CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

G. Sutherhind's modesty is quite refreshing. This is Avhat he tells a 'NeAV Zealand Cyclist' interviewer: 'Walne is a very fine felloAV ... a beautiful pedallcr, and it is a treat to see the way he sits his machine. He rides in a very similar position to my OAvn.' In the same interview Sutherland goes on to say: T am quite satisfied that if the best of the Australian riders came over to Ncav Zealand, they would find it exceedingly difficult to keep in front of our best men,' meaning, no doubt, George Sutherland in particular.

A. J. Body, the well-known New Zealand cyclist,has returned to Christchurch after a long spell of racing in Australia. He leaves in a fortnight's time for England, via Suez. Body Avill race at- Paris and Marseilles, and will at all events be a competitor at the World's Championships in Vienna. He expects to return to New Zealand via America.

Zimmerman is reported to have told a Mexican interviewer that he expects soon to be in his best form, and he will then re-visit Europe and Australia.

Tom Eck's European team of champion cyclists experienced the sensation of being prisoners of war in HaA'ana, where they had gone to race prior lo the outbreak of hostilities. They were made up of Jaap Eden, Dutch champion, and Gougoltz, Lamberjack, and Cissac. A despatch states that they have been released, and a.s neutrals are allowed to quit the island, notwithstanding the blockade, have been despatched on board a neutral vessel to CharlestoAvn.

Over much riding will tire the most powerful rider. When a feeling of fatigue is felt a capital plan is to dismount, alter the tilt of the saddle, and drop the handle-bars a couple of inches. An entirely fresh set of muscles are. brought into requisition by this, a change from one position to another is almost as frood as an entire rest. Another method i.s to get oft and walk for half a mile or a mile. It pulls a cyclist, round in a remarkable manner.

Cycling knickerbockers must never be tightly buckled round the knees. A tightness bearable for pedestrian exercise is too great for cycling purposes, as the knee-joints are much more used in riding, and the tendons behind the knee require more space when the bending of the knee is extremely acute. The necessity of this freedom for the knees is a highly practical reason why trousers arc uncomfortable garments on a 'cycle. Baggy knees arc an essential in a comfortable cycling cost nine.

Twenty years ago the india-rubber trade was but i: microscopic affair: to-day tin- universal use of pneumaticlyrcd bicycles has made it one of the inn;" important items of commerce. Twenty years ago it would have taken but a very few hundred tons of rubber to satisfy the European market; now it absorbs over twenty thousand tons per annum from Brazil alone. To be exact, the exports from that country from July Ist, lPflh\ to June 30th, '.sOT, amounted to _'~.-!.■. tons, 0.100 tons of this l.e'mg of the Para variety. About half of this enormous produce goes io Europe and the remaining hulf to tho United States.

It is stated that the foreign cracks now in America look with surprise upon the system of training followed by the American riders. True, the Americans are most systematic in their preparations, and,taken on the wholo, they tire best trained athletes of any country (the 'Cyclist' remarks). It may not be generally known that Michael nnd Linton, when under the care of Choppy Warburton, Avere not believers in the massage treatment of the muscles. When Michael, however, went to America, he was soon initiated into its benefits, much against his will, but now he is one of the strongest supporters of this absolute necessity. Tom Linton Avill not, even hoav, permit himself to be massaged, nor even vigorously rubbed, being content Avith having the perspiration rubbed from his body nnd nothing more. According to thp opinions of such men as Cordang, Stocks, Palmer, etc., the rubbing process is one of the main items in a man's training.

Quick as firemen tire in getting their engines to a conflagration, it can hardly be doubted that one or two of them mounted on cycles could reach the spot and often render valuable aid before the heavier equipment could arrive. An example of their utility Avas recently given at NeAvport, in Monmouthshire, Avhen a fire broke out at the large Chemical Manure Works. Firemen on bicycles Avere very quickly present, and although they Avere unable to prevent a large part of the building from being destroyed, the promptness of their attendance Avas of material service in saving from the flumes a glue factory which had been recently built at a cost of £10,000.

Some unpleasantness occurred at Adelaide over the appearance of Serpolette, the French cyclist, writes a 'Referee' scribe. The club Avhich held the meeting applied for sanction on the understanding that an exhibition Avould be given on a motor cycle but announced that she Avould appear on a diamond frame machine. At this the Pacing Board got on their dignity and refused to allow her on the track when she attempted to go on, a nice kettle of fish! Ultimately the referees gave their consent, and she rode on a heavy dropped frame machine, on which she could not raise any pace.