The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-26
TIME GOULD Be CUT
A. A. Hansen Discusses 1000 Mile
Motor Cycle Ride.
CHEAP METHOD OF TRAVELLING
Gasolene and Oil Used on the Trip
Cost Less Than Three
Dollars.

most remarkable journeys in history. To
begin with, it was probably the fastest
trip ever made by any vehicle not trav-
cling on steel rails. Instances are on
record of long distance Journeys in auto
mobiles where the actual travelling time,
perhaps, has been better. In all such
cases. however, enough time has been
taken out to bring the total time above
Hansen's. Probably 1000 miles has never
been covered in less time. save by loco
motive or steamboat. Et0-:. NIX ~ , 2
The conditions under which the trip
was made render it all the more remark
able. A steady rain fell for several hours
on Saturday, the day before Hansen
STARTED. This left the path in execrable
condition, and showers on Sunday. and
again Tuesday night, kept it in bad Shape
all through the trip. Riding through the
mud and rain Saturday in vain at
tempt to make record, and again rid
ing over a soft track Sunday and Tues
day caused the motor to work badly and
resulted in many delays. "e. ..@>
*"s Time Can BE Cut. = =
Hansen comedies that an experienced
motor cycle rider under favorable con-
ditions, could cut ten and possibly fifteen
or twenty hours off his time OF seventy
two hours. Frequently during the jour.
ney and during his previous trials, Han
sen covered twenty mile trips in less
tanned, would mean total of about
forty hours actual riding time Possibly
five hours more should be allowed, be-
cause the same speed could hardly be
maintained at night.
Allowing seven hours, then, for meals,
delays and accidents, it will be seen that
a man who could ride for two days and
nights without sleep could complete 1000
miles in f1fty-two hours. Granting clear
weather, ten hours extra would seem
safe. margin for ordinary delays and ac-'
c1dents, bringing the total up to>sixty-1
two hours With good roads and good
weather. therefore, Hansen's time could
easily be cut from ten to twenty hours:
To do this, however, the rider must.
thoroughly understand his work. He must.
he accustomed to passing long stretches:
of time without sleep, for motor cycle,
riding is not like ordinary cycling. The:
rider hasn't the physical exercise to drive
away the drowsiness that comes on after
a wakeful night. Moreover: the speed
is SO great that all his faculties are rec
quired to hold his machine steady on the
path, for a fall means disaster when
travelling at a rate OF twenty Ave miles
an hour. Then motor witt not run
itself Hansen says, and his testimony
agrees with: that Of all experienced riders,
that constant attention is required to keep
the machine travelling at its best speeds;
Slept Only Three Hours. +
Hansen, in the seventy-tw hours re-s:
quired for his ride, slept just about three
hours. This time was included in one,
nap Of two hours between 4 and o'clock
| Tuesday morning, and another nap Of
one hour just before midnight of the
same day. Notwithstanding this great
physical strain, the "Rainmaker'' showed
no i'll effects after his long trips@ +
| Another thing demonstrated by the ride,
| was the efficiency Of the modern pneu-
matte tire. In the whole 1000 miles Han
sen was only required to pump Zip iFhis:
tires three times. Considering the strain
to which the tubes were subjected = this
| is somewhat remarkable feat, for while
motor cycle tires are heavier than those
used on single wheels, or even on tan :
I dens, they are likewise given harder
| work. ~ -. g'zy..E - =
| Although sleep was practically. dis
carded, Hansen ate regularly acting
upon the axiom that an athlete Is no
stronger than his stomach. Long expert
ence in, distance riding, however, enabled
him so to make his arrangements that the
minimum of time was lost on account Of
meals. AS the time for dinner approached,
| Hansen would leave word at his headquar-:
ters that he wished to eat at: the end OF
his next trip, and when he returned his
meal would be ready to serve. T.. -
| During the trip Hansen used about
fifteen gallons of gasolene to run his mo-
tor. He also used about.a gallon of lu-;
| bricating oil. The tank of the motor was
reflled every sixty miles, although with
the special sized tank used by Hansen,
| the machine would ordinarily run full
century, The great amount of lubricat-l
ing oil was made necessary by the high
Espeed maintained and the Importance Of
keeping the bearings of the machine from
getting overheated. -.E~ "sa.."
- Cheap Way of TRAVELLING. ~"
II was impressed with the cheapness Of
motor cycle travelling said Hansen, in
discussing this point, the day after fin
ishing his ride. 'The gallon of lubricat--
| ing oil which I used cost 20 cents Gaso-
slene can be procured in Minneapolis, in
large quantities., for about 1O1a cents a
/ gallon, but in country towns, bought in
small quantities, it costs about Is cents.
The expense of travelling 1000 miles
1!across country, therefore, would be about
$3.50; possibly little more, If bad; roads
put an extra strain upon the machine.
II found, too, to my surprise, that the
i moon was more often a hindranee than a.
help tome in night riding. When the
moon is high and bright, it is an aid, but
when tits dim, Or just rising or setting,
the shadows cast upon the path confuse
Ea rider more than they help his vision.
! Sometimes the glare of-the moon, falling
at an acute angle upon the path, made it
impossible for me to distinguish the track
| at all, and %crawled along at half
speed, uncertain whether 1 was on the
path at all. Twice I did run off, and If
| had been going at top speed the results
would have been serious. @
1 when the moon was down, however,
| had little trouble used two very pow
erful lamps, and they enabled me to see
the path clearly for hundred feet ahead.
If a whee1man was aproac chinpg me,
would see the glitter of the nickel work
1 on his wheel long before could make out
/ the man, and it was "a cinch he would see
4 my lights. Nearly all the wheelmen I
met were very obliging in getting off the
path and giving me a clear track; in fact.
most Of them fell off, SO great was their
haste to get out Of my way.
/ Has Had Enough.
4 The. rainmaker' admits that he is sat
isfed to let distance record riding alone.
| for a. while, and, he says that he will not
make another trip until bis time is bet,
i tered. He intends, however, ito make a
| trip on his. motto to Chicago some time
I next month. 4. Il HE Il 81 z
The. day after finishing his ride Hansen
received a telegram from the firm which
manufactured his MOTOR, congratulating
/ him upon his success and asking for full
| details OF his ride.
If You Want to Sell
I Anything, remember little want ad in
i the Journal.Will get you buyer.