It may not be generally know that Her Majesty the Queen at one time had a strong objection to ladies cycling, but the prejudice passed away, and she now not: only tolerates, but approves of her own relatives indulging in the healthy and pleasant exercise.
That is a rather good little plan for club runs recently inaugurated by a Bradford Cycling Club. Each excursion is taken chaige of by a single member to whom the destination is known, and who alone is responsible for its selection. This introduces fa special element of interest into the afternoon spin. Of course a good deal depends on the taste and judgment of the appointed member who is responsible for selecting suitable destination. The idea is well worth adopting by other clubs.
It is rumoured that we may soon seo some friction arise between the National Cyclists Union and the University clubs that are about to meet in the Oxford and Cambridge cycling contests. It appears that owing to the new rules the Varsity men are expected to apply for amateur licences. This is considered infra dig., so there is talk of the Universities combining to defy the Union and its laws. The question has not been gone into to any extent yet, but I am rather inclined to think the' annual contest between the cycling representatives of the two great centres of education can scarcely be regarded as an open meeting in the ordinary sense. Therefore it is quite possible that the Union may decide that under the circumstances, the contest is to be regarded asa club event. Thope so. It would be a thousand pities should anything arise to check the growth of our sport in the Universities.
There is a certain section of the British community who are never at peace with their neighbours, The anti-cyclists are not all dead yet. From time to time an effort is put forth to introduce a cycle tax, and the section of the B.P. referred above have seized the opportunity to "yo for" cyclists to the best of their ability. From time to time those would-be reformers have been crushed, and have retired sorrowfully. Now up springs the lusty Council of the Beckenham Union. Right and left they shower circulars on vestries and other bodies, pressing their views on the question of the registration of cycles, and the exhibition of a conspicucuons number on every machine. Beckenham is almost certain to meet the fate of its brother Paddington—and fail to effect reform in this particular direction. foet and bad tte An eminent chiro-'There is hope at last for people with flat
podist comes forward with the encouraging assertion that cycling produces the high instep desired by those who seek after beauty. Pedalling, says the Eminent Authority, has the same effect upon the feet as holding them in the stirrup in horse-riding. ate At the inquest on poor Harris it was elicited. that the cause of the fall which ended fatally, was not owing to the wheel of his machine collapsing, but to the unfortunate Leicester lad colliding with another rider's back wheel. Tt appears that after winning in the mile, he rode in his heat in the quarter-mile handicap, but failed to get placed, owing to his front tyre puncturing. Another wheel "was procured from a friend on the ground, a§ Harris Was determined to run in the ten miles. Fred. Chinn who, riding behind Harris; was able to give the best account of the affair, said that whan about three miles. had: been coverd they were riding at the rate of 24 or 25 miles an hour. Chinn was riding about six inches from the back wheel of the machine ridden by Harris. He noticed Harris suddenly collide with the back wheel of Ben Fisher, who was in front, and come down heavily, Chinn escaping by swerving outwards. Poor Harris was buried in Leicester on Thursday, nearly grat fortis's father is much cut up, as 100,000 people lining the roads to the
he was a chum as well asa father to the dead rider. oe The other day some enterprising scribe treated us to an article measuring a column of nine inches, wherein he endeavoured to teach us how to become amateur cycle-makers. Needless to say, the article did the trade no harm. A journal for carpenters and builders this week gives a more elaborate article on the construction of tricycles for workmen's use. The directions given will certainly enable men of a mechanical turn of mind to construct a fairly reliable machine. ate If you are a cyclist you should make a point of obtaining a copy of the spring number of the Drnlop News, which has just come out, as it is the general verdict of all who have seen this bright little production that it eclipses all former issues. No. 7 is splendidly got up, and contains a number of interesting items regarding the cycle and its care. Any person desirous of securing a copy can have same on application to the Dunlop Tire Ca., at 166, Clerkenwell Road, London, E.
London, 30th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.