CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 4 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

Cyclists Brook and Cucksey left for Christchurch on Wednesday to uphold the credit of the Auckland A.A. and C.C. in the cycle races at the Canterbury A.A. Club's carnival next Saturday. It is a good long trip to send t'ne men for two races, for there are only a mile and halfmile on the programme: but the Club have taken this step, I understand, in order to show their determination to keep the Alliance in working order and to do what, they can to help on the cause of amateur cycling in other centres'. This invasion, so to speak, of the stronghold of cash cycling will show that the Auckland Club mean business.

The annual cycling: and athletic races of the Himtly Cycling Club take place, at Huutly on Wednesday, April 19th. Entries close on the sth inst. The cycle events will be under League' rules

Walne and Megsoft met in three races at the Sydney Electric Light Carnival last week, to decide the vexed question of superiority. The first was won by less than six inches by Walne, both being all out; the second by Megson by a little over six inches, the Sydneyite giving one great kick on the mark after the two had been dead level for 50yds., and threatening to collide owing to the wobbling of the machines from their territic efforts. On these two heats (says a Sydney exchange) the men were as nearly level on the night as is was possible to be. In the third and ' final contest it was recognised that one might as well toss up a coin as any who.would win. What was the result? After the tandem left it was a waiting game. Megson. in front, sought to anticipate Walne's efforts at sprinting, as he did in the second race, but was caught napping. Walne gave the fatal 'jump' which always decides races of that sort, and shooting past had gained an advantage which no rider anywhere could concede in the distance. Walne won, but the questiojn of supremacy is still undecided. Walne's tactics were successful as it happened, but it was only a lucky chance^ which was just as likely to 'happen to Megson, and if it did* Walne would have been just as surely beaten. I never came across a ej'clist yet (writes 'Philibuster' in the 'Australasian') who made use of the hollow of the top-piece 11 of his•'saddle-pillar for stowing away the .contents of a repair outfit, anj yet the place is admirably suited for such a purpose. You may first push in a few rubber patches," then a tube of solution, and, at the other end. stow your circular box of chalk and sandpaper. Each ,end of the tube shoiildthen be corked up flush, and a neat job is effected, besides, the satisfaction .of knowing you have a repair outfit on hand, even though you may not require to use it for months to come. I might advise still- further; the lower end of the saddle-pillar is capacious enough to hold a tube of veloce, or an oil-can; you might also stow there a yard of copper wire, a French nail, a small file, a spare link for your chain, and a lamp wick, and cork up the end. All these articles would not weigh more than an ounce or two, and yet some day, when touring, they might be of great service. '

Racing cyclists, as well as boxers and othei- athletes, frequently introduce skipping into their training- Curriculum but barring1 one or two at the Democratic Club a few years ago no skipping competitions have ever been held. Michael and the late Arthur Linton have each records of over 3,000 skips, but one A. J. Sheen, an old Welsh racing man. claims to beat the world with 'l0!000.

Elfces, the rising Yankee star, who vvas beaten by ■ Martin, is a long-, lanky, clean-shaven youth, with long hair like an American footballer. He is thin almost to weediness, and the marvel is, as with many racing cyclists, where His strength comes from. He is trained by his father, an oldtime ped., and has an hour record of ?>4J miles odd, equal to the best English. An English contemporary relates a little cycling incident* in which H.K.H. the Prince of Wales figures pl-ominently. While, touring in the neighbourhood of ■ Sandririgham, a cyclist found his back tire punctured, with no prospect of immediate repair, as he had no repair outfit- in his wallet. An elderly gentleman coming up on his bicycle and finding the cause of his brother wheelman's distress immediately dismounted, and placed his Dunlop outfit at his disposal, and then watched the operation of repairing with interest, remarking that he might require to do it himself some day. The tire was soon righted, and the young man returned the outfit, with the intimation that he would be pleased to meet his friend again, .should he evor happen to be in town. . The .elderly gentleman replied that he was in town occasionally, and would be sure to call; then, with a. quiet smile, handed his own card in return, bearing the simple inscription, 'The Prince ot Wales.' When the young man reached home, he took the Prince's patch off his tire, and stuck it in his book of curi-

csities

It stems to me (-writes a wellknown cycling1 authority) that good fruit.'is the very best reviver after a long1 day's bicycle' ride. Tomatoes bqsfefcßS properties' which are decidedly le^eshing to tired wheelmen; grapes and 'oranges and fairly-ripe pcdrs provide both drink and meat. All lh pse fruits appear lo act beneficially ,and rapidly /dissolve fatigue prcdiicts, so that, tie normal state of freshness is speedily regained. In the old days of cycling we used to experience fatigues unknown to the riders of pneumatic-tired safties of today, because, with hard and narrow tires on the old machines, the body felt every shake and jar the inequalities of the road produced. It was invariably my habit to lay in a good si ore of v fruit, and I would frequently eat three or four oranges or

biff peers during the night, and the effect was decidedly good. There are. therefore, 1 am sure, some special properties in fruit which combat the products resultant from ui'.iletic fatigue.