Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 January 1913, Page 4

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

From tho Dunlop Rubber Tyro Co., Christchurch, for week ending January 18th,. 1913. * * ♦ ♦ *

The well-known Victorian racing cyclist. R, Finlay, last week established a new Australasian paced record by riding the mile in lmitt 21 l-ssec. Tho previous figures stood to the credit of the New South Wales pace follower I—A.1—A. H. Shep-herd-who recorded Imin 22 2-5 see some three years ago. Finlay recently challenged Shepherd to a

motor paced match i'or £S0 « side to decide tho Australian pa cod championship, l>ll b the New South Wales crack would not consider the Victorian\s proposal until Finlay had lowered his mile record. This Vinkiy set out to do 011 the Melhonrno sports ground—late Friendly Societies' track), and ahly paced by (1. Palmer on a motor cycle, ho easily reduced the existing record. Kinlay rode a Dunlop shod '"Barb, fitted with (ijin cranks and 120 in gear. He now intends repent ing his elnal[en<j;e to Shepherd. Considering the rough nature of tho track upon which Kinlay accomplished his fine ride, he should do considerably faster time upon the Sydney sports ground, which has the only suitable racing track in Australia fit to hold the proposed match on. Kinlay's ride was checked and timed by IT. Beoson. hnndicapper of the League of Victorian Wheelmen.

Only n very small proportion of the bicycles in use on the road* sin* accurately adjusted in all their details. One lias merely to watch carefully the stream of morning riders to business to realises this fact, and to be impressed by the aggregate, wasti* of power involved in looi-e bearings, badly-adjusted saddles and handlebar.s. chain either too tight or too tdack. 'bent pedal spindles, and kindred defeels. If the rider of the neglected utility bicycle could be made to perceive how much of hi.s energy is going to waste in a twelvemonth through his refusal to give his machine a little regular and necessary attention, he would do doubt mend his The bicycle is. after all. a very delicate piece of mechanism, considering the <ardiious duties it has to perform. Its delicate items, however, are wonderfully dura bio if they receive the slight, but methodical attention which is their due. Granted this attention the bicycle may be k<«pt efficient and valuable for a marvellously long time. On the other hand the owner who never gives a thought to its re(|iiireinents. or who carelessly neglects them, may ruin its mechanism in one short season

Tlie recently established motor e.veyp record of I'Hhrs -t.'Jmin. for the overland route ■""2 miles, by .J. Fair. New South V\ ales, .was not allowed to ptain* long, for ('. .\. Miiiidy. a Vicioriaii rider .last week succeeded in elippi'nj; lMniin o(T Fair's lime, Miindy. who rode a 3.J h.p. lNdge. put up a part icularly line perfonnance. as he was handicapped by liar ing to repair L' 7 punctures. Fair, who used Dunlnps on his run. had none. Several further attempts are to he in rule nt an early dat(> to hotter figures, which, considering the tyre trouble.- he Had. must lie fairlv easv to reduce.

Some time back the Diinlop Uiiit--I>or CoinpjMiy r\'|>r(>.ssc(l the opinion Unit tin , ~u2 niilos liolu'ccn iSydiu'.v ;iiul Melbourne could lie iH'<iotiiite<l in 2 J hours on ;i motor cycle, and as liin incentive townrd.s that end tile Duiilop Co. ha.s iunv offered to donate a l 2()-ij;uiiiea wntcli to the first motor cyclist accomplishing the ride in a day. The ofl'er is open only to liieinheiYs of the Victorian. .You - Soutli Wales, and other Interstate motor cyeln cluhs. and tho record must lje officially passcnl by the Victorian and Xcw (South AValefi- clubs. The. task yet- by the Diinlop Co. may, on the face oi if. appear a .severe one. but it's surprising what proper organisation can do in the way of eliminating delays and cutting down time in a ride of thi.s description. In almost every record ride over the SydneyMelbourne route, hours have been needlessly wasted, and the sporting ofl'er of the Dunlop Co. should servo to induce motor cyclists, who attempt the record, to pay more attention to the details of the run. The first rider to mal«> an .attempt, basing lii« Limp schedule on a 21 hours' run. will bo the well-luiowii Melbourne motor cyclist, J. Booth, who recently established an Australasian one-hour track record, hy riding 52 miles 201 yards in 60 miu. Mo i.s n first-class rider, nn<l whilst Ilk primary object is to endeavour to lower tlie record of 29J hours, established last week hy 0, A. Mnndy. lie will at the same time make an effort to seeing the Dimlnp Co.'s prize. Booth's mount will be n 3.1 h.p. "8.8.A.." shod with" Dunlops. Another Victorian rider, in J. Robertson CU "Rudge") also lias designs on the record and will make an attempt at ian early date.