CYCLING,

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 33

CYCLING,

FIXTURES. Labour Day Sports.— Saturday 28th October, a Caledonian ground. Team Race.— Dunedin Cycling Club and Otago Cycling Club, at Caledonian ground on 25th November.

NOTES BY DEMON.

Eleven members of the Otago Cycling Club took a run out to Mosgiel on Saturday afternoon, and report a very enjoyable outing.

A number of racing men are in training for the Labour Day sports, and there is activity among club men who have been asked to go into training for the Team Race. A committee meeting ot the Dunedin Cycling Club was held in the club room on the 12th, when it was decided to accept the challenge of the O.C.C. for sninterclub team race, to take place on 25th November. Arrangements are also to be made for holding the club's annual race meeting on the 27th January 1894, subject to the consent of the alliance, and application is to be made for a championship event to be allotted for the meeting. A club handicapper was appointed for the year, to act in conjunction with the officials of the O.C C. Notice was given by two members of their intention to attempt to lower the existing road record to Henley. Several new members were elected, and sundry accounts passed for payment. A cyclist named Vider has lowered the New South Wales bicycle road record for 100 miles, doing the distance in 7hr 3min.

Owing to the rain on the previous day and the bad state of the roads, the attempt at the lowering of the Henley record did not take place last Saturday.

Cycling is going ahead in the Clutha district. At the end of last week 11 members of the Clutha Club journeyed to Milton, and there met several members of the Dunedin Cycling Club. A few hours were pleasantly spent in chatting over club matters and cycling in g- neral. Arrangements are being made to put down a racing track at Balclutha, and it is the intention of the club to apply to be affiliated to the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance.

-The Taieri A d^ocate is responsible for the following :—": — " A favourite run for cyclists is fr )m the Dutedin Te'egraph office to M'Kegg's White Mouse Hotel, and the shortest time in which the distance has >et been done is lhr 13min. Mr Amos M'Kegg informs us thafc he intends offering a prize this season to anyone who, under official conditions, breaks the present record. He says he is willing to award a prize of a guinea a minute for every minute by which the present record is lowered. Here is a ehacce for some of our cyclists to distinguish themselves and earn a good prize."

At a meeting held at Gore on 6bh inst. it was decided to form a cycling club, t> be called the Gore Tourists' Club. There are a number of riders at Mataura who intend joining the club, and it is expected that the membership will be about 40, including four lady riders. The following office-bearers were elected : — President, Dr G. A. Copland ; vice-presidents — Messrs C. J. Hinton, R. S. Mitchell, and W. A. M'Caw; captain. R. Smith ; dfiputy-captain, W. Domigan ; bugler, J. Brown ; committee — Mestrs C. J. Hinton, W. Baker, and D. Gregg ; secretary and treasurer, T. Brown. The opening run to Mataura was fixed for the afternoon of the 18th inst. The roads around the Gore district are, to my knowledge, very tuitible for cycling, and I trust that the success that has attended the formation of the Gore Tourists' Club will be with them during the ensuing season.

At the Waimat9 Labcur Day sports the Oamaru Rovero' team of two cyclists brought home six prizes, and three of the North Of-ago Cycling Club representatives the same number. W. Porteous carried off the special ijrize for most point.

At the adjourned annual meeting of the Christchurch Ca&h Amateur Bicycle Club,Messr3 J. Tomkins, W. Hopkins, J. Crawehaw, and R. Ledez were elected members. It; was decided to hold a race meeting on Anniversary Day at Lancaster Park, and the committee was

instructed to draw up a programme to lay before the next general meeting. An invitation was received from the mayor, inviting the members to be lm guests at New Brighton on October 19, and it was decided to hold the opening run to New Brighton on that day. Mr FN. Adams was elected a vice-president. It vras decided to alter fche name of the club, and to call it the Christchuich Cycling Club. The annual subscription was fixed at 10s, with a nomination fee of 2s 6d.

The New South Wales Cyclists' Union have decided to send a team to compete at the athletic sports in New Zealand in December.

