Vol 3, No 9
Articles in this issue
- The stage-by-stage table of the Bath-to-Hounslow hundred miles (Bath to Devizes, Beckhampton Corner, Marlboro', Hungerford, Newbury, Reading, Maidenhead, Hounslow), starting from Cleveland Bridge and finishing half a mile London side of the Bath and Staines road junction. J. W. Potter and Ashley Barrett, who had just ridden over the course, flag four forks between Bath and Melksham, at Box by the "Bear" Inn, before Corsham, and at the old almshouses beyond Corsham cross roads, and recommend hotels from the "White Lion" at Bath to the "Coach and Horses" at Kew; the landlord of the "Chequers" at Newbury has promised packets of sandwiches between eleven and one.
- Captain Theo. Godlee's final arrangements for the road trial: a 7.30 start from Cleveland Bridge, the finish again at the ninth milestone from London, a special railway carriage if enough members name one train, tea, baths and a dressing room at the "Coach and Horses," Kew. Jennings will be at Newbury where lunch is laid at the "Chequers," and Herbert at the top of Marlborough Hill to take times.
- The complete list of entries, thirty-five names including the Hon. I. Keith-Falconer, Ashley Barrett, J. W. Potter, Dr. O. Coleman, A. O. Tylor and both Gruggens, followed by the nine rules riders must strictly observe: gold medals to the first ten men home inside ten hours, an honorary certificate to every finisher inside ten hours, the enamelled gold medal to the first man in, University costume with hat or cap, one bicycle only per competitor, and disqualification for riding on the footpath.
- Nine N.E. men gathered at Syborn's Corner and rode by Upton, Plashet and East Ham to Woolwich pier, where sixteen South-Eastern members, eight of whom had started from Croydon at 3.30 and picked up a guide at Lewisham, crossed the river for their first invasion of the north. Forty-two men in all sat down to tea at the "King's Head," Chigwell, after a hard pace set by the Captain across country from North Woolwich.
- May 1st brought five members to "The Bells at Ouseley" over roads in very fair condition. On May 8th five riders left Hammersmith Bridge for Ripley by Barnes Common, Roehampton Lane, Kingston Hill, Malden, Worcester Park, Epsom and the loose Ashtead Hill to Leatherhead, Law is praised for riding up Quarry Hill, about fifty miles; W. A. Smart, Dist. Capt., notes that all future runs start at 3.45 p.m.
- Only two of the five who mustered at the "Griffin" rode; joined at Moulsey by Holdsworth, Buckler and Henry they went by Apps Court, Walton and Weybridge to Byfleet corner, lost themselves in lanes towards Pirford and emerged on the private lawn of Westhall Lodge, greeted by the proprietor's dogs. They inspected the twelfth-century ruins of Newark Priory on the way to Ripley and took an eggs-and-tea at 1s. 6d. a head at the "Stoke Hotel," Guildford, not starting home until 8.30.
- The district was honoured on May 8th by A. H. Koch, the enamelled medallist of 1879, at "Jack Straw's." Nine men rode by Highgate, Crouch End, Hornsey, Wood Green, Tottenham, Higham Hill and Chingford, halting at the ruined Old Church for the view, reaching Chigwell at 6.25, where the "King's Head" meat tea at 3s. plus attendance was thought dear. A treadle-pin snapped on Spaniard's Hill on the way home; 32½ miles in all, reported by Norman B. Morris, Dist. Capt.
- Thorn and Weeks start at 6.30 to meet two colonists at Newbury, spinning through Staines and Windsor to breakfast at Maidenhead among the remains of the Dark Blue and Temple meet, then into Reading by ten to eleven. They report loose surfaces and fresh flinty gravel near Thatcham, see nothing of the would-be medallists, and get home by 8.30, 110 miles, warning that without rain "medals will want a heap of getting on Monday." Signed E. A. W.
- The season's card from May 15th (London University College, Stamford Bridge) and the 100 miles Road Trial on May 17th through to the L.A.C. Winter Meeting on November 6th, taking in the C.U.Bi.C. v. L.B.C. match at Cambridge on May 29th, the London B.C. Annual Race Meeting at Stamford Bridge on June 19th, and meetings for the Pickwick, Stanley, Croydon, Kingston, Tufnell, Belgrave, Lombard, Brighton, Surrey and Druids clubs.
