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OYOLITO.
WHEELMARKS.
[By Handlebar.]
. Holidays falling on a Monday enable cyclists to j
hie far away from city turmoil, and a number of
parties were out awheel from Saturday to Mon
day last. Adelaide was the only club which made
an official run, and a strong muster assembled
for Mannum. This is such an enjoyable trip that
the wonder is that more do not try it. The roads
are on the whole perfect, and the country is
?iicturesque. The Li Lis stopped at Blumberg
or tea, and an excellent repast was provided
by Host Claussen. Time passed so quickly that
before Palmer was reached darkness had set in,
and the steep pinches in this district were per
force taken cautiously. Mannum was reached
safely, and the cyclists wdrc welcomed by a brass
band and a good supper, both thoughtfully pro
vided by Host Sogers. Sesidents of the river town
are naturally elated at the success of their re
presentative in the cycle world, which- may ac
count for the musical honours bestowed upon the
'Adelaides. The wheelmen at all events had a good
time. Sunday was passed pleasantly boating and
swimming on the river. On Monday morning all
members assembled in the lounge of the Pretoria
Hotel, and Mr. V. Lewis, as senior member of the
club, proposed the loyal toast. Host llogers pro
posed "The Adelaide Cycling Club," and cheers
having been exchanged between the villagers and
cyclists the party started on the home journey.
Blumberg was reached in time for dinner, and the
trip was completed at 7 p.m. Variety was lent
to the tour by the presence of Mr. V. Lewis's
motor, which excited admiration and wonder in
the country districts. The secretary is hopeful
of another big muster to-day at Magill, where a
cricket match will be played against Norwood,
i Many cyclists experience trouble with tires blow
ingoutandpatchescomingoff without any apparent
reason. The point has been well discussed in
English papers, and a solution of the difficulty
is said to have been found by chalking the in
Side of tlie outer cover.
A. A. Chase has (says an exchange) at last
accomplished the task lie set himself early in the
English season, viz., Hie establishment of a new
set of British records for one hour, and for fifty
miles. A couple of months ago Chase met with
an accident whilst training behind bis motor,
and his attempt was necessarily postponed. On
September 24, under fine weather conditions, and
paced by a motor tandem, Chase got among re
cords at 6ix miles, which he rode in 9 min. 11 l-5th
see., against the previous best, 9 min. 27 2-5th
see. From that stage onward new records were
put up, viz., 10. miles, 15 min. 12 sec.; 20 miles,
30 min. 28 sec.; 30 miles, 46 min. 47 sec.; one
hour, 38 miles 440 yards, beating the previous
best by 1 mile 244 yards; 40 miles were cut out in
1 hour 2 min. 38 3-5tli, and the 50 miles in 1
hour 17 min. 44 sec. Chase would probably have
touched world's records if his pacing tandem had
been faster, for he rode his last mile in 1 min.
23 4-5th sec., showing too great a speed receive
lor a record breaker at the end of his journey,
and his splendid performance was further dis
counted by the chain on his bicycle running
loose in the twenty-eighth mile, which caused a
couple of changes of mounts. Fortunately, it wa9
quickly effected, for the interrupted mile only
occupied 2 min. 23 2-5tli Bee.
If you want to clean round a puncture, and have
no sandpaper handy, a clean stone off the road,
a stone fence, or a brick wall makes an excel
lent substitute, seldom pressed into service, be
cause not thought of.
Michael lias returned to liis championship form,
and lias not suffered a defeat in thirteen conse
cutive matches. Last lie met and defeated tire
two fastest paced riders in America, viz., Harry
Hikes and R. Waltliour. - On Tuesday lie beat the
former by three laps in a 15 mile paced race, set
ting up indoor track records lor one and two
miles of 1 min. 33 l-6th sec. and 3 min. 8 4-5th
lee., covering the full distance in 24 min. 43 sec.
Uicliael was paced by Albert Champion on a motor
pieycle, Fournier pacing Hikes. On the following
day lie easily boat IValtliour in a ra
,, easily boat Waltliour in a race over the
same distance at Madison square Gardens, winning
by half a mile and setting up many indoor track
records.
Bob], the German champion, has nut up a splen
did list of performances this 6eason, viz., one
hour's world's record; 100 kilometers world's pro
fessional championship; twenty-four hours' race,
from the best stayers in, Europe; and his last per
formance, 100 kilometer championship of Europe,
He won the latter classic event at Leipzig on
September 22 from as good a field as could be found.
Dickentinann was second, and Hyser third. Robl
very easily disposed of ids opponent, and rode
the 100 kilometers (02 miles) in 1 hour 33 min.
37 3-5th see., only 43 seconds over world's re
cord.