The annual meeting of the Timaru Tourists' Cycling Club was held on the 10sh inst. It was decided to hold the annual sports on D 'cember 16, and to apply to the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance for permission to include a five- mile provincial championship. The opening run was fixed for October 19. Eleven new members were elected. The following officers were elected : — Patron, Mr E. T. Rhodes (re-elected) ; president, Mr C. K. Meredibh-Kaye (re-elected) ; vice-presidents — Messrs W. Gunn, D. Mahoney, J. Meikle, Dr Thomas (re-elected), W. St. Lindsay, W. Priest; captain, Mr H. Le Cren ; vice-captains, Messrs M. J. Shepherd and F. Truman ; secretary, Mr G. Strachan ; treasurer, Mr Parr ; committee — Messrs C. Hall, J. Toneycliffe, and J. Gardner.

The Ashburton Amateur Cj cling and Athletic Association opened the season last Thursday. About 20 cjclifits assembled at the Post Office, aud went in precession through the princ'pal streets of the town to the Domain, where four bicycle and three foot races were run off. The following are the winners :—: — Bicycle Race, half-mile— R Shearman, 20yds, 1. Time, lmin 23sec. Bicycle Race, one mile — R. Shearman, 30yds, 1. Time, 2min 52f sec. Bicycle Race, one mile and a-half — R. Shearman, 35yds, 1. Time, 4min 48 3-53ec. Bicycle Race, three miles — W. Shearman, 60yds, 1. 100 yds Foot Race— L. Broad, scr, 1. 250 yds Foot Race— L. Broad, scr, 1. Time, 29|3ec. 440jds Foot Race — Cromie, 17yds, 1. Time, 56^ sec. After the races a collection wa3 taken up on the ground, in aid of the library fund of the Old Men's Home.

Mr P. W. Armstrong, who left Sydney on September 26 on the overland trip to Melbourne with the object of putting up a bicycle record for the distance, reached the southern capital early on Saturday, the 30th. The time occupied in travelling between the two cities was 4days 3hr 45min. He rode No. 6 New Rapid machine fitted with pneumatic tyres.

At the monthly meeting of the Ariel Bicycle Club, Ashburton, 13 new members were elected. The captain (Mr J Forbes) sent in his resignation, as he was leaving the district, and D. Zander was elected to fill the vacancy. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Forbes for his pist services as captain of the club. Messr3 T. Boyd, P. Mansell, and W. Thompson were appointed the club's delegates for the year on the New Zealand Cyclists' Union. Mr J. Muller was elected to take Mr Forbes's position as delegate on the Ashburton Athletic Association, and Mr A Fookes's name was added to the committee. It was decided to hold the club's race meeting on January 10, and the committee was instructed to draw up a programme. It was also decided to hold a road race on November 1.

Records have been made and broken with alarming rapidity in England of late. The latest cycling papers give such an array of records made and then broken that it is most bewilderiDg to follow the times. On August 30 J. W. Stocks started to beat the records made by the South African rider, L. S. Meintjes, at Chicago. The first mile was accomplished in 2min 19f sec, the second in 4min 36sec, and the third in 6min 35j?sec, at which point he had placed himself in front of the English record. Mile after mile was now ridden with great regularity, each being a trifle better than the previous best, covering 25 miles 690 yds in the first hour, and being 6min 37Jsec in advance of Meintjes's record for 33 miles, made at Chicago, and 6min 40sec in front of the same rider at 40 miles. The same rate of progression was kept up, and the distance covered in two hours was 48 miles 600 yds. Soon after this it >was found that he was going slower, the cause being found to be a small puncture in one of his tyres. Nevertheless he completed 50 miles in 2hr smin 45sec, when he changed his machine. He, however, could make no further improvement, but, riding out the full distance, beat the record by 4min 25 3-53 ec, hi 3 full time being 2hr 45min 40sec, and thepreviou3 best time by Meintjes 2br 49min 35 3-ssec. All the above times from, and including that for, three miles are records.

The appended figures taken from the Cyclist are interesting. In his long ride Stocks covered 25 miles 690 yds in the first hour ; 22 miles 1670 yds in the second hour ; and the remaining 14 miles 1160 yds took 45min lOsec ; this included change of machine, &s. His 10 miles work out as follows : —

m. 8. m. s. Ist 10 miles ... 23 20 4th 10 miles... 25 40? 2nd „ ... 23 57j bth „ ... 28 24° i

3rd „ ... 24 22 5l5 l 6th „ ... 30 7§ Possibly this little table conveys more forcib'y than any other the really wonderful nature of Stocks's feat.

