GREAT BICYCLE BACE FROM BATH TO LONDON FOR £100 AGAINST TIME.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 135, 5 November 1874, Page 3

GREAT BICYCLE BACE FROM BATH TO LONDON FOR £IOO AGAINST TIME.

The increasing popularity of the iron stud and the hold bicycling has obtained on the public favour was fully attested on Monday afternoon by the crowds of spectators who lined “The High’’at Kensington and mustered in front of Mrs Percy’s Hotel. 'The Three Tuns and the King’s Arms, the head quarters of “The Middlesex,” waiting anxiously for the hero of the day, Mr D. Stanton, of Hornsey Rise, London, who had backed himself for a heavy wager to cover the distance between the Three Cups Hotel, Walcott street, Bath, and the Three Tuns, High street, Kensington, computed at 106 miles, in eight hours thirty minutes. Opinions varied as to the ability of the bicyclist to accomplish the feat (“old chronos” being the favorite), although his trainer, Croppy Bmall, the once crack London sprinter, and a select coterie of Stanton’s friends were sangine that he would win, and win easily. Leaving Bath as the cathedral clock struck 5 a.m, he was timed by his trainer to arrive at the goal about 1.25 p.m, and as the hour drew near the excitement was intense. Presently the cry of “ here he comes” ran along the line of spectators, and quickly the well-known red cap and blue and white jersey hove in sight. The wearer appeared much distressed, and laboured heavily, the left shoulder of his jersey being covered with blood, whilst he worked his machine with his right hand only, as if stimulated to further exertions by the sight of the harbor so near at hand. He put on a gallant spurt, and, amidst tre mendous cheering, “brought up” opposite the Three Tuns at 1.28 p.m. Being very stiff, he was lifted out of the saddle and carried into the inn, where Mrs Percy quickly provided a hot bath, which soon had a beneficial effect on the rider, whom it was found had sustained a severe injury to his shoulder and knee through coming into collision with a carriage driven by a gentleman on Maidenhead Hill, which delayed him a considerable time, as notwithstanding the shock to his s stem, “his steed” required looking after. “ The Vet” being quickly on the spot, and his machine put “ ship shape,” he continued his journey, though only able to use his right hand in working the bicycle for the last six and twenty miles, a rare instance of indomitable pluck and sheer gameness. He found the roads very heavy-going, especially in the

vicinity of Marlborough, and arrived at Reading at 10 110 a.tn , where ho partook of a slight refreshment. Had it not been for the unfortunate contretemps at Maidenhead. Stanton was certain that he could have landed home a good hour inside the stipulated time. The bicyclist is a well built and strongly framed man, and must have I ravelled at a tall pace, especially taking into consideration “his accident,” to have covered the distance in the time he did. He rode a machine constructed by Mr Stasson, of the East on-road. London, with a wheel. Mr J. Hnargis, together with “ (Jruppy Small,” started him on his cruise from the Three Cups, Walcot-street, Bath, at 5 am., and the lime of his arrival at the Three Tuns, High street, Kensington, was taken by a correspondent as Ih 28m pm. The route lay through Pickwick, Marlborough, Hungerford. Newbury, Galcot Green, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Hounslow, Turnham Green, and Hammersmith, to Kensington.