Does the Cyclist Make a Good Target?
Does the Cyclist Make a Good Target? is a letter written anonymously as One of the 25th published in the magazine Cycling on 23 february 1910.
The letter was included among others in the section "The World of Wheels — The Cycling Army: Some Interesting Opinions and an Appeal." See also : Major Liles's Views.
Does the Cyclist Make a Good Target?
As a member of the 25th County of London (Cyclists) Battalion, Sir A. Conan Doyle's letter is of interest to me. I endorse most of his opinions, but I think he ought to allow a little more for the cost of a mount. On the tyre question, too, I disagree. With rifle and kit, solid tyres would mean much harder work, more fatigue, and less mobility. Personally, I favour heavy or "special" roadster tyres, and find these come through the trial very well. During last year's training, I only had one puncture, and that was easily repaired. Even a horse is liable to go lame, and the "repair" is less easy then. The cross-country question may be dismissed. Our regiment is not restricted to roads, and we do a good deal of cross-country riding. It has been suggested to me that "a cyclist forms a good target," but a cavalryman is worse off in comparison. The cycle is a smaller object than a horse, moves noiselessly, create less dust, and, most important of all, is not liable to stampede and bolt with spare ammunition and kit, nor does it, after a heavy field day, have to be kept in the stables with sore withers. These are points worth a little consideration.
ONE OF THE 25TH.
Next week we shall publish a special article on this subject by "En Avant."
