VELOCIPEDES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 538, 3 August 1869, Page 2

VELOCIPEDES.

The Melbourne correspondent ofa contemporary writes : —Velocipedes are the staple subject of talk here just now. Last Saturday there were two grand meetings for athletic sports, and at each of them velocipede races were the leading attraction. Croxton Park is tho new name for the old " Pilgrim " Inn at Northcote, and its proprietor, having spent much money on re-habilitating the house and paddocks, got up one of these entertainments. The other came off under the auspices of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and upon their ground. The papers estimate the number of people present at tho latter place as high as 10,000, but I believe about 8,000, or 8,500 would be nearer the truth. The tricyclo concerns were ludicrously beaten, and the " Barb " left all its" fellow bicycles hopelessly behind. Its rider is said, however, to have had three great advau- ' tages : first, he had a somewhat larger driving-wheel than the others ; second, the treddles of his machine were better arranged; and third, he has been for years in the habit of travelling on his iron racer. Everybody seems to agree that this style of conveyance will not come into general use." The work is too hard, the result too small, the range of applicability too limited (for, practically, up-hill work cannot be done, lam told) and the practice I required is considerable.