CYCLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9387, 10 April 1896, Page 2

CYCLING NOTES.

[By Vjslox.]

The Victorian Railway Commissioners are growing jealous of cycles as well of road teams, and have consequently withdrawn a privilege which for years had been allowed to cycle agents' travellers in common witli other commercial travellers. Every traveller is allowed 701b of sampte luggage free. Every cycle traveller was allowed to carry a sample bicycle free. The_ weight of a bicycle is never more than 351b or 371b, yet the privilege of free carriage has been withdrawn from them, while the sofegoods man still carries his 701b free.

The Auckland correspondent of this journal wire*:—The first road race in connection with the AuckHnd Cash Cycling Club took place on Saturday afternoon, the course being from the creamery, Papatoitoi, to the fireball, Manukau road. Ten competitors faced the starter and the race produced a very close finish, which resulted as follows:—P. S. Keats, 39min 15sec, 1; Jackson, 43min, 2 : Scales, 45min 15sec, 3. The recent Adelaide racing carnival realised a profit of £220. The takings at the gate on the second day were £420, and but for the cyclonic weather on the first Saturday {says an exchange) the profit would have been considerable. The meeting was sensational in several respects. Parson's two records will make it memorable to the general cycling public, and the number of accidents will cause it to be painfully remembered by not a few riders. Cyclists have now become such a numerous and important body that they may rightly expect hotelkeepers to show some special consideration for their comfort, (says a Sydney paper). Just as stabling accommodation is provided for horses so similar f accommodation should be provided for cycles. ! All that is wanted is a shed with racks in it, so that each machine may have a separate stand of its own. The sooner this becomes I general the better it will be for wheels, wheelmen, and the hotelkeepers general!}'. A cyclist is usually in possession of a good sized appetite, and he does not want to be injuriously affected by worry over his machine while he is eating his meal. When J. Megson, of Sydney, won the Mile Championship of Australasia at Adelaide last year the event was declared no race because the time exceeded by a coupie of seconds the limit fixed. Megson accepted his disappointment with good grace, but firmly refused to re-ride the race. The South Australian Association recently forwarded Megson a cheque for £10, as they evidently considered he had not been fairly treated. . T "Choppy" Warburton, who trained J. Michael, the invincible Welsh wonder, believes in good malt beer and tea taken in moderation when training. He will not allow those under him to smoke, as it affects the bronchial tubes. Michael's latest victory was over Jacquelin, the fastest sprinter in France. The Frenchman was badly beaten in two races out of three, Michael winning each in record time. Warburton has backed Michael to give any man m the world 50 metres (about 55yds) in 10 kilometres (6 miles 375 yd*. ' . *""

The bicycle races for cash amateurs at the Wanganui St. Patrick's Day Sports resulted ;is under :—One Mile Handicap—A. K. Wall, scr, 1 ; J. A. Thomson, 2; C Foster, 3. Six others started. Three Mile Handicap— A. E. Wall, scr, 1 ; H. Allan. 50yds, 2; B. O. Hodgson, 120 yds, 5. Three others started. Won easily. Half-Mile Handicap —J. A. Thomson, '35yds, 1 ; R. Garrett, 120 yds, 2;B. F. Scannell, 70yds, 3. Four others started. Five Miles Handicap—J. A. Thomson, 400vds, 1 ; A. K. Wall, scr, 2 ; B. F. Scannell, 400 yds, 3. Two others started.

J. W. Easson's record from Greymouth to Paroa and back, 31min 38sec, and the same rider's record from Reefton to Greymouth, 3hrs 48min, liavo been passed by the West Coast A. A. and C.C. L. Barclay, of the Otago Cycling Club, created a record from Dunedin to Baiclutha on Thursday last, riding the 53 miles in 2hrs 37min 15-sec.

J. \V". Jones has abandoned his intention of lowering Fabian's Napier to Wellington record.

Commenting on the second day's racing at the League of New South Wales Wheelmen's carnival, a Sydney writer says : —The riding of W. Martin, the sturdy and determinedlooking American professional, was a revelation. Not content with appropriating the finals of the Federal Stakes (halt-mile) and Sydney Cup (one mile), he cooly secured first prize in the International Scratch Race (five miles) after doing a full share of the "donkey work," and then before the spectators had fully realised it, he carried oft the honors in "the Tandem Handicap (three miles) by steering Harris home to victory. Considering that he rode from scratch on each occasion Martin's performance is astounding: that it is a record for Australia goes without saying. It also proves what a good machine, although it be geared into the nineties, with a good rider, is capable of doing, even on a squally afternooiu Martin rides with perfect judgment, he is never beaten till the judges are passed, he pays the greatest attention to his training, and does not abuse his fine physicial powers by an irregular or fast life. These are the secrets of his success. Yet Martin is no sprinter ; he is a " plugger," and an adept at pushing a high gear. After this latest sensational feat the result of the ParsonsMartin series of matches in Melbourne next Saturday seems almost a foregone conclusion.