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WHEEL NOTES.
Bjr F0RT1S.
TOURING IN SOUTH GJPItiLASD.
A fortnight after Easter, while the long spell of
fine weather at that period was being experienced,
I left Melbourne for a week's wheeling in South
Gippsland, a corner of Victoria too little patronised
by cyclists. Jt had been my intention to take the
train to Long Lang, but as there was a favouring
wind I elected to pedal down. The first 50 miles
do not contain anything formidable in the shape of
a hill, the worst being that just beyond Oakleigh,
hence the ride was easy and pleasant. Lunching at
Tooradin, 38 miles, 1 sauntered over the bridge
under which the rising tide was forcing the water
inland, a remarkably strong current rushing be
tween the piles, which gave one the impression of
n river running from the sea. At the end of 11
miles from Tooradin the Lang Lang junctionNvas
gained, where 1 took the right-hand road. My in
tention originally was to go on to Lang Lang and
traverse the tour described,jii-JasLvi2511®' hut as
this locality was wi£MfC easy. riaolt .i
thought it best
the week, and lafce^tia^Koruroburra dist
off day, which nva^ von^ -
GRANniu£,\BA€SMij#
Leaving Lang *Laiig function the road^d^ftnt
ville was found t<N(je fair ~pr place's," a ff<3f ^9^) an<*
sandy in others. A little walking yvns.,rilmpul£ory
about halfway down, the Eancl "being rather deep;
but the worst was negotiated in less than half a
mile. Through Grantvjllc the dest was very thick,
but this was preferable to eand, as the wheels
found a solid bottom. Better things may be ex
pected of this road shortly, as much of it is being
formed. Grantville appears to be a thriving place,
and, in addition to the road service, it has a line
of boats which call at the pier regularly, the town,
being located on the shore of Westernport. Pass-;
ing through, the country became hillicr, but the'
dusty nature of the road held right through to Bass j
(Woolamai), 7 miles, where the Bass Hiver was
crossed. , I
There was considerable improvement in the road
surface beyond, although one or two hills had to'
be climbed, and in 3} miles a junction was met
with, the finger-post denoting that San Remo was
five miles. This section was particularly hilly, but
the grades were mostly ridable. The country in
this district is not very interesting; stunted growths
of both shrubs and trees in the valleys, and the
poor grass which covered the otherwise bald hills:
did not make for picturcsqueness. San Remo was;
reached just about dusk, and at this time of the1
year is not very lively. It is a favourite resort, and ■
contains two good hotels, both of which are well
patronised during the season. Right opposite,
across a narrow strait, is Phillip Island, looking
very pretty, the houses of Newhaven, half-buried
in the foliage, producing a very fine effect. There
seemed to be very little of interest in San Remo
proper; its attractions are probably inland, or to
wards the ocean.
POWLETT RIVER AND IXVERLOCIL
To reach Powlett River from San Remo the
last H miles had to be retraced, and, following
the direction indicated by the finger-post, I began
to climb over a long grade, winding up and about
the billsidei. From the top of the ridge there
were some glorious sea views, and I pedalled or
coasted down the slopes to the tune of the breakers
as they crashed on the rooks. In less than seven
npiles I passed through Kilcunda—a very scattered
community—and in four miles beyond reached the
Ozone Hotel, at Powlett River. It was Sunday
morning; everything was quiet, and while await
ing breakfast, I had a look about the place. The,
gentle roar of the distant breakers was the dnmi- j
nant sound, broken anon by a lively rooster orj
the grunt of a pig, followed later by the rush of'
a rising north wind, which boded ill for the
future. The next 12 miles to Inverloch was over
comparatively easy country, sandy in its nature,
but, with the exception of a sand patch or two,
was easily ridable. The scenery was better, the
timber thicker, while the north wind rendered
travelling easy.
} LEONGATBA AM) XORTH MIRBOO.
