CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 13

CYCLING.

CASH RIDERS.

BIG RACE ON OCTOBER 1. SOUND TRAINING ADVICE. (By PEDAL.) Owing to wet weather the 14-mile race down for Saturday was postponed, and will be run off next Saturday. The list of entries contains one new competitor, P. Hickman, and he looks like making a good rider. Jack and Mick Fitzgerald passe 4 through Auckland on their way to America last week. They intend competing in six-day races over there. Jack has been in great form the last two seasons, and besides being the all-round champion of Australia he, together with Ken Ross, of Sydney, won the recent six-day race held on the Sydney Sports Ground last month. This race was worth £400 to the winners. Jack Fitzgerald will be a serious rival to the American cracks and, being only 30 years of age, should have at least another five seasons before being past his prime-

Phil O'Shea, New Zealand's champion all-round cyclist, intends riding in some of the road fixtures this season. It is three seasons since Phil competed on the road, but he is sure to keep the others busy. Brookside will probably be his first start. It will be held on June 11. A good prize list has been drawn up, and. £15 and a silver cup will be awarded the winner, with £5 5/ and a blue ribbon for the fastest time.

Clarrie Bright and G. Holland returned to New Zealand last week after spending several months in Sydney. The former met with fair success, having won one open race and filled several minor places; and Holland rode some good races, winning heats and finishing close up in finals. The experience gained by these two should stand them in good stead next season.

Booming in Australia. Cycling must be booming in Australia, as promoters intend building cov-ered-in board tracks in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The places wil! be fitted with sliding roofs, that can be drawn up in the event of wet weather or lowered to make an open track in hot weather.

Nothing has yet been heard of W. Mackie, who left here some months back

to follow pace in U.S.A- Although he won several motor-paced races church, he would have to improve greatly to do any good in America, which is the home of motor-pace followers.

Jumbo Wells, the veteran New Zealand track rider, uespite his 43 odd years, is still racing with success in Melbourne. Last month in Victoria he won three races, in the afternoon off a back mark. He has had. a great career as a racing cyclist, having ridden in practically every country in the world. He was riding in U.S.A. for seven years, and was placed second in the world's 6print championship some years back. Last season he was competing at English Park, Christchurch, and more than held his own. He is a great draw to cycling fans wherever he appears, and is always popular with riders and the public. S. Hayes, who won a few races at Mangere last season, is now back at Palmerston North.

P. Griffin, who some years back was a most brilliant track rider, and during the Auckland Exhibition, easily won the half-mile New Zealand cycle championship, has started training again, and expects to race 011 the track this coming season.

Local cash riders can look forward to plenty of racing this year. Next week the 14-mile event will be run off and the following Saturday a teams' race of three riders will be held and the following week a race from Mangere to Papakura and back will be held. A valuable prize list will be set aside for this event, and with the good roads now completed some fast times should be put up. Big Race. On Wednesday last a further meeting of the committee formed to run the big Dunlop race was held. It has been definitely decided to stage this event on Saturday, October 1, and it will be run from Hamilton, through Huntly, Mercer, Tuakau, Pukekohe, Papakura, Otahuhu and finish at Onehunga. At least three feeding places will be stationed along the road. As the entry fee is very low considering the big prize money offered, it is expected to have at least 50 entries, and as the promoters intend making it an annual it is up to both competitors and public to help them in every * -^ s Auckland is a great sportin** centre, it is to be hoped they will not be lacking when the time arrives. It is also the intention of the promoters to have a social evening on the night of the race, when prizes won in the race and during the season will be presented.

Training Advice. Riders who are intending to start in the long distance events should start training now and do a long ride each week-end, adding 10 or 15 miles each week till the distance to be raced over is reached. Great care should be taken not to do too much, as this quickly brings on staleness, and when setting out on a ride the cyclist should always think of the last few miles, as these are the ones that tell. "Pedal" has repeatedly noticcd that riders who leave others well behind in a training ride are often the first ones to pull out in a race. Dozens of riders who have had months of hard training very often only last the first dozen miles when in a road race. This is usually caused through improper training. Training should be made as easy as possible. Do not be fussy about your food, but be sensible enough not to eat anything unwholesome. Do not eat unless you are hungry. Drink plenty fresh water. Don't drink more than three glasses of beer a day. You will not be missing much if you "drink less. Do not drink spirits at all, thev are of no use whatever to an athlete. Don't smoke if you ran help it. If you have acquired the habit, be moderate and don't iuhale. Be moderate in all things. Cvcle racing is a good, healthy sport, and if a cyclist looks after himself when young there is no reason why he cannot retain his form till well over fifty. Some of the most prominent riders in England and America to-day are between the a«-es of 40 and 50. George Horder, father of the famous wheelmen Harris and Horace Horder, although 51 years old, is still winning races in Melbourne amongst good men. c

AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON NONSTOP CYCLE RECORD.

Alex Sutherland, the local professional road champion cyclist, will endeavour within the next few weeks to establish a record from Auckland to Wellington, a distance of over 450 miles by road. Sutherland has been riding in cvcle races for the last 16 years and has wins from J-mile to 100 miles, proving he is a most versatile performer. He will be accompanied on his coming long ride by a car containing a timekeeper, judge and reporter, and will be mounted on a bicycle specially constructed bv a wellknown Auckland firm and be fitted with Dunlop tyres. The ride will be a severe test for rider, tyres an d mount. Sutherland has been training hard for his coming endurance test and expects to cover the journey in good time. As this is the first attempt

to be made by a racing cyclist much interest is being attached to it. Tha record for this distance by car is 14 hours, but there is a vast differenoi between sitting in a car and pedalling m bievcle.