CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

Ranking, like everything else, can bo overdone. A new track at Toronto was so highly banked that the riders in a twenty-five mile race kept slipping, and of eleven starters, only four finished.

Amos' amateur records of lmin 4-ot'h sec for the haH-mile, and 2-min 1 4-sth sec. for the mile, were passed at the last meeting of the Council of the N.Z. League.

How are the mighty fallen! A couple of "good old ordinaries" were, knocked down the other day at an. English auction room for half-a-ciown the- pair. The auctioneer tried hard to get a better bid, but none was forthcoming.

Ivor Lawson, the American crack, easily defeated Joe Megson in tlra mile inter-nation scratch race in Sydney on the 18th inst., the time being 2min. 56 l-ssec.

Of the betting evil in Victorian cycle racing, "Wanderer," in the Melbourne "Sportsman," says the authorities might as well try to stop the sun from shining as to stop the public of the State of Victoria from betting. "The thing is here, and stay it will. The. more sensible way is for the governing body to tackle the subject and actually govern the bookmakers."

The Melbourne Bicycle Club made a profit of £1250 on the past season's working. An unpleasant incident marked the inter-nation mile scratch race at the N.S.W. League's Carnival on the 18th inst., between J. Green (England) and W. Martin (U.S.). In the last lap Martin attempted to cross in front of Green to get the inside running, and touched Green's wheel. The Britisher stopped and protested, while Martin finished alone and was hooted, Green being loudly cheered. The officials decided to re-run the race, and this time Green won by a foot in 2min. 11 3-ssec. The Englishman got a tremendous reception at the close of the race.

A correspondent who is intimate with W. Martin, the American crack, referring to the suggestion that a match should be arranged with Sutherland, writes as follows to the Canterbury "Times":—"What Bill really wants is a-mu teh with anything in New Zealand on a dead level, and if his expenses are allowed he wdll come over here to ride. I think I may safely say, from correspondence I have received, that should a club put up a purse for £50 for an Invitation Scratch Race, paced or unpaced, and invite Martin over and give him reasonable expenses, he would be willing to make the trip. He wishes to visit New Zealand, and if a good meeting could be arranged, with the above Scratch Race or a Paced Tournament and a. good' Wheel Race and his 'ex's' guaranteed, you -would see the 'Plugger' shortly. These are reasonable terms. Or, failing this, give him £50 appearance money for a two days' meet. These are the ideas he wishes me to convey to the New Zealand officials."

The second-grade cycle tyre that is now being manufactured by the Dunlop Tyre Co. is to be known as the "Oceanic Tyre." This name has been selected out of some fifteen thousand submitted in connection with the Duulop competition for a suitable name. The winning name was sent in twice, and strange to say was received and entered up on the same date, so that the twenty pounds prize will be divided. The prize winners are:—C. E. Brown, Grammar School, Campbelltown, N.S.W., and J. R. Warren, Mt. Roskill, Auckland. A cheque for ten pounds has accordingly been forwarded to both of the fortunate com-

petitors. As regards the "Oceanic Tyre." this is being manufactured by, the Dunlop Tyre Co. to meet the existing demand for a good wearing tyr, at a cheap price.

It is likely that 1900 will go down ifl history as the first year in a d«ade during which the world's one mile record was not broken, for Major Taylor, the coloured Yankee crack's one, 22 2-sth sec, made at Chicago in August, 1899, is still the best on the list.

WORLD'S RECORDS

Below is the table of the principal world's records recently issued by the Union Cyclistc Internationale, the governing body of the- world's cycling. It the important records as accepted up to date. A notable feature of the table is that, excepting unpaced figures, the entire slate, with the exception of a couple of kilometre marks, has been erased, and newly written during 1899 and,l9oo. On the other hand, the unpaced records are all several years old. Motor pace has thus stimulated record-breaking attempts, as well as made record-smash, ing constantly possible and unlimited in its scope as a sport. The following l is the table of the principal figures, together with the holder: —

Quarter-mile flying, 20sec—Major Taylor. Quarter-mile standing, 27 2-ssec—J. Green. Half-mile Flying, 41sec—Major Taylor. Half-mile standing, 51 l-ssec—J. Green. cThree-quarter-mile flying, lmin 4 3-6 se-

A. A. Chase. Three-quarter-mile, standing, lmin 15sec—

J. Green. One mile flying, lmin 22 2-ssec—Major

Taylor. One mile standing, lmin SS 3-ssec—A. A.