The township of Inverloch is prettily 6ituated
on Anderson's Inlet, which stretches sway to the
cast, and on lea\ng I turned almost north, and
faced the stiff breeze for nearly 17 miles. For
tunately, the track led through a good deal of
; scrub and light timber, which sheltered me, but
on ocarions I had to traverse open stretches. The
country was level to undulating, until I nenred
jLeongatha, when it rose gradually, for the town
is beautifully situated on a large hill, and pre
sents a pretty picture from the distance. The
aspect of the surrounding country from the town
itself -was delightful, and even this was surpassed,
when, after lunch, I gained the top of a long
hill a few miles out. Lcongatha is the centre
of a remarkably rich district, and is thriving in
an unmistakable way.
Very little level country was met with after
. passing Leongatlia, hut the chief characteristic
of the roads was dust, and plenty of It. In
following the track through the bush I would
now and then notice the dust in the air, indicat
ing that something had passed along a abort time
before. As I advanced it grew thicker and
thicker,until I came up with an impenetrable pall,
behind which was the conveyance or horseman
that caused it. On such ocasions it became neces
sary to pass as quickly as possible, which was
not always easy; but one could not stifle in dust,
and an effort bad to be made. ' Again, and on
this Sunday afternoon, as I pedalled briskly along,
I came upon a party of country lads and lasses
as i curve was suddenly rounded. They were
on horseback, and were also moving quickly, but
the thick dust so deadened , all sound of the hoofs
that I heard nothing. The horses - sidled Into
the'scrub at the suddenness of the meeting, leav
ing the track lor me perfectly clear. The gjrla
screamed, Hie lads smiled audibly," but 1 was king
of the road,, and passed by with a wave of the
hand.
The day was Temarkahly hot for April, the
wind having dropped considerably, which inten
sified the dust nuisance, as it hung for a long while
where it was raised. At 10 miles beyond lcon
gatha I struck, a terrible grade, half a mfle in
length, known locally as "Berry's Hill." On
one or two oi the pinches I .found It difficult
even to walk, but after ltmin. qf tough work
the summit was gained. Beyond the country
continued to rise, much to my disappointment,
as it was confidently thought there would have
been some, little compensation for the big climb.
However, Tor about five miles the road, rose and:
fell, and turned and wound about the ranges,
until XortU Mirboo was reached. The acenery
waa grand in this section, end the locality-, is
bring rapidly opened up, notwithstanding the
heavy nature of the country, 1 will continue
(he description ^af this tour next week.
MOTOR ITEMS. .
One of the most Interesting of the exhibits at tbcl
great St. Louie Exposition will be that of rnotori, j
Including • as it does all makes and every .-de; ;
—riptlon of automohlle 8incif .tbe lnceptlon of,i"
.raeleayehicle. The Ahtefcmbtft- -*- - -
period that the run will eclipse all others hitherto
held in point of numhers and importance. It ia
estimated that upwards of 2,000 cars will partici
pate, while the number of motorists who will pro
bably camp on a site already selected will
be close upon 10,000.
One of the most enthusiastic of our motorists
is Mr. J. R. Crookc, of Aspendaic. 'lie Is of
opinion that automobile racing, has a good futurg
before it; i.hd On his picturesque Irack oeyond Mor
diailoc intends to construct a motor speedway.
The width of the -tr^ck: will be fifift., and will
resemble the letter & in shape, having a 'finish
ing straight of about 350 yards. The surface will
consist of clay and sand well blended, wliich pro
duces an excellent and f8st dressing., Mr. Crooke
hopes to have the track finished about October or
November. Such s course should carry a pace up
to 50 miles per hour.
There are many in the trade, and .not a few
motorists also, Who think motor-cycles should not
[-be classed as in the same category at'motors; they
claim that these machines should be Included with
ordinary cycles. In Great Britain It is being felt
that the humbler motor vehicle does not readily
"mix" with the cars, and, as far as automobile
shows are concerned, the Society of Motor Manu
facturers and Traders has forced a divorce by
voting to exclude motor-cycles from all future ex
hibitions held under its auspices. Motorists on
tour, however, have found more than once that a
motor-cyclist accompanying the party baB rendered
himself particularly useful in time of need.
