CYCLING.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1797, 18 May 1912, Page 1

CYCLING.

AND SOME MOTORING NOTES

I Considerable interest is being taken j by road-racing cyclists throughout tlie ; world in the forthcoming international bicycle road race to he held on Sunday, July 7, in connection with " this year's Olympic games. The event is to be .held oyer a 190-mile course around Lako Malar near Stockholm, Sweden. ' Ttianis from England, ScotI land, Ireland, Canada, U.S.A., and ■ several Continental countries will ! take part in tho event, which will ' ' be the first occasion on which a eye- ! ling road race has been held at this ! classic gathering.

It is a great pity that Ausralasia will not be properly represented by a team of riders in this big road event, for it is doubtful if any country in the world has a finer lot of long distance speedmen that Australia and New Zealand can produce. The trouble is that the Olympic road race is confined to amateur riders, whilst most of the long distance riders m this country have raced for cash, and consequently were ineligible. As it is 'Australia- may possibly be represented by tho crack NTri.W. amateur track rider, E. W. Schneider, who is now in Europe, but even if he rides, the chances of success are very remote with one rider pitted against crack international teams. England alone will send a team of -eight- first-class riders.

What is the road surface of the future to be? This point, extremely interesting. to cyclists and motorists, is now undergoing a course of investigation at the National Physical Laboratory. The test is by elimination, and is being carried out, as far as possible,, jby reproducing the wear and tear of road conditions on varying surfaces, and comparing the results. For this purpose there has heen installed a huge circular trough, in which, in a series of concentric rings, occur specimens of all the principal forms of tarred and allied surfaces. Three inch steel surfaced wheels, exerting a pressure of one ton, will run on each strip, and presumably the one which emerges best from the ordeal will be the one to gain the favour of the English Road Board.

"The Common Failings of Cyclists" is the title- of. an interesting article by the well known English Cycling Journalist, Mr F. T. Bidlake. In it he refers to the failing many presentday cyclists have of neglecting the art of ankling. After pointing out that cyclists who do not pedal properly ignore the fact that the human engine lias a valuable and beautifully controlled 'hinge, missing in all steam engines—namely, th© ankle, he condemns the "wooden leg" action, rightly taking the view that the accomplished "ankler" will easily accomplish journeys which would tire a stronger man who less skilfully applies his sperior force. The position he recommends for the. foot is that it should he placed so that tho centre barrel of the pedal, which carries the load -when walking, should take the •thrust when pedalling, such thrust being most advantageously applied over tlie centre of the pedal.

Road riders' in general and "Warrnambool" contesta/nts in particular will regret to hear of the death of W. E. Knaggs, who won. the. War-rnambool-Melbourne. road race in 1909. Brain fever was ifche cause of death. He was 3"5 years of age, saw service in the South African War, and was a good all round athletic.

The record speed of 78. miles an hour has, according to a cablegram from San Francisco, been established in a long-distance road race. Santa Monica, California by E..Teteloff, in an open race over a distance of 303 miles] which was covered in 3 hours 51 minutes. Previous to this record 61 minutes. Previous to this record tho fastest-sustained pace in a longdistance road contest was an average of 74.6 miles per hour, accomplished in Indianapolis (U.S.A.) last year.