Cycling.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 195, 26 March 1904, Page 21

Cycling.

The first motor-car race m this part of the world was to have been contested on the 12th instant, at the Melbourne Commercial Travellers' Club's annual picn.c. The contest was to be held by the Automobile Club of Victoria, the programme comprising a voiturotte race, a heavy oar race, and a motor cycle race. The same club intends holding a 400 miles Easter tour through the Western District. To neglect a chain after or during a wet ride is to invite trouble. Wnen the chain is exposed, the ram will always get to it in a short time, and the chain protests in loud and unmeasured tones. When this begins, don't go on driving through the mud in misery, but dismount and wipe the chain as dry as possible. Carry a rag for this purpose. Then drench it with oil, and you will find that after another mile or so it will have quietened down, whilst the next day will probably find it none the worse. One of the most prominent of English cycle manufacturers has devised an ingenious method of popularising bicycles. Every purchaser of one of the company's machines is presented with a cyclist's diary containing two insurance coupons. If death should result from a bicycle accident, £100 is payable, or £1 a week for five, weeks in the case of total disablement. The other comprises a nolicy for £1000, livable in the event of death by accident while tiavelling by rail, omnibus, or tramcar. The policies hold good for a year from date of purchase of the bicycle. A Parisian oyclist named Cresse has just started on a task which recalls "Teddy" Hale's famous performance a few years back. It will be remembered that Hale rode one hundred miles per day (Sundays excepted) for one whole year. His French rival is to ride one hundred kilometres (sixty-two and aquarter miles) only, but is not to rest at all even on Sundays. So far he has been doing very well, and has just completed his thousandth kilometre. This novel ride is being followed with great interest among French sportsmen. "The question of sending J. Arnst," says an Australian writer, "who last year won the Dunlop Warrnambool Road Race from scratch in World's record time, to France, to represent New Zealand in the Paris-Bordeaux Road Race, was brought up at last week's meeting of th?i New Zealand League, and it was stated that to do the thing properly a manager, as well as a trainer, should be sent, the expenditure being estimated at £500. The sum is altogether beyond the League's resources, and if the project is to be carried out, the estimate will need to be cnnsiderably reduced. A manager for one man is a luxury that might well be dispensed with." Since the above was penned, word is to hand from Invercargill that J. Arnst met with rather a serious accident by coming into collision with a child on the track. W. C. Arnst, who put up a fine ride in the last Dunlop Warrnambool event, is also laid aside, as he has now been in the Strathmore Hospital, Christen urch, for some months past. Ivor Lawsons appeal against his twelve months' disqualification imposed upon him by the League of Victorian Wheelmen, for his part in the recent Taylor-La wson match, in which event Taylor had a smash up was partially successful. His disqualification was reduced to three months, dating from February 17th. This will mean that Lawsou will miss the "Sydney Thousand" Carnival, and also the big Easter meetings, so that, as far as this rider, is concerned, he might just as well pack up his traps and leave for America.