On the Monday previous to the above race Stocks decided to have a try at bbc houi\j' record held by G. E. Osmond, who lately got within 47yd? of 25 miles in the hour. Stocks had Osmond out to assist in the p^cillg 1 and riding well beat all previous records from three miles up, and at the finish of the hour had cjvered 25 miles 360, yds. Cycling, speaking of the performance, says :—": — " The first man to cover 25 miles in 60min is J. W. Stocks. Who will ba the first to do 25^, and who will beat 26 ? The last feat will be accomplished on the I andem safety, if only tandems for pacing can be secured." What follows ?

On the Friday following G E. Osmond and Stock have a cub ab the record, and mounted on a Whitworth tandem do the marvellous distance of 26 miles 156 yds in the hour. Stocks record for the week —

Monday ... 25 miles 360 ids in GOmin Wednesday ... 63 miles in 2hr 45min 40^ec Friday 2G mile.s 13(iyds in O'Omin, with G. K. Osmond —

will take a lob of bsabing.

Now comes the short distance. On August 24 G. E. Osmond and R. G. Merry at Herne Hill broke all records recently made by the brothers Ilel°y, from a quirter to one mile inclusive. Times : Quarter. 32 3 ssec ; half, 62-cc; tliree'q iaitsr, lmin 34^ec ; mi'e, 2min 7 4-5->ec (old record, 2min lljsec). They afterwards rodo a Hying quarter in 28^3ec.

_Ou Friday, W iptember 1, A. W. Harris, assisted by Osmond and Stocks as pacemakers, made an attempt to beat the mile rpcord of 2oain 9 3 s?pc, held by L. S Me'utj°p, and finished in the reco d time of 2ruin 7 3-ssec. The time for the threi-qudttcrp, lmin 34 4-sssc, is also a record.

In connection with the gi'eat 24 hours' North Road Race held on August 26, the Cyclist cays: — "No review of the 24 hours' would be complete without an allusion ia terms

of high praise to the really marvellous exploit of Joseph Atto, the well-known long-distance rider of the Pickwick Club. Although this enthusiastic boy has seen 62 summers, it was reserved until last Saturday for him to a'tonish the cycling world by living through the trying day and finishing buoyant and happy with 281 miles to his credit Mounted upon a RigU'i safety, fitted with Edwards's corrugated covers to both wheels, and weighing about 30ib, the splendid veteran persisted, amidst the falling out of young and well-trained athletes, maintaining a speed of over 11£ miles per hour, inclusive of all stoppages en route, and finished as stated above. The Pickwick may feel justly proud of their Nathaniel Pipkin— the grey beard whose prowess has surpassed that of numerous roadracers of the front rank. At Eaton Socon, on Sunday morning, we met Atbo, brimming ovct with high spirits, and lavishing praises on the staunch little Raglan which has enabled him to do so well."'

In a 20-mile Road Race in Canada, 141 started, 99 finished, and nearly every rider had a cropper.

A telegram, dated Miluker, August 23, says : " Walter Sanger, holder of the world's bicycle mile record and one-mile champion of England, was expelled from the Telegram Bicycle Club to-day for refusing, after he had bien advertised, to appear on the track at a meeting arranged by the club."

F. J Osmond's style on the path has found much favour with the American critics, many of whom are most desirous of seeing him in a race. The following is from the Bicy cling World :—": — " Said a man who has had one of the longest experiences in racing and racing men in America, while watching Osmond pace Meinbjes to victory in the long-distance struggle : ' There goes one of the best built pieces of racing machinery in the world. His action is simply superb.' And he was right. Ib is a question whether any man on the track covered the ground in as easy style. It was as smooth and steady as a piece of clockwork."

F. W. Shorland, winner of the last Cuca Cocoa race, is a nephew of Jerome X Jerome, and orree upon a time served behind the counter in a draper's establishment.