- A single advertisement: H. Howard Crawley of University College, Gower Street, wants to exchange a 56-inch "Humber" racer, nearly a season's wear and never ridden on the road, for a 54-inch racer; the machine can be seen at Stamford Bridge.
- The district meet table for the coming three Saturdays, with the N.E. from Lea Bridge Road and Syborn's Corner for Havering and Harlow, the N.W. from "Jack Straw's Castle" for Easendon and St. Alban's, the West from Harlesden Green and Addison Road Station, the S.W. from the "Griffin," Kingston, and the two S.E. divisions from Central Croydon and Old Lewisham Church converging on Povey's Cross, Penshurst and Betchworth. S.E. Wednesday evening runs go to Caterham and Merton.
- May 5th at Stamford Bridge: thirty-nine entered and twenty-nine started the Open Three Miles Handicap, run in four heats won by J. R. Hamilton, H. L. Cortis, W. T. Thorn and F. K. Laver, with Hillier and Kemp dead-heating for second in the first. Cortis took the final from scratch by a yard in 9 min. 20¼ sec.; E. S. Price won the one-mile Club Novice race, and the Gazette rebukes the sixteen novices of whom only four appeared.
- Answering "L'homme qui rit's" request for tips on foreign roads, a member who has ridden over a thousand miles in France reports Normandy splendid and Picardy fair but tending to paving-stones, recommends the Dieppe–Rouen–Mont St. Michel–Caen–Havre circuit, explains the kilometre stones and village name-plates, warns of paved village streets at the foot of long hills, and notes that the rule of the road in France and Germany is the opposite of the English. Rhine roads are rough but rideable and the hotels dearer; Belgium he judges unrideable from the railway train.
- A summer-tour suggestion: steamer from London to Hamburg, ride to Kiel, steamer to Korsor and on by road to Copenhagen, with beech-forest roads and views over the Sound, a pilgrimage to Hamlet's tomb at Elsinore, then across to Malmö and an endless stretch of undulating country up to the Arctic Circle, returning by the Gotha Canal and Trollhättan Falls to Gothenburg. Signed "The S.E. D.C.'s Sub."
- The Two Miles Handicap (Open) promoted by Messrs. Humber, Marriott and Cooper on May 8th, run in ten heats for a single prize, a new "Humber" bicycle. Cortis won his heat by three yards; in the second round Woolnough was disqualified by the judge for crossing and touching Swindley's front wheel, and A. Herbert beat W. Brown by a yard in the final in 6 min. 10¾ sec., G. P. Coleman timekeeping.
- Notice of the meeting at Surbiton Training Grounds on May 25th: competitors may practise on the course for 6d., Messrs. Thorn, Coleman and Williams will receive entries for the One Mile Handicap, and roadsters are urged to enter as they will get very liberal treatment from the handicappers.
- A short notice that G. P. Coleman has been appointed "Official Timekeeper" by the Bicycle Union.
- "L'homme qui rit" caps an editorial's Hungerford road race with a mile-and-a-half handicap placarded at Marlboro', relays the "Chequers" landlord's assurance that the authorities will not interfere with the Road Trial, and mocks the contradictory advice pressed on Bath competitors, soup-squares against dry biscuits, beer against champagne and lime juice. Also the model "White Hart" at Abridge (breakfast for three at 7s. 6d.), the S.E. nearly arrested in Woolwich, a pill-box of "Remains of an ancient Roman," A. P. Stokes's five-foot high jump at the Hongkong Civilians' sports, and a dream of the Bath trial ending head first into a dozing uncle.
- Contributions must go to the Editor, L.B.C. Gazette, 35, Eastcheap, E.C., bear the author's name, be written on one side of the paper only and reach the office by Wednesday morning for immediate insertion. Messrs. Darling will now supply portfolios stamped with the Club badge for keeping unbound copies, at 2s.
- Stephen P. Smith is thanked for his aid and his offer concerning maps, with a call for medical notes on the ordinary accidents of bicycling from the Club's surgical members; I. G. is thanked for the poem "A Fair Stratagem"; and "L'homme qui rit" thanks W. T. Hill, F. Williams, Dr. Langmore and others for contributions to "Stray Notes."