The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-11
BICYCLE NOTES.


The longest engineered road in the
world is in India. 1t is 1880 miles in
length and is kept in first-class con-
dition from end to end.
The South African record for the hour
was recently placed at Ttwenty-eight
miles, 935 yards. 1t was made by Jack
Hunt, at one time a prominent English
record holder.
Though 1t has over $4,000 in the
treasury and is one of the foremost
race-promoting clubs in the world, the
Melbourne (Australia) Bicycle club con-
tinues to hold its meetings an a grass
track. ..
Two Of the European municipalities
have appropriated SUNS for the pur
chase eff bicycles for. army service.
Saxony has voted SIPS marks for the
purpose and Wurtemburg has appro-
priated 1856 marks.
If a lamp wick is not working prop
erly it should be taken out and soaked
in very salt water. Then dry it cut
and give it another bath in salt water
mixed with oil. This will make it burn
clear and strong.
The promoters of the big English
football matches have arranged with a
prominent tire concern to have paced
cycling exhibitions during the progress
of the games. Some of the most prom
inent riders on the English path have
already signed for the exhibitions.
Wheelmen of this country who think
the League of American Wheelmen
alone in it's class of organizations may
be surprised to know that the Cyclists
Touring club, of England, has a cash
balance in it's treasury of over $36, 1000,
and it's net assets, including invest
ments in bonds, are over 100000.
A foreign bicycle paper gloats over
the prospects for a war between Spain
and the United States, and hopes that
it will come in the very near future.
The humane reason it gives for its
hopes is that it may result in England
getting back the foreign trade in BIZ
cycles she has lost through Yankee
competition.
Long distance riders on the track and
century riders have found a sustain
ing food in the ordinary dried raisin.
1t is claimed for it that it has been
found better than beef tea or any of
the ordinary stimulants. A prominent
physician indorses its use for the pur-
men during a long grind.
Platt-Betts, the little English flyer,
who has been in Australia this past
season, has sailed for London, and will
take long rest He will then go for
all records from the quarter to the
hour. 1t was thought sat one time he
would return by way of America, and
that we would have a chance to COM
pare him with our record holders, but
such is not to be tke"case.
The popularity of 3o-inch wheels this
year has caused the9question as to the
relative difference In c different sized
wheels, as to advantages or disadvan-
tages. Small wheels, are not used be-
cause Of the increased vibration. It
has been found after, years Of use,
that twenty-eight inches are about
right, for with them there Is little vi
bration, and the larger sizes compel adj
ditional weight, with but little differ
ence in comfort.
The style Of wheelwomen has improv-
ed greatly since the days when cycling
first became fashionable. The attitude
coming from having the saddle low
and the handle bars high is now al
most thing of the past, though oc-
casionally, even now, a rider can be
seen WITH ner Knees nearly touching
her chin, pedaling away totally uncon-
scfous of the ungraceful figure she cuts.
A rather novel race was run in
France recently on one of the leading
Paris tracks. At the conclusion of the
regular meeting a race was thrown
open to all spectators appearing in cy-
cling costumes, the purse being very
small Some eighty entries were en-
listed, and as a means of enriching the
surgeons it was a huge success. More
than four-f1fths of the riders fell be-
fore reaching the tape, and the remain
ing riders furnished sufficient amuse-
ment for the entire party. It was the
first effort of many of the riders to
take the banked tracks. and the result
may be imagined. 20
An Inadvertence.
From the Washington Star