The use of the bicycle for military purposes, after having developed with great rapidity in France, ha 3 suddenly received a check. General Loizillon, the Minister for War, has, it appears, little faith in it. He has issued an order that the cyclist corps arc only to be used on prepared ground. In time of war, he says, their use, even if no account is taken of the liability of the machines to break, is likely to cause serious miscalculations, and they can only rarely be substituted for men on horseback. The cyclist henceforth, therefore, or until some successor to General Loizillon more favourable to them is appointed, will be reserved, by his instructions, for garrison duty, for the great manoeuvres, and in time of war for certain easy communications at the rear of the forces.

An extraordinary performance is recorded of H. Kitching, a boy of 14, who rode an improvised unicycle (the large wheel and forks of an ordinary bicycle, 48in) from Harblepool to Middlesbrough in lhr 15min. He also gave an exhibition on the track, during the interval, at the North York and •*'outh Durham meeting at Grangetown. He rides this arrangement in preference to a safety or a complete ordinary.

Says "Veteran" in the London Sportscnan: — "If any proof were needed of the superior speed- rate of Herne Hill track, it was forthcoming when G. E. Osmond rode a mile in 2min lOsec, and, going on, did two miles in 4min 24§»ec. The old record of 4min 39iec by L. H. Meintjes on the same track this year is thus left a long way behind. That Osmond is a good man is perfecbly clear, but I cannot believe that he is as good as his brother used to be, or that he would stand a ghost of a chance in a level mile or two miles' ride with one or two cyclists whom I might mention. The secret of his fast; performances against the watch lies in the perfect system of pacing and the marvellously fast surface at Herne Hill. My own idea is that such a man as A. W. Harris, on an equally good evening and with the same perfect pacing, would do 6sec better time for a mile than Osmond. Yet I shall expect the latter to get inside 2min Bsec before the season's end. This sounds like asking Harris to do something sensational as read by present lights, but inasmuch as good judges consider the present Herne Hill track lOsec a mile faster than the rid one, there is no reason why a mile in 2min dead may not have to be credited to the speediest cyclist of his time."

At the Bolton Bankruptcy Court a few days ago, in the course of the examination of a bankrupt who had been a dealer in bicycles and tricycles, the debtor alleged that ib was the custom ot the trade to invoice machines at a certain price and deliberately accept a lower one in payment. He explained that this deception was practised in order that the customer should he subsequently desire to sell the article might by the exhibition of the fictitious invoice obtain a better price than he would otherwise be able to do. No doubt tricks of this kind, and others still more despicable, are often resorted to by some of the smaller, pettifogging agents and dealers, but we have no belief in the existence of such a custom amongst the more reputable makers or their agents. As a rule purchasers are likely to be better seived in dealing dirccb with the manufacturing firms than in obtaining their machines through the medium of third parties, as such frauds as the substitution of the name of a well-known firm for that of some nonentity are by no means unkuowu.

An international long-distance race from Paris to Brussels commenced on Saturday evening, August 12, at five minutes pasb 10, from the Maison Doree, in the Bois de Viucennes, PsrU, and terminated at the Velodrome, Brussels, at 50uuin slsec past 5 on Sunday, the winner hay ng occupied 19hr 45rnin 51sec doing the journey of 407 kilome'res. About 4000 persons assembled at the Maison Doree to witness the departure of the various competitors on Saturday. Of the 123 cyclists who had entered their names for the race only 63 started, the comp3titorß including a number of Belgians and Frenchmen, one German, five Englishmen, and one Russian. They were rivided into 12 sections, and precisely at five minutes past 10 the start was made, one section following upon the other at shorb intervals. The race was won by Andre, one of the Belgian cyclists. The second who arrived wa3 also a Belgian, Dtlbecq Ongenauli*, a Frenchman, finished third. Splendid pr'zsd, presented by the King of the Belgians and trie President (f the Republic, were awarded to the winner.

