CYCLING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10363, 24 July 1896, Page 4

CYCLING.

(Notes by " Hub ") One of the biggest events at Homo lately was the 'cyole match between the riders »f the Simpson lever ohaln and the advocates of the plain chain, Mr W, S. Simpson's invention when first brought out waa bo nngeneronsly oritloised thit he issued a challenge wagerlug £1000 to £100 that his chain would beat any plain ohalu, Dr. MacCabe, of the Irish Field, eventually took np the challenge and tti-a test was brought off on the Catiord track (London) on Jnne 6th. The weather wss fino bnt nob favorable to fast times owing to the high wind blowing, However, a tremendoaa crowd gathered to sco the •raolng. The pacemaking for the riders of the Slmpßon ohain was under the dlreotlon of the Gladiator Company, who cent over from France 40 ot their best riders, Including Dacler, Fournler, and Jnles (of Paris), Sam Linton, one of the famoaa Linton family, Warburton, Yeoman, Platt-Belts, the speedy ex-Lon-doner, Nelson Kndham, late of Putney, Oxborrow and Gibbons-Brooke, another ex-Londoner. They rode one quintuplet, five quadruplets, and four triplets, and were dressed In light blue. Proceedings commenced v?ibh a bif» paiade of pace makers, and no prettier eight was ever seen on a 'cycle track than the light blue riders who swept at a slow pace round the big track like a great cloud and gave the English public their licet sight of the famonß " Gladiator " pacera, The pacers I for the plain chain wore dark blue and gold costumes, and comprised many well, known English riders. The events resulted 8b follows :— First Event (5 miles).— J. Michael rode : for the Simpson chain on a '■ Gladiator " machine geared to 104 inches, against C. J, Burden for the plain chairj, mounted on a "Swift" .seared to 88. Contrary to expectation Michael, who was looked upon as invincible and has hardly ever been beaten, wbb passed by Barden in the ' ionrth lap and easily beaten in lOmin 40 2-sth sec. Second Event [one honr'a matoh).— Tom Linton rode for the Simpson chain against J. W. Stocks for the plain chain. Ltnton, who holds the world's record for an hour's ride, assumed the lead at the fifth mile, and at the conclusion of the hour had covered 29 miles 643 yards, being then a mile ahead of bis opponent. The vast) superiority of the Gladiator pacing was clearly seen in this event, and deep were the growllngs of the plain chain partisans at the advantage gained by their opponents. Third and deciding event (50 miles).— Constance Huret, the Frenchman, long distance champion and record bolder, rode for the Slmpeon chain agaioßt A. A. Chase for the plain chain. From the start Hnret took the lead, and, beautifully paced, slowly increased his lead. At 26 miles he got inside the world's record, beating them to the finish. Chase rode mast plncklly to the end, and in the last two miles reduced the Frenchman's lead. Hnret eventually won by 1$ laps in the wonderful time of lhr 42mln 42 3-sbh Bee. The Simpson lever chain thus won by two events to one. I understand the local olnb Intend improving the banking of the 'cycle track on the Kecreatlon Gronnd at an early date. I hope they will start with the corner near the entrance gate, where so many accidents have occurred, as it Is uudonbtedly the worst place.