CYCLING NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5163, 23 October 1895, Page 3

CYCLING NOTES.

_♦ "WOMEN ON ■WHEELS." [IIV lILOOIIER,] A distinct impetus has been given to bicycling in Masterton, by the appearance in our streets during the last fow days, of an accomplished lady cyclist, who in stylish and appropriate costume of the modified rather than pronounced order, and on quite the latest thing in " wheels" that Coventry can produce, spins along in splendid stylo with a giace that attracts glance from many an admiring eye. Surely so complete an equipmont—so dainty a turn-out —must be a vision from Dattersea V Park, or from that parade of fashion, the Ms th Boulogne! And it is astonishing to find how many among our local men have suddenly become alive to the fact that" there is something in bicycling, after all." What alluring possibilities does it not open up! Woman is at last commencing fto " make tbe pace" in tho human race, and poor ordinary man lias either to keep up with her or getleft, Now-a-days he is an unconsidered trifle she simply won't stop to pick up, Tho advantages such easy and healthy exercise as cycling afford, are noiv pretty generally recognised by most men and by many women; yet as as far as the latter, at least, aro concerned, the primary item of expense is still a great bar to a popular acceptance of this modern development of the powers of motion. A lady's bicycle costs in Now Zealand, at least £30 —that is a really good one, say, for instance. Singer's Mvdiic ifc Luxe, which is perhaps the finest thing in bicycles at present made, although, as may bo inferred, there are cheaper machines to be had which are still very serviceable and would provide the means of making many enjoyable journeys. Still, this initial expenditure of about JE3O, practically confines the recreation to the more prosperous classes as far as girls are concerned, jti& until prices come down a bit, as they ™ certainly are gradually bound to do, Imagine the average farmer's daughter, to whom horses and buggies are quite commonplace, asking her father to buy her a bicycle, " j£3o ! Why, that's almost as much as my Buckeye Eeaper cost," ejaculates the practical parent—"Buy you a bicycle; certainly not!" conclusively remarks tho sage old man. Yet, despite its expense—for what is £BO if it saves a stiff doctor's bill and ensures health in the family circle—l hope ere long to see very many merry maidens in our midst, placed in a position to iudulgo them selves in what after all is a more creditable and less extravagant investment than the expenditure in those smaller but more frivolous gratifications which we all succumb to, and which, in (he aggregate, soon make up a much greater sum thai would bay a useful lady's " roadster."

Everyone knows how all classes JL. have been captivated by the 'cycle W at Home, and latterly the illustrated press has given us numerous pictures of the wheel-woman and her garb. The Lady's Pictorial, for one, recently had a charming sketch of the Countess of Warwick passing along the main street of Warwick village, She was attired in a black skirt, loose white blouse with black belt and silver buckle, and wore a white 6fraw hat with light bandand a black clip of feather at its side. The dress was simple but dainty; aud, as the Countess is a pretty woman, the effect was distinctly pleasing to the eyo. She rode a " Singer Safety " which, to make it distinctive and attractive in appearance, was enamelled entirely in white, relieved of course by the customary silvermounted fittings—a very tasteful contrast.

GEXEBAI, XOTO. The wheel of a wcll-mndc bicycle, if swung clear of the ground and given an impetus with the band, will revolve for a period varying from half an hour to over an hour in duration. Yesterday, in Mastcrton, I saw tested a very finely balanced machine just out from England-- ouo that has the most perfect" bearings" so far invented—wboso front wheel kept up its motion for no less than an hour and a quarter after manual propelling force had been applied. Thooldvillagoinn, whoso hospitality and comforts poets havo praised in grateful verso, seems by no moans to to have had its day, for in England a groat revival in the patronage these humblohostolriesget is setting in as a result of the boom in bicycling. Country "publics," which two or three years ago hardly saw a guest a day beyond the regular local visitants, are now sometimes thronged with touring cyclists who drop in for. their" pinto'bitter" or a modest butappetising mid-day meal. Indeed, there seems evory chance of the time honoured villttgeiunpormauontly reviving and thriving as it did in the good old coaching days, for the cyclist naturally choses for his holiday trip a district where tbo shriek of the railway whistle is unheard, and whore men and things have retained their pristino loveliness and rural simplicity right through the revolutionising chapter of recent years. Long may the fine old English landlord prosper; and may we cyclists in far-off New Zealand, as we extond in number and in our travelling to and fro, nourish and make nourish in the few secluded spots still remaining the last of those half-way houses and coach-call inns that here and there throughout the colony are still to be found intact.