Vol 3, No 5
Articles in this issue
- Editorial on the Club's annual Road Trial, arguing the blue-ribbon badge was meant to reward touring members of sound condition rather than encourage road racing, and that capping the gold medals at ten would in time turn the trial into a pass examination. Regrets the enamelled medal for the first man of his year as reintroducing a competitive element, and notes the High Constable of Hungerford has himself sanctioned a four-mile road race.
- Minutes of the meeting of Monday, 12th April 1880: Chas. Seffrien Alken and J. L. B. Andreae elected members, the resignation of Mr. R. D. D. McLean accepted, and the Novice Race at the Evening Meeting again to be ridden on "Roadster" machines.
- The eight rules agreed between the Cambridge University Bicycle Club and the London Bicycle Club for their annual one, four and fifteen mile races, held alternately in London and Cambridge, three men a side, with a points scale, residence qualification for dual members, and Bicycle Union rules applying throughout.
- Theo. Godlee announces that the proposed General Meet at Halliford clashes with the Hampton Court Meet and is therefore abandoned, with a western meet hoped for later in the season.
- Short notice reminding members that the Committee has ruled the Novices Race will be run on Roadsters, as last year, a condition that does not appear on the entry forms.
- Theo. Godlee sets out the district starts for the 24th April run to meet the Cambridge men at the "Sun," Hitchin: N.E. from Lea Bridge Road at 3.15 via Wood Green and Southgate, N.W. from "Jack Straw's" at 3.25 via Golder's Green, and the S.E. by the 4.7 train from Broad Street to High Barnet, all converging on Potter's Bar. Machines can be housed overnight at Hampstead by J. Powell and N. B. Morris, and the run counts one attendance only towards the District Medals.
- The Editor asks for copy by Tuesday evening, nothing after Wednesday noon being printed that week; Darling and Son still have four 1878 covers and supply back numbers at 1d. each; and A. W. Chippindale reports Humber's offer to fit a candle hub-lamp to his new seventy-spoke machine, in answer to Dr. Langmore.
- Herbert R. Boyce, Hon. Sec., reminds members of the meeting at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 5th May at six p.m.; members are admitted on production of their Club badge, and shilling tickets are to be had from the Captain, Hon. Sec. or Committee rather than posted round as before.
- Eight of the Surbiton colony, Thorn, Kinder, Weeks, Potter, Butler, Barker, Coleman and Ashley Barrett, rode to Worthing by the Leatherhead road at twelve to fourteen miles an hour, dining at the "Marine Hotel" for a grudged 4s. 8d. apiece. Thorn and Butler rode the whole way back in four hours twenty minutes; Kinder and Barker diverged for East Grinstead.
- Tabulated meets for the N.E., N.W., W., S.W., Croydon and Blackheath divisions, including the 17th April runs to Harefield and Newlands Corner and the West Wickham paper chase, and the 24th April converging runs on Hitchin to meet the C.U.Bi.C.
- District reports: the N.E.'s four men to Upminster over an almost unrideable mile beyond Ilford; the N.W. to Enfield in election-day rain and to Shenley by Barnet Gate and Rowley Green, where the Northern Guide appeared on a bran new 56-inch "Excelsior"; the W. to Ewell by Barnes Common and Wimbledon; the S.W. from the "Griffin" to the "Glynne Arms"; and thirteen S.E. men from Croydon, one of whom, Arthur Herbert, was badly gashed when his axle broke in half near Mitcham.
- First of a series, on the Norfolk Broads: the lakes of the Bure, Yare and Waveney, their pike, roach and bream, wildfowling at Ranworth Decoy (with the writer's exchange with a keeper over who owns the water), skating in hard frost, St. Benet's Abbey, and Norwich and its cathedral. Gives three road routes from London, via Colchester and Ipswich (109 miles), via Newmarket and Thetford (108 1/2 miles), and the roundabout Cambridge and Ely road. Signed W. A. Smith.
- Herbert, Franklin, E. Carr and Hindley left Croydon by moonlight for Guildford via Ewell, Epsom and Leatherhead, put up at the "Angel," crossed the stony Hog's Back to lunch at South Meon, and took the six o'clock boat from Southampton to Cowes before riding on to the "Bugle" at Newport. Next morning they spun to Freshwater past Carisbrook Castle and on to Alum Bay; to be continued.
- Calendar of meetings from 24th April to 6th November 1880, including the Surrey B.C. at Kennington Oval, the London B.C. Evening Meeting at Stamford Bridge on 5th May, the 100-mile Road Trial on 17th May, C.U.Bi.C. v. L.B.C. at Cambridge on 29th May, and the L.A.C. seasonal meetings.
- Paragraphs by "L'homme qui rit": Dan Young sails for New Zealand next month with his wheels, after compound spills at Croydon in which he went over the handles of his new "Humber" and was ridden over by Bishop; Surrey police are enforcing the lamp law; Arthur Herbert's front-axle fracture; and a plea for the athletic authorities to settle a definition of the gentleman amateur, with the Oxford and Cambridge men calling a meeting of the large clubs.
- A letter signed "Lex" on the West District, arguing that the 3.15 Saturday start is too early for men who must feed before leaving town at two, and that four o'clock would improve the poor attendance.
- The Editor declines to print Iris's letter, having no reason to doubt the reporter's account, promises W. H. an answer next week, and thanks Fred. Williams, Stephen Smith, Theo. Godlee and A. W. Chippindale for contributions to "Stray Notes."