Cycling,

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 4 October 1902, Page 14 (Supplement)

Cycling,

[By DaconetJ The old-established Ariel Bicycle Club of Ashburton has been compelled to disband. The club was formed nearly ten years ago by cash cycling enthusiasts, a few weeks after the cash movement was inaugurated in Ohristchurch, and for many years it held one of the most important cycle gathering in Canterbury. In course of time constant defections from the original energetic managing, committee weakened the club, and when the Ashburton Amateur Club joined the League Ashburton could not support two League clubs. Mr. J. E. Green, a League of Wheelmen delegate, is of opinion that if the whole facts connected with the Manawatu case are gone into it will be found that the New Zealand League Council is to blame for the whole of the trouble, on account of the delay which took place in dealing with the appointments of Clarkson and Woodroffe for reinstatement. At the next meeting of the New Zealand League Council Mr. J. E. Green will move that any competitor who, in the opinion of the referee, is guilty of deliberately riding close behind another rider in any handicap race for jLhe purpose of taking pace shall be disqualified for that particular race. In scratch races o;' matches a similar penalty is to be imposed for pace-taking, unless the permission of the Council has first been obtained for the suspension of the rule. . Floyd M'Farland, one of the American cracks, will, it is said, leave for Australia ' next month. . He is described as 25 years of age and 6ft 4in in height. His racing has been over all distances. E. Connell, of Timaru, is training in Melbourne. At Bendigo he shaped well. His start in the mile was 70 yards. "Major" Taylor got beaten on making his reappearance in the States. Kramer and Lawson both finished before him in the final. Sydney Jenkins, of Cardiff, is the only British rider who scored a v;in against the negro, flier, "Major" Toylor, during the latter's racing season in Europe (says an English exchange). This is the Jenkins who talked of coming to Australia and matching himself against the best. The sprint aad middle distance championships of France were decided recently on the Pare dcs Princes track, Paris. Neither of the holders — Jue and Bourotte respectively — put in an appearance. Jacquelin accounted for the sprint championship, and Bouhours for the hundred kilometres race, this making the latter's foui't'h win. "I want to win that big Australian handicap," "Bill" was wont to say. It was part of his life, this thought of some day, succeeding to an honour in the faroff .island to which many English cycleracers had travelled many times, to be disappointed. One day a ship sailed, and "Bill" with it. That was seven years ago last winter. He was on his way to Australia. He did not win the Austral race. He came back to America, bitterly disappointed. They could not stump "Plugger Bill." He was game. He went back the next year, and again was beaten. "I'll have it yet," said ''Plugger Bill." "Plugger Bill" persevered. Six years he entered for the great race, the one athletic event in all Australia that brings out the greatest cycle-racers in the country. For six years he was beaten. La«t winter he entered for the seventh time. The odds against him were 7 to 1. He had saved 5000dol by careful financing. He wagered every cent he had in the world on' himself and drew down 40,000 dol when he won it. To-day, at 42 years of age, he is riding hard races in and about New York. — New York exchange. That light exercises a strong disintegrating effect upon the rubber of tires is a fact which deserves more attention on the part of bicyclists than it actually gets. The better the rubber the longer it resists, but at the best the combination of rubber and sulphur which results from the process of vulcanisation, is an unstable compound. While the tires are on the road nothing can be done for their protection, but at home it is just as easy to select a dark place for the storage of bicycles os one to which bright light | has access. Hence} even if the storageplace be above suspicion of damp, there is virtue in the tarpaulin placed over the bicycle, if only for this reason. If, again, it is desired to st,Bre a machine for a long period, it is ■well worth while to wrap strips of canvas over the tires in the s-ame way as the makers do in sending out new bicycles. The opening tun of the Wellington Cycling Club will take place on Saturday, 25th October. Frank Beauchainp", who is with Martin in America, has written another interesting letter to the Dunlop Company. At the time of writing, sth. August, they were at Ottawa, Canada. The following is extracted: — "Martin and I have raced here three nights, and I was lucky enough to open the ball by winning the biggest handicap of the season (£4O), distance two miles.| I also ran thh'd in the* three miles handicap, teaming with first and second men, which is allowed here. I also took Fenn in a scratch race, which he won, so altogether I had a good meeting. Martin ran third in scratch race in record time, after doing a, lot of pacing. Martin had a fall training yesterday, but was not Feverely injured. He was working out bshind 'Major' Taylor, who did not know that 'Bili' was on his wheel, the result being that Taylor ran out wide, Martin crashing into the fence. I got a great reception when I won on Friday on account of being an Australian, and under the same 'flag as Canada. Some of the same feeling of jealousy exnte between Canadians and "United States people^ as does with Victoria and New South Wales. .. Martin and I travelled close upon 2VW miles last week, following the circuit. I ran a second in a half-mile- in 55sec. Martin afco scored several places . . The mile handicaps heie are Ujsuahy run in lmin 54s»cc, ar.d then llio «.tjU-1i men often win. . . •• 'Major laylov i* Jie fastest rider in America. The iideis here don't give him much cuance, blocking him wherever possible . • • -lue Ame'-'can champions.hip is run on different lires to the straight-out Australian style. A 'champion race is held at every meeting ou the circuit, generally one-third of a mile, two taken in heats, same semi-final, four qualifying for final, which is a big dr:iw every meet. The winner, second, third, and fourth men Fcore so many points for each final event, the rider scoring the highest aggregate number of points during the season winning the iitle champion of America. This' atrangemant is very fair, ar.d popular

with the cracks, the best man generally coming oiu> on top. This style of deciding championship honours* should be given a trial in Australia ; it i-; not so misleading to the public as the series of championships (over separate distances) held in the Commonwealth. Over twenty good riders follow circuit. No professionals in country towns ; all amateurs. Paced riders and sprinters follow different circuit ; the former run matches, the programme being filled up with amateur events. Many of the amateurs make more money than the professionals. They have some fine handicap riders heie, W. Fenn being one of the best. He has ridden five miles from scratch in a, handicap race — giving away big starts, winning in lOmin 15sec, equal to 2min 3sec a mile. Again, I saw him win ten miles handicap (before we left New York) in 21min 53 l-ssec. Martin received 160 yards start and ran a fine race, running fourth Fenn's average pace was a little over 2min llsec a mile for the ten miles. . . .Martin and I leave to-night for Buffalo." Several riders rode single tubss through the Warrnambool - Melbourne road race without mishap.