CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 312, 16 July 1896, Page 3

CYCLING.

German cyclists have an effective way of ridding themselves of inquisitive curs. A noisy explosive in the shape of small bombs is (says the Stockkeeper) now manufactured, and the dogs m the Father- ■; land are now evincing less interest in bloomer costumes. T. Cooper lowered the world’s two-third-mile competition record at Cincanati on May 9th to 1.25, the previous record by l-ssec. Another new invention in the bike industry is the “ electric bicycle.” A Frenchman is alleged to have patented a machine which carries a dynamo under the seat. In this bike the foot pedal movement regulates the speed, but does not generate it as at present. Once fairly set going, the “ electric bicycle ” only requires steering. Its inventor claims that it can be made to go faster than anything ever known ip the “ world of wheels,” and that a man can ride it for days without feeling the slightest .fatigue.

J. S. Johnson, the “white flyer,” met with decisive defeat in a match with Morin, winner of the last Grand Prix de Paris on the Velodrome de la Seine track on Sunday, May 10. There was an enormous attendance. No doubt the American was at some disadvantage in a new country, but the Paris correspondent of the Cyclist relates that Johnson’s trials were so satisfactory that the American colony supported him heavily. The distance was 200 metres. In the first heat at the first essay they finessed, and manoeuvred and crawled as if it were a “slow” race, until Morin punctured. Johnson left the track, and another start was made after some delay. Next try Johnson indulged in trick riding, and tried every effort to get Morin to lead, without avail, and the crowd hooted vigorously as they both held on to the barrier and contemplated the scene. Then Morin dismounted, and after more fuss the heat was “ annulled.” A third start was made with a pacemaker, single, but Johnson kept dashingin front of him and pulling up suddenly, till he thought it best to leave the track At the bell Johnson went up to the barrier, and

then dropped down the banking into the back stretch. Morin followed him without apparent effort, and coming down the home straight overhauled him easily and won, looking round, by a clear length. Time, smin 20sec. In the second heat Johnson led at a slow pace, and there was no change in the position until the bell, when the American went to the top of the bend. Then, suddenly sprinting down the “ cliff,” as the Seine banking is called, he put a gap of about 15 yards between him and Morin. The advantage now seemed enormously in favour of Johnson. The Frenchman, however, was after him in splendid style, and gained preceptibly, until at the last corner he was only a length behind. Coming down the home straight he soon settled Johnson, and won with the greatest ease by a length and a half. Time, 4min 35sec. Morin came in for a grand reception, the public cheering him repeatedly as he rode round the track in a tricolour jersey, and one account says he was moved to tears of joy. A cyclists’ and cycle insurance company, with a capital of £200,000, has been formed in England.

The cyclists of Palmerston are signing a petition to the Borough Council, requesting permission to be allowed to run their machines upon the footpaths where the roads are unfit for bicycle traffic. A concession of this kind is permitted in France. This country (says the New Nork Sun) will soon be famous for its bicycle tracks. To-day it can boast of probably more than any other country, and in quality, judging from the records, they equal any in the world. Towns that have not built bicycle tracks are making preparations to do so this year, and not a week goes by that two or three announcements are not made to that effect. Canvas cloth, fine woven wire, and tanned rawhide, put together and vulcanised, constitute material for a new tyre which has just been patented. The other day a man was knocked down and run over by a bicycle. Scrambling to his feet he began to abuse the rider. “Sir,” he shouted, “I want to tell you that you are no gentleman —er — excuse me, madam —miss,” as he found himself talking to a bloomerite, “ but, anyhow, I was right.”

Queen Victoria is now almost the only “ crowned head ” in Europe who does not ride a bicycle. Another ingenious appliance for the use of- the racing man has been put upon the market m the form of a lap-scorer, which may be attached like a bell to the handle-bar of a machine, and will register the laps covered up to 100. A contrivance of this description will often be very useful, and will obviate the possibility of the rider being misled, say by the mistaken ringing of the bell too early, as happened in one of the heats of the mile at Herne Hill recently. The makers are Messrs Croll and Grant, of Watford. The lap indicator only weighs an ounce and a half, and costs eighteenpence. It should secure a ready sale. It is solemnly announced in a Waikato paper that the Waikato Amateur Athletie and Cycle Club “ propose holding a road race for cyclists, and should sufficient inducement offer, a cross-country event.” -This. I fancy, will prove to be a difficult task—for the bike. I daresay if a rider sent his machine full tilt at a fence, the “ suddint ” stop would shoot the rider over the fence.

If your wheels do not track properly of a certainty the frame must be twisted. When set properly the wheels should be exactly the same plane, and when running a straight course the back wheel ought to follow directly in the tracks of the front wheel. With cheap machines the frame often yields in ordinary riding, but it is generally the result of a fall or a bad skid. Unless the wheels are very much out it is possible that you cannot detect it by an ordinary examination. The best plan is to get someone to follow the machine while it is being ridden, then it can easily be seen whether the wheels track or not. In purchasiug machines, therefore, get good ones, and if secondhand, be sure that the hind wheel trails properly, as not only is the formation of two tracks in itself a serious defect, but it is fairly good evidence either of a badly built machine or of an accident having occurred by which the frame has sustained injury. A revolution in cycling is threatened by the introduction of a machine with a pneumatically slung frame. Referring to the invention which is to mark this new era in the history of wheeling, the cycling editor of the Land and Water says: —“I have had the privilege of riding the very first machine of the new style. Its inventor claims that at last the pneumatic tyre has been superseded, and really I must confess that I am greatly inclined to agree with his view. The wheels are shod with solid rubber tyres ; while the frame is pneumatically elung. There is also an improvement in the build of the head of the machine which greatly facilitates steering. The application of the pneumatic principle in the new machines is extremely simple and ingenious.”