The English motor journals publish every week
warnings to automobilists, generally supplied by
those .who have been on the road, regarding the
measured lengths of road under surveillance of the
police, who record the time of .passing of every
car. The following police, an excerpt from the
"Automobile Club Journal," is a fair specimen:—
"It may be of sufficient interest to members of the
club to be informed that there is an electric police
trap on the Brighton-road, between the 38 and 40
mile stones.It is a measured furlong, all down
hill, and practically every car on the road is
certain to be caught.
The new Governor, Sir Reginald Talbot, has in
addition to consenting to become patron of the
Automobile Club of Victoria, joined the club as
a member. His Excellency, who is an enthusiastic
motorist, brought out a car with him, and has
since despatched an order for two others.
At Nice, Italy, during en automobile carnival,
eome wonderful speeds were attained. Rigallv, in
a 100-h.p. car, covered a mile from a standing
start In 53 3-5scc.—equal to 87 miles per hour.
In the flying kilometre race his fastest effort was
23 2-5scc. for the 1,094 yards, which gives a pace
of almost 95 miles per hour! From these times we
may expect something sensational in the elimina
tion trials for the Gordon-Bennett rape, and in
the competition itself also.
The Automobile Club of Victoria intends to hold
a hill-climbing competition at an early date, pro
bably next Saturday, 28th inst. The locale will
be Heidelberg, where there is a grade steep enough
to lest the best of the cars. The rise for a por
tion of the distance is on a gradient of 1 in 6}.
Heidolbc-rg is very handy to the city, while the
l bill is alongside the railway station.
[ The practice of allowing boys just in their teens
to drive motors about thFthty is one that should
| be repressed, and the French regulation, which
demands that the drivers shall be at least 18 years
of age, should'be adopted heft.^_.The motor club
in this city recognises this, uS" one of ihe quail- j
fleations for membership requires applicants to be
of that age or over. |
N.T.A. RUN FOR MAT. ]
Touring cyclists are reminded of the postponed
run of the National Touring Association, which
will take place next Saturday, 28th inst. The
locale of the outing will be in the Gisborne and
Bacchus Marsh districts, and those who are unable
to take the whole day may utilise the 12.15 p.m.
train to Gisborne, where those who elect to cycle
right through will join them. These latter will
leave the G.P.O. at 9 a.m., and wheel through Es
sendon end Sunbury, picking up the Gisborne-road
at Buttlejorrk, 24 miles out. This course Is chosen
as being less monotonous than the main Mt. Alex
ander road, through Keilor, ar.d over the plains to
Diggers' Rest. Gisborne (New) is expected to be ;
j reached at about half-past 12 p.m., where lunch
will be partaken of ana a start for Bacchus Marsh
made on the arrival of the Melbourne train at half
past 2 p.m. The run across from Gisborne B.S. is
22 miles, and as most of it is down hill, it should
be covered easily during the afternoon. Those who
prefer to take the train home may catch one leav
ing the "Marsh" shortly after 7 p.m., while those
j who intend to ride right through will make Mel
ton for tea, and wheel home in the moonlight. All
that is necessary to make the run a success is fine
. weather, as it is one of the finest outings about
the metropolis.
• POINTS ON GEARING.
It is difficult to say nowadays what is a high,
low, or medium gear for ordinary use on the road;
but if we take the average gear of the trained racer
—92in.—86 the "high," we will have something to
go upon. There are some riders, however, who
habitually use about 90in. on the road, which!
must be considered far too high when the same
gear practically suffices for the crack racingj
cyclist, highly trained, who uses it only on the
smoothest surface obtainable. There arc plenty of.
riders who push 70in. or thereabouts, and this
gear we may class as low, hence It would appear
that the medium gear would be 80)n. But, what
ever the gearing, the fact remains that those who
affect 90in. or over do not go any farther in a
day's ordinaiy ride or tour than we did in the
days of the good old ordinary. Indeed, the reverse
rather is the case. A rider with such a high gear
cannot potter quietly along; he must be going at;
a fair pace to justify his use of it. He travels fast
—faster than the 70-incher—but he requires more
rest, hence there is no time gained. Personally, I
find 77in. ample for all purposes, and with en al
ternate gear of 58in. for stiff hills and adverse
winds, and a free-wheel when everything ia favour
able, I have a combination which makes the bicycle
most effective to meet the varying conditions of
riding.
