CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 191, 12 August 1911, Page 16

CYCLING.

The announcement by the Dunlop Rubber Company that they intend organising a big relay sporting match—cyclists versus motor cyclists—over a course of 1149 miles from Adelaide to Sydney has caused widespread interest in cycling and motor cycling circles. Amongst motor cycle enthusiasts the opinion is expressed that they will easily win the great contest, despite having to concede 24 hours' handicap to the cyclists, equivalent to a start of about 370 miles, but few are really qualified to give an opinion, inasmuch as they are not acquainted with the whole route, 'which includes hundreds of miles of bush tracks, besides the 80 miles of the dreaded "Coorong" Desert, between Meningie and Kingston on the South Australian side. Over some of this country the cyclists will probably nearly hold their own with the motor cycle division, particularly in sandy stretches, such as have to be negotiated between the South Australian border and Casterton, through which it is impossible to make fast time. Of course, on firstclass country roads forty miles an hour can be attained, but these stretches are few and far between on the overland route from Adelaide to Sydney. One big point the cyclists have in their favour is the absolute reliability of their mounts over the roughest of roads, and their pace is steady, but sure. With the motor cycles there is an element of doubt, especially if the pace is forced over rough tracks. The only recent available guide as to the relative performances of the two types of machines over this route is the performance of the motorists in the reliability motor cycle contest held from Melbourne to Sydney last Christmas, when the prize winners, H. Jenkins (Victoria), E. Tyler (Victoria), and P. J. Murphy (New South Wales), took about 25 hours' actual riding time—split up over four days—to negotiate the 575 miles between the two capitals. In the forthcoming relay match the motor cyclists will have to do this section of the route, including some hours of night work, in 23 hours ft min, to catch the bicycle dispatch bearers if the later repeat their performance In the last relay ride, when the journey from Melbourne to Sydney was accomplished in 34 hours 3d minutes.

England has again carried off the world's amateur track championship, this being the third successive time that the Slue Riband double has been won by the same English riders, W. J. Bailey and L. Meredith. The classic events were this year decided at Rome. The success of the Englishmen is no ordinary triumph, for in the whole history of these classic events has no such continuity of success been registered by the same riders. W. J. Bailey's performance in winning the spring championship three times running is remarkable, but when it is stated that this is the sixth occasion on which Leon Meredith has carried off the long distance paced amateur world's championship, then it will be seen what wonderful achievement Meredith has registered. A six hours' tandem-paced bicycle race was held on Home Hill track (London) last month, and resulted in a great struggle, the winner eventually turning up in an outsider named H. H. Lee, who covered 148 miles 850 yards in the six hours. The favourite, J. H. Bishop, finished second, with a score of 140 miles 1270 yards. The distance recorded in the first hour was 26 miles 1500 yards, at the end of the second hour, 52 miles 720 yards had been covered, the eventual winner at this stage being nearly a mile and a-half behind. At half-time the leader had ridden 75 miles 1600 yards, Lee being over 2J miles to the bad. When four hours had elapsed Bishop was in the van with a score of 99 miles 1250 yards, Lee having improved his position, and now being less than a mile behind. At 100 miles Lee caught Bishop, after a tremendous struggle, and going on, had gained nearly a mile at the end of the fifth hour, when the scoring-board showed 124 miles 120 yards. From this out, Lee gradually gained ground, and eventually won one of the best long-dis-tance races held in England for many years past. From New York comes the curious information that Mr. Mark Anthony, the well-known electrical engineer, claims to have invented a device to control aeroplanes from the ground. He says that he can stop the motor of any aeroplane not more than five miles high. His-offer to sell the device to the American Government for £25,000 was declined, and he has now offered it to the French Government.

A particularly fine record was recently established from Land's End to John! o'Groats (from one end of England toi the other! by a motor cyclist named I. j B. Hart-Davies, who, mounted on a 3J-h.p. motor cycle, covered 787} miles in the wonderful time of 29 hours 12 minutes, some 3 hours 3 minutes better than the previous record. Another good, record has also been established in Eng- j land, where W. J. Clarke rode 2,507 miles in six days, mounted on a 3J-h.p. motor cycle. The longest run was accomplished on the first day, the mileage being 492 mile*.