Vol 6, No 17
Articles in this issue
- Standing editorial notice that the latest hour for reception of copy for the Gazette is 6.0 p.m. on Tuesdays.
- A half-affectionate leader on the club financier, whose collection of the golden guineas of the L.B.C. is likened to gathering the apples of the Hesperides and who lives like the Syracusan despot under a suspended sword of a year-end deficit. His countenance is a thermometer of the club's resources, and the moral is that members should pay their subscriptions punctually, since in a treasurer a good man of business is worth half a dozen men of genius.
- First-round results of the club tournament, Hewitt over Wyndham (scratched), Naylor over Gruggen, Scrutton over Lloyd, Reynolds over L. Potter and so on, with Powell and Rucker scratched for not having played by the 23rd, followed by the second-round draw. H. N. Sharp requires results by Monday, 16th July.
- Reports of the June 23rd district runs. The N.E. rode from Lea Bridge Road by the Flats and the Albert Dock, waiting on the swing bridge and the ferry, to meet the S.E. at the "King's Head," Chigwell, where a new Rucker Tandem bicycle drew a crowd and the commissariat broke down; the N.W. and W. met at the "Green Man," Kingsbury, and rode by Kenton Lane and Harrow Weald Common to Stanmore, where the "Abercorn Arms" would not give them tea and they moved on to the "Crown"; and the S.W., under R. M. Gruggen, made their 36-mile annual excursion from Kingston by Esher, Ripley and West Clandon to Newland's Corner and the Silent Pool, taking short rations at the "Drummond Arms," Albury. The notices that follow announce Little Berkhempstead for the N.W. and Mickleham for the S.E., W. and S.W. next Saturday.
- Tabulated meets for the next two Saturdays across the N.E., N.W., W., S.W. and the two S.E. divisions, Mickleham and the "Beehive" for four districts, Stifford and Little Berkhempstead, then Ongar, Shenley, Cobham, Ripley and Bletchingley.
- A practical article by an "Occasional Contributor" signing R. P. H. R.: do not make fixed plans; ride a sound roadster rather than a "Thing," carrying a spare treadle pin, nuts, Prout's elastic glue, whipcord and a waterproof saddle cover but no lamp, since night riding abroad should be struck out. He argues for knickerbockers over knee breeches and a ventilated helmet, lists his whole kit down to celluloid collar and a medicine chest of arnica, vaseline and chlorodyne packed in an Anderson, Abbott and Anderson bag, recommends Bellow's pocket dictionary, the reduced Ordnance Survey maps from Stanford's and a passport, warns against second-rate and English-frequented hotels, notes that every country but Bohemia keeps to the right, and puts the cost at ten shillings a day exclusive of travelling.
- A letter signed "Delta" arguing that the Club dinner should be fixed a fortnight later, between the 6th and 10th of December, so that resident 'Varsity members can attend: the present date falls so near the end of term that leave is impossible, one member having already buried an uncle, grandfather and grandmother that term to obtain absits.
- Wheel news signed "The Front Wheel Hub": the Bicycle Union became the National Cyclists' Union on the 14th after two hours' debate, Hampton-Roberts and Scrutton losing their bid for "National Union of Wheelmen"; Howell beat Keen in a mile at Wolverhampton in 2.47; Nixon beat Lowndes over 100 miles on tricycles at the Crystal Palace in 7hr. 23min. 50sec., beating all records; and Bown v. Humber before Mr. Justice North filled the Court of Chancery with bicycles while Sir Frederick Bramwell discoursed on ball bearings.
- Porcupine's gossip: the Sub-Editor has gone off on his bicycle for Scottish roads leaving the Editor in sole command, the Editor has tried his first tricycle and found it hard work, three N.E. veterans turned out for the Chigwell meet, and the S.E. District Captain absent-mindedly emptied the milk jug into the teapot there.
- The Captain's sanctioned list under Rule 40, running from the Rovers' evening meeting on June 28 through the B.U. championships at Birmingham and the Crystal Palace, the Fifty Miles Bicycle Championship, the Bristol Meet races and the Twenty-five Miles Championship at Taunton on August 2, to the Surrey B.C. at Kennington Oval on September 15.
- W. F. M. Buckley of Christchurch, Oxford offers his 59-in. "Humber" racer, new last year and raced only in the L.B.C. v. O.U.Bi.C. match of 1882, re-plated with a new front tyre and ball pedals, cost 21l. and priced at 14l.
- 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.