CYCLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XX, 14 May 1898, Page 609

CYCLING.

After three years’ trial, the use of bicycles by letter carriers in Louisville, Ky., has been found to be a failure, and the wheels have been abandoned. The men say that very often, instead of being a help to quick delivery, they have been a failure, owing to bad weather, muddy and crowded streets and breakdowns. A method of obtaining the approximate speed at which a rider is cycling is suggested by a cycling paper as follows: The rate of speed is ascertained by noting the number of revolutions which the pedal cranks make in a given number of seconds, the number of seconds in every instance depending upon the gear of the bicycle. For example, a rider whose wheel is geared at 06 goes as many miles per hour as his pedal cranks make revolutions in 11.78 seconds. The following gears and seconds to correspond in this method are given:—Gear 54, seconds 9.94; gear 60, seconds 10.72; gear 66, seconds 11.78; gear 72, seconds 12.84; gear 78, seconds 13.92: gear 84, seconds 15; gear 90, seconds 16.08; gear 96, seconds 17.14. Inasmuch as the ordinary rider would be unable to split seconds with the requisite fineness for this table, the method is good only for a rough calculation. I am glad to learn, says a writer in the ‘Ladies’ Own Magazine,’ that the proposed Rational Dress League, inaugurated by the members of the Ladies’ Cycling Association, has met with far greater response than was anticipated. Some 250 circulars were issued to persons interested in the cause, most of which have been warmly responded to. Lady Harberton is to be president, and an influential committee will lie appointed. Provincial branches are to he established, and the whole thing undertaken in a workman-like manner. A gratifying fact is that a number of the sterner sex are tendering hearty support, and that walks and cycling runs are being arranged. A well-known ladies’ tailor is preparing some smart costumes for league members. A cycling writer says: I had occasion recently to warn my readers against a certain class of machines which are being put before the public in plausible advertisements of a catchpenny character: but one of my correspondents whom I advised to steer clear of such machines writes to tell me he is very disappointed with the advice I gave him, as in his opinion, although they are listed at £6 or £7, they look quite equal to others for which he is asked £lB or £2O. Well, if my correspondent likes to take the risk, by all means let him buy one. In six months’ time I shall be glad to hear if lie has altered his views. By the same post that brought his letter I had a complaint from another reader, who says: ‘Some eighteen months ago I purchased a machine from one of these firms. 1 was never able to ride it with any pleasure, the machine was simply flung together, and the material was as soft ns bedstead iron. I took it back, but got no redress. About the same time a friend of mine purchased a similar one from the same firm, and the frame all worked loose: it was not made true. The bearings fitted so badly that one could see the balls from the outside.* 1 give publicity to this as a warning

to others. There are a few good machines to be had at about £ 10, but novices should lieware of machines at ridiculously low prices, which are simply made to sell. The recuperative power of the racing cyclist is something marvellous. Take Porta’s case. For the last five or six weeks he has been in a private hospital with a clot of blood on the brain, and he was dangerously ill. Now he’s off for a racing trip to the W.A. goldfields. Verily, cyclists are tough. It has been proved beyond a doubt that New Zealand has produced riders quite equal to Australia, and it is al>out time that our cyclists began to get somewhere near the times established on the other side; but this will never be accomplished until we see trained teams of pacers.