NOTELETS. ^
The next meeting of the Federal Cycling Coun
cil, which this year takes place in Melbourne, at
fhe latter end of the present month, promises to
be an important one A new reciprocity agree
ment, will probably be signed, while it Is to be
urged that there should be a uniformity in regard
to colours and numbers of the racing men. This
scarcely seems practicable, unless the council takes
over the Victorian colour and dumber system, and
issues them all over - the ■ 6tates. The multitude
of riders already registered in Victoria (upwards
of 1,100),- together with those throughout the'
Commonwealth, may make the system too cum
brous—that is, if the registered numbers are to be
used at the various race meetings. The same .may
also apply to the colour system, hut, of course, It
may lie possible to arrange both matters. Another
feature to he dealt with is the uniformity of the,
length of limits In handicaps. The'Victorian limit
is 850 yards, the circumference of the Exhibition
track, 352 yards, governing this, for it would be
inadvisable to overlap the riders, which an exten
sion to the Sydney limit (about 450 yards) would
necessitate. Therefore, in framing a handicap,
consideration is given to the size of the track, ana
tliis is one explanation why the limit In Sydney
is longer than that allowed in Melbourne. The
size of the track mostly used in the mother state
is one-third lnlle; here it is one-fifth only.
Writing of registered numbers of the racing men
reminds roe that there is a likelihood'of a'great
improvement in the meaiiB of identifying the
ridern at race meeting*. A gentleman In this City
is perfecting a scheme by which the piibllc will
be able to follow the racing very cfdeely, and
without much trouble It is, in fact, on improved
acorlng-board, which Is to jbe located outside the
track. At night-the ecoring;bpard will fac worked
by means of a lantern, the number*' of the riders
being reflected on a screen. Indeed,: it has been
said that there is no reason why the number, name,
and handicap of k rider Miowd 'hot be' shown, in
bpth the heats as Uioy opeur and jn the results of
the same when deemed. -
For those of our. ridera who may have gone or
arc awaiting souiP inducement to go toWest Aus
tralia, the lueeting .of the Qoldfields League of
Wheelmen, to he held on June. S„ should lie an at
traction. There are.several good races billed, the'
£ rise-money totalling £100. Some further parti cu- I
ira are obtainable from our advertising columns, |
Given a little more rain, the road through the!
Diamond Creek Valley will be splendid. Tt has!
been recently repaired, and is at present very fair,
though loose in parts. The picturesqueness of this
locality is well known &hd the run out to Queens^'
town via Diamond ©reek iha home through Kan
garoo Ground is always well worth taking.
: The first combined run hf the Inter-club Cycling
AssociatiMi; under the control of the Bronsewing
C.C., to fixed for tfae 2gtli Inst., the destination
being the ptpturesque valley of the 8altwater River,
St HeUor. A; start will be made from Queen't
(Briiiwwlck-sUcetf^nd) at ID a.in. in fcoi£<
\
12 onflK \8ll"be Suowtfl v'1
ridetFtAcMnr ldK'Tiian
track race <froinHajor Taylor) are eligible to Mm
pete. ......
! A correspondent sends We in* aeeoo'nt'of a „tM
.eant day's ride which ;|»e experienced receutW
when, aided by a north-easterly wind, he ran tA
Geclong and on to Barwon Heads, 14} miles furl her
He says the road from Geelong, alter climbine li.A
luJUn Moorabool-strcet, is quite level all the w»y
to the mouth of the river. Barwon Heads bobw«<£
some pretty spots, and from the village Port Philip
Heads arc plainly visible, while the range of vision
seawards is practically illimitable it one cares in
climb to the top or the bluff near by. He retraa-rt
liia tracks to Qeelong alter lunch, and boarded th»
boat lor Melbourne.
