CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 5

CYCLING.

J. Platt-Betts, the English rider, has not lost any of his old-time speed, for he recently rode two miles in 3min. 2sec. His new motor, which was designed by himself, affords him great protection. Betts speaks of attempting the world's hour record.

Evidently the League of Victorian Wheelmen and the Melbourne Bicycle Club do not see eye to eye in the matter of betting at cycling meetings, says the "Leader," for while the members of the last-named body, constituting the board of enquiry into the disclosure of the Austral heats, professed to be "filled with dismay" at the extent to which betting was openly practised, and were of opinion that it should be sternly repressed, the League has formulated a scheme for encouraging and perpetuating "the evil" by providing for a system of licensing bookmakers. Undoubtedly the League men are wiser in their generation than are the members of the M.8.C., and disregarding the Biblical injunction to the contrary, believe in making "friends of the mammon of unrighteousness," especially when by so doing their coffers are likely to be benefited.

The Melbourne Bicycle Club is preparing its Austral Wheel. Eace programme. The actual dates of the meeting are not yet definitely settled, owing to Melbourne English eleven cricket fixtures on the Melbourne Cricket Ground; but they will probably be the 30th November, 7th and 14th December. The prize list is on similar lines to that issued last year. The total amount to be distributed is £1000, of which the Great Wheel Eace absorbs £500, made up of £400 first, £75 second and £25 third. Three 4 international scratch races figure' on the programme, viz., one mile (the club's blue riband event), for £50; ten miles, for £75; and five miles, for £ 59. The rest of the programme is made up of the M.B.C. Plate; a One Mile and a Half Handicap, worth £85; and the Victoria Mile and Flying Stakes (half a mile), for £40 and £30 respectively. The actual dates of the Austral meeting, together with dates of nominations, entrance, etc., will be available next week. The races will be run under L.Y.W. rules, and handicapped by Mr. E. H. Lenne, the League's handicapper. It is thought in England that Arthur Chase will place the world's hour record to his credit the first time he makes the attempt. When the mail left he had arranged to make an attempt to secure this classic record, and was doing a ten miles spin the day before his attempt was to have been made when his tyre came off, and gave him a nasty spill. He was evidently moving* well at the time, for he covered nine miles in 13min. 30 sec. Chase thinks that* he can cover fortyone milesin the sixty minutes. In connection with the agitation for the words "bicycle and bicycle accessories " to be deleted from the list of amateur prizes, the Wellington centre at its meeting on Wednesday resolved that in its opinion the rule relating to amateur prizes should remain as at present. Owing to the lack of interest which is being displayed in long-distance racing by the French public this season, it has been decided to abandon the great 80l dOr twenty-four hours' race for this year. The longdistance cracks will not like this, for the large sum of £1000 is always given away in prize money for this race. '