CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 256, 28 October 1899, Page 12 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

The Spring Carnival of the Auckland Cycling Club was proceeding in the Domain this afternoon. A new 12hr world's road record has recently been established in England by W. 11. Goodwin, the well-known English long distance crack, he succeeding in covering 244 miles in the one round of the clock. Goodwill was paced throughout by motor tricycles. The previous figures were 226* miles, held by E. Gould (England). The "New Zealand Cyclists' TouringClub have planted a grass known as "marram grass" along the side of some of the sandy roads in theWanganui district. It is reported to have proved a great success, as it binds the sand particles together, and makes what otherwise would be an unrideable path a fairly good cycle run. Now that fine weather can be reasonably expected, the attention of cycling clubs will be turned to the 100 miles relay track contest, promoted by the Dunlop Tyre Company. The competition is open to all bona fide clubs, and the team putting up the best time for the century will be presented with ten £5 5/ gold medals. This event was run on the road last year, and captured by the Christehurch Cycling Club's team, the hundred miles on the road being ridden in 4hrs 29min 30sec, the contest beingchanged to a track one this season (owing to the suppression of road racing by the police authorities in many districts). The time limit has been shortened to 4hrs ISmin. which should be well within the reach of any properly organised team of ten riders.

A few private influential Melbourne cyclists are making a big bid to introduce the American mode of obtaining asphalt cycle tracks, viz.. by obtaining private subscriptions from cyclists and members of the trade, and up to date have met with encouraging success. Already the large sum of £211 has been secured during the coursp of a week or two, and there is i-very promise that as soon as cvelists become seized of the greatadvantages derivable from such tracks tins amount will be largely augmented. A similar movement is beingmade in Christchurch, over £300 having been subscribed for the same pur-

pose. The N.S.W. Cyclists' Union, has recognised the N.Z. Cyclists' Alliance as the. sole governing body of amateur cycling in New Zealand.

"it is hinted (writes "Prodigal") that if the X.Z.A.A.A. does not recognise the League of N.Z. Wheelmen as the governingl body of all cycling in Maoriland. the" League may foster "mixed" clubs (that is, clubs partly made up of cyclists and partly of athletes, such as obtains in Cyclist Alliance ranks), cater for athletes as well as wheelmen, and thus try to control athletics as well as cycling across the Tasman Sea. In my wildest dreams 1 never imagined the N.Z. League would play a card which would be right into the hands of the Cyclists' Alliance and the N.Z.A.A.A. If they would only do this thing it would indeed be good news: but. I am afraid it is too good to be true, and is merely put forward as a "feeler." League leaders have far too much tact to make such a tactical bloomer. Perhaps my authority for the above is \ mining his head against, the doings of the newly-formed Canterbury Athletic and Cycling Cub and its offspring, the Commercial A. and C.C. A short time back we mentioned a rumour that the crack coloured cyclist of America. "Major" Taylor, had ridden a mile in the astounding time of one minute twenty two two-fifths seconds, but refused to give credence to the report until further particulars came through. These are now to hand, and all doubts as to the bona fides of the ride are i-emoved. Taylor's ride was accomplished on a chainless machine behind a steam-driven pacing tandem without wind shields, so that the negro's ride is a phenomenal performance. The intermediate times were: —Quarter mile in twenty two-fifths seconds; Half-mile thirtynine two-fifths seconds; and Threequarters, fifty-nine three-fifths seconds. These times have been accepted and passed by the League of American Wheelmen. "Major" Taylor is recognised as one of the fastest sprinters in the world, and in August last beat allcomers in the "One Mile Professional World's Championship, run at Montreal. He has been trying to obtain the mile record for the past, month or so, and was confident that when his steam motor was in good working order, he would establish new figures, but it was hardly expected that he ■would cut no less than five three-fifths seconds off McUuffee's recent record of, one minute twenty-eis-ht seconds.

The Dunlop Company send us a list of the principal world's records to date, and which are as follows: — 3-mile. f.s.'2l 1-5, J. Platt-Betts, holder. England; J-mile, s.s., 27 2-5, J. Green, England; J-mile, s.s.. 51 1-5. J. Green, England; 3-mile, s.s., 1.15, J. Green. England; 1-mile, s.s., 1.40 2-5, J. Green, England; 1-mile. iJ., 1.22 2-5, Major Taylor, America; 50-mile lh. 27m. 16 ?>-55.,E. Bouhours, England; 1-hour, 36 miles, 1144 yards, E. Taylor, France: 0 hours, 177 miles, 761 yards, A. E. Walters, France; 12 hours, 341 miles, 629 yards, A. E. Walters, France: 24 hours, 634 miles, 774 yards, A. E. Walters, France. (f.s. signifies "flying start;" s.s. "standing start."