be, when completed, second to none in the colony. That popular young townsman, Mr James Crichton, kindly escorted me to the ground, and explained the plan on which the work was being conducted. The site is a most delightful one for the purpose, situated as it is in one of the prettiest spots in the town, and only about five minutes' walk from thebusine s thoroughfare, so that convenience is added to the many advantages of this ground The Wanganui Athletic and Cycling Club tor>k the initiative in pushing the movement forward, and are to be congratulated at the success attending their

efforts. A bazaar was got up to raise funds, and. with the help of the ladies of the community, were raised. The work of forming tracks and banking up is being gone on with energetically. The track will measure four laps to the mile. Up to August /.’Soo will have been spent, and it is the intention of the Board of Control to further improve the grounds, in addition to the building of grandstand, dressing shed (fitted up with shower baths', judge's box and committee-rooms The centre of the ground will be utilised for the principal football and cricket matches. Experts say that the track will be one of the fastest in the Australasian colonies. The public opening day will take place on the 9th of November. when it is hoped the services of all the leading cyclists and pedestrians will be secured.—E.W. The exquisitely bright and absolutely windless day of the Queen's Birthday attracted a very large number of spectators to the Agricultural Show Grounds in Maxwell Road. Blenheim, where a temporary track had been made for the cycling sports, the first ever held there. The arrangements were admirable, and so punctually were the different events got off that time was found to run one race in which an accident occurred) over again an i interpolate another for boys. Mr Snodgrass was judge, Mr H. F. Thompson assistant judge, Mr Slurrock starter, the other officials being Messrs L. Dodson, J. Clinch. A. R. Thompson, J. H. Scott. J. A. Fuller, R. F. Priddle, H. Fisk, E. Mead, G O. Waddy. In the Maiden Handicap lone mile) J. Maclaine was Ist. and G. Waddy 2nd. In the second event, the Flying Stakes halt a mile’, there was a collision between G. Waddy. who was leading, and W. Cooke, the result being that the riders fell, and both machines were injured. A. Carter, who had been considerably in the rear, came on and passed the post, and subsequently the two who had fallen ran again for second place, and Waddy won ; it was a very close finish, and created great excitement. J. Maclaine won the Queen's Birthday Handicap of three miles, G. Waddy 2nd, and H. Stowe 3rd. The Tortoise Race, in which there were a large number of competitors, was run in heats, the winners of the different heats running it off afterwards, resulted in N. Cooke coming Ist. with F. Birch 2d ; this race caused great amusement. The Juvenile Handicap was won by F. Mullen. Robbie Sinclair taking 2nd place. Threading the Needle was twice round the course, the competitors stopping after one circuit to give a piece of cotton to some lady friend, who threaded it and returned it, the contestant then proceeding on his way; this was won by W. Cooke, N. Cooke 2nd. There were only three competitors in the Ladies' Race, though nine had nominated, and Miss Ethel Birch was the winner, Miss Cecil Johnstcn 2nd. The Obstacle Race was over hurdles, and in this N. Cooke was successful. G. Waddy 2nd. The Marlborough Cycling Club’s Cup. of five miles, was the event of the day. and J. Maclaine (scratch) an I H. Stowe (scratch) rode a dead heat; W. Drummond. 250 yards. 3rd. There was tremendons excitement over this race, many ladies' voices being heard encouraging the different competitors, who were all well known. The extra race for youths was won by R. Sinclair. Leslie Macey 2nd, F. Mullen 3rd. The last race of the day was for the sports officials, over half a mile, and L. Dodsor. was the winner. H. Fisk 2nd. A. Thompson 3rd. This race took place at 4.30, thus allowing the spectators to gain their homes before dusk, all having spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Many hope that simi'ar functions will be held. A remarkable feature of Maclaine's bicyci’ng is that he has only been able to ride for about three months, not having learnt before that period. We have to acknowledge a copy of Bacon's Cycling Road map for the North Island of New Zealand. The map. which is strongly bound in cloth, is on a big scale, and shews all the roads specially coloured. It fo'ds up into a handy size for the pocket, and costs only is.