Vol 5, No 6
Articles in this issue
- Standing note that the latest hour for reception of copy for the Gazette is 5.30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
- Leader observing that while other clubs make much of “having decided in general meeting to admit tricyclists to its ranks,” the L.B.C. has always done so, and in fact requires no machine qualification at all, since more than one member would have to borrow a bicycle before he could perform. Members are urged to feel no hesitation in encouraging tricyclists to join.
- Theo. Godlee, District Captain, asks N.E. members to turn up in force on Saturday for the run to Sidcup via Woolwich, hoping to better the fifteen who mustered as an invading force last year.
- H. G. A. Brown, District Captain, again reminds members that the joint S.E. and N.E. meet is at the “Black Horse,” Halfway Street, near Sidcup Station, not the “Black Horse” in Sidcup village, and begs a strong turnout for the N.E. men who cross the river on purpose to visit.
- The Easter party, the present and late S.E. District Captains, J. C. Oswald, C. Newman, the late Editor, Frank Kinder and Louis Potter, meets at Guildford, scales the Hog's Back, dines at “The Bush” at Farnham and attends the Cathedral service at Winchester. Next day a blacksmith at Stockbridge supplies a centre pin, Frank Kinder's front tyre comes off on a hill near Amesbury, and the party is photographed before a Trilithon at Stonehenge flanked by a “Rucker” and a “Humber” before reaching the “White Lion” at Bath and riding home via Devizes, Marlborough Downs and dinner at the “George,” Reading.
- Signed Soup Squares. A two-day 105-mile ride from Kensington through Hounslow, Staines, Egham Hill and the “Golden Farmer” to the “Wheatsheaf” (B.T.C.) at Basingstoke, then the sixteen perfect miles through Sherfield and Stratfield Turgis to Reading and on by Henley, Marlow and Cookham to Beaconsfield. The writer condemns fresh stones “the size of ostrich eggs” beyond Beaconsfield and near the “Bull” at Gerrard's Cross.
- Signed A. L. A 5.15 start from Walthamstow by Waltham Cross, Puckeridge, Barkway and Barley to Cambridge (49 miles at 9.35), a fall and damaged knee while trying the grass verge on the dusty Ely road, then Ely (65 miles) at 11.20, the cathedral and a cheap lunch at the “Bell.” He trained back to Cambridge, rode a few miles with the President of the C.U.Bi.C., and reached home at 8.40 with 115 miles ridden.
- C. C. Fitch's address is now 37, Evering Road, Stoke Newington, and C. A. Buckmaster has moved from 18 to 16, Heathfield Road, Mill Hill Park, Acton.
- Tabulated meets for the N.E., N.W., W., S.W. and the Croydon and Blackheath S.E. divisions, Lea Bridge Road and Syborn's Corner for Sidcup, “Jack Straw's Castle” for West Drayton, the “Clarence,” Teddington, and Central Croydon Station for East Grinstead, with a General Meet for Halliford on April 29 and the W. district stable at Savernake Cottage, Mill Hill Road, Acton.
- Signed Dodo. A rider recalls the delight of unpacking his first real bicycle after the boneshaking days, the waning enthusiasm for spoke brushes and emery paper, and its eventual sale to a neighbouring blacksmith for a few shillings. He turns this into an argument for the small iota of mechanical knowledge every bicyclist should carry, insisting that ball-bearings run neither loose nor dry and that many a breakdown blamed on the maker is the rider's own fault.
- Signed “Shield.” Day-dreaming down a long decline of the Great North Road, the writer overhauls a double tricycle ridden back to back, is blocked from passing by an approaching cart, and catches the machine on the off side, pitching both riders into a deep ditch. The elderly gentleman forgives him and re-hangs the chains; the moral is to refrain from day-dreaming when on 'cycle.
- Signed Galley-Bell. The cyclomaniac describes his scrap-books of cycling pictures and newspaper cuttings (the idea taken from a Bicycling News letter, “Every man his own editor”), the twelve-foot by eight-foot portable shed built by Lascelles of Bunhill Row that houses his overflow of accessories, and a new Lamplugh and Brown long-distance suspension saddle at ten shillings. He ends by appealing to fellow members for a workable splash-board to stop the front wheel throwing slush at his legs.
- Continued instalment: leaving the Buxton Road for Spen Lane, the pair walk into Dovedale past the Lion's Head rock, Raynard's Hall and the Doveholes and lunch at the “Isaak Walton.” Beyond Tissington H. rides his “Devon” tricycle down a quarry-like descent, then fords a stream while his companion laughs from the footbridge, and after miles of wet limestone “birdlime” and a greasy rutted run into Cromford they put up at the “New Bath Hotel” (B.T.C.) at Matlock Bath, sixteen miles ridden.
- Signed Rambler. Oliver Thorn second in the mile and W. F. M. Buckley second in the five miles at the Churchman's Union Sports at Oxford; the Brighton meet of South of England bicyclists drawing twenty-nine bicycle and two tricycle clubs; a rumour that Wadham Wyndham will not train this year; Frank Kinder's light injuries from going over the handles; a good group of L.B.C. men photographed at Stonehenge; and the admission that Gazette editorials are often not written by the Editor at all.
- A short list: the Surrey B.C. Spring Meeting on April 22, and on April 29 four events at the Kilmarnock F.C. Sports, the Burnley C.C. one-and-a-half miles handicap, and the L.A.C. Second Spring Meeting.
- Three letters continuing the debate over whether the Club is played out. “Paraclete” argues the Promenade Concert failed because H. G. A. Brown's resolution at the General Meeting removed its object of aiding Club funds; a second writer holds that attendance at the opening meets is better proof of vitality than a sparsely attended concert; and “A West-District Member” asks consideration for habitual absentees kept away by the claims of a government office and a remote western suburb.
- C. R. Hutchings points out that a club pattern of cap cover with peak and puggaree already exists, grey alpaca with a leather stiffening for the peak, voted a most comfortable hot-weather headdress on the Pyrenean expedition of 1879; he has tried a helmet but prefers the club cap with cover for all-round use.
- Brief replies to C. A. B. (change of address noted), W. X. W. (“Not at all frivolous”; more of a similar pattern welcome), D. R. S. (account to appear in an early issue), A. W. B. (the “Genial Mark” left Maidenhead long ago) and B. A. (next week).
- Contributions must be addressed 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 Tuesday evening for immediate insertion.