Chase now contemplates an attack on the Bri
tish unpaeed 100 mile road record, which stands
at 5 hours 3 min. 43 sec, and was established
by H. Green. Chase still holds that class of
record for 50 miles, a performance put up in 1898.
To show bow little friction there is m a first
class bicycle fitted with a free wheel clutch,
an English cyclist recently rode 1,075 yardg oh
a cement track without using the pedals.
In a review of the cycle industry which appears
in the "Morning Post" from the pen of Sir. II.
Hewitt Griffin, the question, it is remarked, is
often asked—How many cyclists arc there in the
United Kingdom? Mr. Griffin thinks it can never
be satisfactorily answered, seeing that there is no
possible means of obtaining reliable figures. If
the number be set down at from 1,000,000 to
1,250,000 it will probably be approximately cor
rect. The number of horses in Great Britain in
Hie middle of 1891 was returned as 1,511,431, and
it is certain the number of cycles is approaching
that number. In France all cycles have to carry
a numbered plaque, the enforcement of this law
causing a great and seemingly absurd increase in
the number of riders. The actual number of
cycles paying duly is as follows:—
1S95 250,084 1897 .. 408,869 3809 .. S3S.856
1896 329,816 1898 .. 483,414 i900 .. 976,878
Of the last year's figures 5,166 were tandems, and
motor-cycles numbered 11,252. Whether these last
were included or not in the aliovenientioned figures
is not altogether clear. Counting nearly two mil
lions ior the United States and Canada, and as
many more for the rest of the world, we have a
grand total of between eight and nine million
cyclists in tlic world. It is, of course, impossible,
the writer says, to estimate exactly bow mut\
money is spent on or because of cycling by British
riders, but if \vc take eacli rider's annual expendi
ture as follows:—Renewals and repairs, £6; tour
ing, extra food and refreshments, railway charges,
8:c., £5; clothes, club subscriptions, and sundries,
'£2—we get twelve or thirteen million pounds
sterling as the aggregate annual expenditure by
the cyclists of this country. Then, if wc take the
wages of the 250,000 working for, concerned in, or
depending more or less on the cycle industry, its
kindred trades, printing, press, advertising, rail
charges, rents, rates, law, interest on capital, &c.,
for the manufacturers, factors, dealers, agents, &c.,
the purchase of materials and so forth all over the
kingdom, we run into gigantic figures, probably
another 25 to 30 millions. Even this would not
cover gas, coal, electricity, preparation, and pro
curing raw material, &e. If we say that something
like £1,000,000 is put into circulation, directly
and indirectly, every week by cycles and cycling
it will be within the mark. No other form of
UPll
Bport or pastime can show sufli figures.
I Motor cars are becoming quite familiar in Ade
laide, which offers so many advantages over
other cities for enjoyment on wheels. There is
bne particularly attractive car often seen about,
tvhicli glides over the roads in rare style, and
makes but little noise. Judging from a hurried
glance as it flitted swiftly past it is built to carry
four, though at the time-only two passengers were
on board. It looked a beautifully compact
machine, comfortable and fast. So many com-'
plaints have been beard about our obsolete tram
system that the question is frequently discussed
in cycle circles regarding the possibility of a
motor service being introduced. In the Old World
the motor has superseded the horse in many di
rections, and cabs, delivery vans, and so on have
given way to petroleum-driven vehicles. In Vic
toria the Essendon Council has appointed a com
mittee to ascertain what local motor car _ com
panies are prepared to do towards supplying a
motor omnibus service to connect with the Mel
bourne tramway service. In Sydney Mr. Mark Foy.
Hie well-known merchant, is importing a couple of
De Dion delivery .vans for use in connection with
bis business. The motor is claimed to be cheaper
In the long run than horses, and is, of course,
£ great timesavcr.
Whilst South Australians arc apparently content
To remain passive so far as Uux's Adelaide to
Melbourne record is concerned the race against
time from Sydney to Melbourne continues to claim
aspirants. The record is held by T. Beyer, of
Melbourne, who, in 1897, covered the 694 miles
Separating the cities in 4 daya 1 hour 7 min. By
starting from Melbourne a shorter route can be
taken, the distance being 576 miles. In May,
.1898, E. A. Pearson accomplished the fastest ride
by covering the distance in 8 days 3 hrs. 5 min.
