CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

Entries for the Auckland Cycling Club's carnival close to-night at the club's rooms. Many of the English manufacturers are building machines fitted ■ W ith longer cranks this season, seven, inch cranks being those ia great demand. It would seem from this that the English public are beginning to ask for a longer crank, although they have not gone quite so far asadvocaf. Ed by that very practical cycle manu« facturer, Mr C. A. Palmer, namely, eight-inch cranks. There are many notable converts at home to long cranks and high gears amongst old riders whose opinions are exceedingly valuable and can be relied upon. Mr F. P. Low, one of the greatest Enp. lish authorities on cycling matters, speaks highly in favour of long cranks and high gears. Another great advocate cf the long cranks and high g-ear is Mr Clements, the. practical engineer of the Birmingham Small Arms Company.

The Auckland Cycle Roads Leagug has been reluctantly obliged to accept the resignation of Mr A., A. Davies, who, in consequence of the increased amount of work, finds ft impossible to devote enough time to it. He was one of the prime movers in the movement, and has done ex. cellent service for the League ever since it started. A* he expressed a wish to still c( inue in harness ill any way in which he could be of use he was unanimously elected a member of the Council. Mr Em. Boe. kaert, another of the League's warm, est supporters, and one to whom not a little of its success is also due, was elected secretary in Mr Davies' place. The League continues its work with unabated ardour, and in view of the favourable expressions of opinion from all people who are likely to push the matter on, it has not much fear of the ultimate result.

From October 27 to May 11 Bill Martin won £1364 in prize money.

Beconnais, the famous French motorist, is credited with riding on a motor tricycle a mile in 1.7 2-5 from a standing start, in competition.

Perhaps the most important of the Easter racing was the first appearance in Europe of Major Taylor, the American coloured crack, who was a competitor in two races at the Friedenau path, Berlin. A very good gate was secureS, and althoiigh the negro did not celebrate his debut by a win, he put in some very good riding, and, by his sportsmanlike conduct, at once became very popular, says the "Sportsman," London. We may Itate that Taylor has been hampered a good deal in his preparation owing to the unfavourable weather/ of late, he being accustomed to a much warmer climate, while Arend and Ellegaard, who beat the negro, have been in "strict training on the Friedenau path for the past six weeks.

Although R. H. Walne did not win a race this season in Australia, he estimates his prize-money for the fiva years he has been riding at £2500.