Chase. Five miles standing, 7mln 11 2-sseo-__,

Elkes. Ten miles standing, 14min 22 2-ssec-M

Bauge. Twenty miles standing, 29mln S3sec—,H,

Elkes. Twenty-five miles standing, 37min S 2-Bsee —H. Elkes. Thirty miles standing, 44min 495e0,--H,

Elkes. Forty miles standing, 59min 43 2-ssec.—W,

Stinson. Fifty miles standing, lhr 14min 55 8-ssee-«

M. Bauge. One hundred miles standing, 2hr 33min 40

4-ssec—M. Bauge. One hour, 40 miles 327yds-W. Stinson.

The Australasian records, with th. exception of the quarter-mile (held by Megson at 21 3-ss), are a long way behind the world's best. The record for the hour is nearly eleven miles behind Stinson's.

AMERICAN CYCLE PATHS,

Extract from "Good Roads Library":

Cycle Paths in St. Paul: In 1896 an organization known as the St. Paul Cycle Path Association was formed, having for its object the construction of side paths. It was decided to solicit from those interested annual contributions or membership fees, the proceeds to be devoted to path construction. This plan has been in operation for two sessions. Membership badges: to be attached to the wheels are issued each year of a different pattern, to show that the rider is willing and does contribute a, fair share to the general welfare, and is not a sponge desirous to gain his pleasure at the expense of others. Contributions are collected by voluntary canvassers, and the evening paper gives most valuable assistance in its columns, publishing much reading matter, and the names of thosecontributtng. In two seasons thijrty miles of tine path have been built, and the public educated to appreciate that a sidepath for cyclists is a necessary and proper thing on a public highway. That this is so is shown by the fact that after the work of the association had shown the utility and desirability of cycle paths, aid was obtained from the city and county governments to an extent of nearly one-half the total expense.

The method of construction haa beeu to prepare a fairly smooth foundation of the proposed width, on which a layer, three to four inches thick, of soft coal cinders is spread and rolled. Then a wearing surface of clay, one inch thick, with one quarter inch of coarse sand or fine gravel to finish, and again thoroughly rolled after being carefully graded, so as to give a smooth wheeling surface, with a slight crowning- cross-section. In case gravel can be obtained, an equally good and cheaper path can be constructed with it instead of cinders.

The cost per mile has been a. follows: For cinder paths, 3ft wide, $150; six feet wide, $200; eight feet wide, $250; ten feet boulevard path, constructed in substantial manner with broken stone crossing-, $400. Average cost of construction, $260 per mile, Those who have enjoyed th. use of the paths appreciate the fact- <tha{; in no other waycould the same amount- of money furnish as good opportunities lor pleasure and business travel to so many people as enjoy these paths. They have been built on the streets leading out of the city to 'the popular resorts. The total amount spent on side paths has been approximately. $8000.

Some English papers on January Wj recalled a remarkable political sen* sation of a hundred years before. I* was the story of how on January 18, 1801, was published to the world the most amazing "peace" proposal eve* made by a European monarch—a challenge from the Czar of Russia to fight his fellow monarchs hand to hand, by way of settling the great Avar which was devastating x Europe, The "Hamburgischer. Correspondent' was the newspaper through which Czar Paul I. made his entertaining suggestion. This is the paragraph which appeared at the head of ths political news on the first page of that sedate organ:—"St. Petersburg, December 30 "(from the 'Court Gazette').—We hear that His Majesty the Emperor, seeing that the European Powers cannot agree, and wishing to end a war which has now been raging eleven years, intends to propose a meeting to which all the other monarchs shall be invited, in order that they may fight a duel with him in closed lists. For this purpose he desires them to bring with them their most enlightened "Ministers and cleverest generals as seconds, umpires, and heralds, and suggests MM, Thugtit, Pitt, Bernstorff, etc. It ia said that His Imperial Majesty intends to have as his seconds Count yon tier Pahlen and M. Kutusofl* One does not know what credit to at* tach to this rumour. It seems, however, to have good foundations, and the suggestion bears the stamp of that peculirity of which the Royal author is usually accused." Th# challenge made a first-class sensation. So did the strangulation of th# Czar, two months later, by order 0Grand Duke Alexander, who suoceedf ed him. . ~-,.