! The London "Daily Telegraph," in describing an
accident which happened to a lady cyclist who
wore a dress unsuitable lor wheeling, says after
showing the necessity lor an appropriate costume-—
"Wjth the "general adoption of the free-wheel 'it
is true, the risk attending the winding-up ol frills
and flounces and flirbelows in the pedals is lessened
lor as soon as the first symptom is observed the
rider can keep her feet still and pull up; but the
danger ol the skirt Catching in the spokes or be
tween the brake blocks ano the rim is not alio
gether obviated by the most carefully constructed
dress-guard. With a fixed wheebthe matter is more
serious." \
| It. Waltliour, the Yankee pace-foliower, who has
'this year visited the Continent, and already raced
in Paris with success, bas won a 50 kilos, race at
Berlin. He easily defeated a field of four, among
whom was our friend Thaddeua Robl, now cham
pion of Germany.- ■ -
i The betting nuisance at cycle race meetings is
seemingly becoming acute in the old country.
According to ""Cycling," a prominent English
weekly, the sports on Good Friday at the ticrne
Hill track, tendon, wire patronised bv "more
than a score of pencillexs, who were calling the
j odds in lusty tones. Betting is mere prevalent at
'Heme Bill than at any other London track, and
| we are of opinion that it is quite time some active
steps were taken to stop it." Hie paper quoted
further gives the officials credit for trying to stop
the betting, even to ejecting two or tbree book
makers from the grounds. "Meanwhile,"
"Cycling" adds, "decent people withdrew their
support from cycle racing meetings. So the sport
suffers. Who will have the pluck to take action:'"
, Evidently the betting nuisance is not yet so strong
in England as here. But what can be done when
: it is asserted that to absolutely prohibit betting
is to kill the 6port ?—which, however, I very ntuch
doubt.
| Colonel Pope, the father of American cycling,
has once more done the wheel a good service. At
!tbe annual dinner of the Transportation Club,
held in Xew York last month, Senator Chaunccy
M. Depew, the president, several times referred
slightingly to' the bicycle, at one time speaking of
its extinction. When it came to Colonel Pope's
turn to speak, he told the assemblage that not
only was the bicycle not extinct, but that bis
factories within one recent twelvemonth had pro
duced 350,000 bicycles. The colonel was very em
: phatic, and said, further, that the bicycle was
coming back, and merited the approbation and
assistance of every man within his hearing. Mr.
Depew afterwards qualified his statements by say
ing:—"People desire 6peed, but they do not want
, to work for it." Here the gear question obtrudes
[itself unmistakably.
Bcgarding the Warrnambool Road Race, I am
I advised by the Dunlop Tire Co. that the local
council will place no obstacle in the way, and
have given the promoters permission to conduct it.
Indeed, from the letter received in reply, one may
gather that local authorities are rather solicitous
of its success, recognising that the fixture consti
tures the best advertisement Warrnambool has. I
have also received from the Dunlop Co., a copy of
their annua] brochure, "All About Dunlop Tires for
1904." It contains all that is known about the
use and repair of their pneumatics, and nearly hall
of the booklet is devoted to motor tires, which to
automobiJists will be most helpful. As a produc
tion it is fully equal to the firm's high-class stan
dard of printed matter, and should be in the hands
of every cyclist and motorist.
Seeing that the Exhibition track is to be im
proved, the Melbourne B.C. has approached the
trustees in reference to holding the Austral race
meeting upon it, which will be a good thing for
the sport. The programme will probably be al
tered, and a great change made in the items. In
making a start on an asphalt track the committee
would be acting wisely Were the Austral itsell re
duced to one mile, which is a most popular dis
tance with the riders and the public. Xow is the
times for innovations, turd this change would be
advantageous in every "way.
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