7, Anthony, a member of a Sydney club, will short
If essay Hie record to Melbourne,
Southern District have been offered a trophy by
Host Small, who is a member of the club, for
a race to the Eagle-on-the-Hlll via Waterfall
Gullj\ 1 understand that the path leading from
the first fall is in good order. It is, of course,
steep, but it is a marked improvement on the old
track which previously existed, and is appreciated
by those who use it. The climb to the-top of the
fall is about the worst. Last Saturday Southerns
engaged in their first strawberry picnic. They
went to Leewood Gardens, near the Mountain Hut,
and had a good "time. Being rather early in the'
season fruit was not quite so plentiful as in previ
ous years, but only the very hungry remained un
satisfied.
An effort is being made to secure a rule in the
next Warrnanihool to Melbourne road race to the
effect that contestants must ride the distance on
the one machine. The movers may be prompted oy
good motives in endeavouring to place all the
riders on an equal footing, by prohibiting, for in
stance. the use of differently geared machines over
couDtry where they could be used to the best ad
vantage; but in a "race such as the one referred to
it is surely courting unpopularity to place a man,
as the rule practically would, in the event of an
accident, out of court. A man may be leading by
miles a short distance from home when his machine
may collapse, and it seems unfair that he may not
be allowed to finish on another cycle. The race,
I take Jt. is to test the speed and stamina of the
man rather than the qualities of any machine. Be
cause X wins on a certain make of bicycle it does
not imply that he would not he equally successful
on another. In the boom days the machine ridden
to victory in a big race spelt trade for its agents;
hut nowadays there is little difference in the sales.
A good machine will retain its popularity irre
spective of its success in speed contests. '
Mr. Rodney Cockburn, of the North Adelaide
Club, who went to the Booleroo district four
months ago for the benefit of his health, return
ed during the week. The change has effected a
wonderful improvement.
Thirty-eight have accepted for the league road
race, which will be decided this afternoon. The
event promises to supply an exciting contest,
more particularly because several unknown riders
are engaged. The limit man starts from the state
school, Henley Beach road, at 3 o'clock, and will
finish at the Duke of Wellington Hotel, Paytieham.
A distance of 25 miles will be covered, the route
running through Glenelg, skirting Brighton, and
on to Daw's Corner, and up the hill to Glen Os
mond, thence via Burnside to I'uyneham.
Between 40 and 50 Mitehams. including ladies,
had an enjoyable outing to Clarendon last Satur
day. The day was delightful for a trip in the
hills, and the party entered with zest into
thorough appreciation of the fixture. They camped
at tlie reserve ground, where lea was provided.
Sonic of the parly essayed fishing, but they were
not liberally rewarded. Games passed ilie time
quickly, until 2 p.m.
F. Walters, who left this week for South Africa,
is a prominent Arielite. At the conclusion of the
cricket match on Saturday between Ariel and
Parlcside, the clubs accorded him three cheers,
and several speakers wished him success.
During his stay in Adelaide, Sir. W. J. Sloun
tain. jun., chairman of the Victorian League of
AVhcelmen, conferred with the executive and rac
ing boards of the local league. He discussed the
new track rules in force in Victoria, and confirm
ed by New South Wales, and it was decided that
the racing hoard should report on them to the
council. Their adoption in South Australia is
probable.
Parkside and Ariel engaged in a cricket contest
last Saturday. The latter made 108, and Parkside
<0. Frrarson, for the winners, scored 35, and Mc
Cormack registered 34 for the losers. The teams
played 13 a side, and there was a good attendance
of cyclists.
The B.S.A. Company, which supplies over half
of the sets of cycle fittings imported into these
states, made £90,S9G during the past 12 months.
This successful company is now making racing
component parts, which, when assembled, come
out at about 20 lb. for the complete machine.
The following is a list of the mile records cre
dited to the different forms or motor vehicles now
upon the market, accomplished from a standing
start, and compiled by the Irish authority, R. J.
Mccredy:—Motor bicycle, 1 min. 15 sec.; tricycle,
(Soucin, 8-h.p.), 1 min. 7 2-5lh sec.; voiturette
(Renault, 8-h.p.). 1 min. 2S 2-5th sec.; light car
(Darraeq, 3G-h.p.), 1 min. 15 2-5th sec.; ear (Mer
cedes. 35-h.p.). 1 min. 12 3-5lh see.; steam car
(Serp'ollot, 12-h.p.), 1 min. 11 sec.; electric car
(Columbia), 2 min. 80 sec. The honour of holding
the world's mile record for any class of motor
vehicle stands to the credit of Henri Beconnais,
the famous French ehauffc-ur, at 1 min. 7 2-5th
sec., as mentioned above, lie being considered the
most expert motor tricyclist of the day. The
highest speed ever attained by any motorist, how
ever, was accomplished by S. F. Edge, of London,
who, on his big Napier ear, on'French roads,
covered a flying kilometre (1,093 yards) in 32 2-5th
sec., which is at the rate of a mile in 63 sec.
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