The management of the breathing is of great importance in cycling. A common habit, and an injurious one, is to hold the breath when any eylra exertion is required, as in going up an incline or putting on a sudden spurt. On th 6 contrary, the respiration s'aould b3 much increased in frequency. If any rider will try the effect of voluntarily doubling or tri. bling the number of breaths he takes per minute he will be surprised at the ease with which he can surniouut a long hill. The explanation of this is a simple one. Owing to the extra muscular exertion pub forth, more oxygen is required and more blood is pumped through the lungs to be purified in a given time, and by breathing more

rapidly the distressing feeling of " air hunger can be averted.

The proprietors of the Velodrome Buffalo (Paris) have adopted a novel expedient with a view of stimulating bicyclists to break some of the world's records now held by English riders. They offer a prizo of 500fr to the rider who succeeds in breaking, upon the Velodrome Buffalo, the record for the kilomoire or the mile, and lOOOfr for the breaking of the record of one hour or of the 100 kiloma.

An iuterview has -just taken place at Brussels that will interest amateur bicyclists. In accordance with a promise he has made, his Majesty the King of the Belgians has received at the Palace M. Andre, the winner of the Paris-Brusseld race. The Reforme gives the following account of the interview :—" The King, after having caused the well-known velocipedisb to be presented to him, shook him warmly by the hand, and said he had been much gratified to learn that it was a Bilgian who was the winner of the great race. He asked Andre how he found the roads. • Excellent in France, but deplorable in Belgium,' Andre replied. ' Are you still tired ?' ' I only managed to get rested on Monday morning.' ' You are a mason, I am informed. Surely these races should bring you in more money than your regular trade.' To this question, drawing himself up proudly, he answered with some feeling, ' I always race for objets dart, and neve: for money.' " — Bicycling News. P. J. Kenna, of Limerick, won the Irish 50-miles Road Championship from a field of a dozen riders in the good time of 2hr 4-lmin 52sec. R. M. Talbot, of Mountmellick, was » close second, and A. M'Gladdery, of Belfast, took third honours.

From a financial point of view the International meeting held at Chicago on August 11 and 12 has been a failure. There is a deficit of over £1000, which will have to be met by the principal members of the bicycle trade who guaranteed the committee against loss. The racing was good. Zimmerman won the 10kilometre Championship (six miles 1130 yds) in 15min 56£ sec. He also took first plane in the One-mile International Championship, in the time of 2min 27* sec. The 100-kilometre (or 62 miles 730 ft) International Championship created a good deal of interest. Meintjes, the South African champion, more than fulfilled expectations by winning the race and lowering the world's 50-niile record. Pacemakers were used throughout the race, a number of American riders taking turns at making pace, and Osmond, the ex-English champion, by his good pacing work materially assisted in the making of the record. Meintjes covered the distance in 2hr 46min 12 3-ssec.

For some years past G. E. O3mond has been a minor star, dimmed by the supeiior brilliancy of his brother, F. J. For a couple of seasons he has almost disappeared from view, bat this year he has again burst forth, and with increased brightness proved his right to be considered one of the chief planets of the racing system. Born on July 13, 1871, at Peckham, Osmond did quite a lot of riding on both road and path when but a mere stripling. For the past two years he has been devoting himself steadily to business, but this season, with a frame more set, and constitution more seasoned, he determined to try seriously what he could do on the path. His first performance of any note was in the race for the Brixton Cup at Herne Hill on July 8, when he established records from three to six miles inclusive. His next feat was to beat all these records, and, riding 24- miles 1717 yds in the hour, to create new ones right up to 25 miles. On August 17, he rode two miles in 4min 24? sec. Then at Arnhem, Holland, on the following Monday, he broke the halfmile Dutch record, covering the distance in lmin 7sec in competition. On the same day, with R. G. Merry, with whom he rode for the first time, on his Whitworth tandem safety he covered a mile in 2min lOgaec without pacemakers. They went again 15min afterwards, again without pacemakers, and completed the distance in 2min sgsec, a record for any class of machine. Returning to London, the same pair went again for the mile at Herne Hill on Thursday, the 24th ult. Oncemore they rode without pacemakers, their time being 2min 77 s s l 9ee— a British record.. Osmond is a first-claim member of the Anerley 8.C., and rides always in the name of that club. He also belongs to the London CountyC. and A.C. His style is big, with a very/ powerful leg thrust.— Cyclist.