CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 7

CYCLING.

"Teddy" Reynolds returned from tho South during the week. The Christchurch club tried to prevail upon him to again meet Sutherland in competition, but as I anticipated would be the case, the Auoklander declined, he having decided to permanently retire from tho racing track. Ben. Goodson, the champion amateur rider of Australia, has decided tt join the professional ranks, and have a cut at some of the big things of the season, including the Austral Wheel Race. Fit and well, he will trouble some of the best of the cracks, and, moreover, will do irodifc to the sport, a3 he has dono;before. .. , The principal attraction in tho bicycle events at the A.A.A. and C.C. carnival at the Domain this afternoon will be the mooting of ••. Reynolds (League amateur champion) and A. A. Brook (Alliance amateur champion). Reynolds concedes the alliance man a few yards in the shorter distances, but they are on the mark together in the longer evente.

The majority of the roller-chain English cycle makers are again reverting to block chains, having found that the roller chain, which comprises too many parts, is not nearly as durable and reliable as the block—hence the change. Lawson and Chapman, the American tandem pair now on the other side, are desirous of meeting any Australian pair in a match for a sweenstake. P. O'Brien, the New South Wales league secretary, is trying to fix up negotiations for a match between the visiting team and Walne and Megson. The Yankees proved themselves the fastest tandem combination in the States last season. The practice of grasping the handlebars close up to the stem, and riding in that way, is still much in use, although not so prevalent as in past years. In America it went to such an extreme that the handlebars were cut to within three or four inches of the head, and the tips affixed to the remaining stumps. Commenting upon this an exchange says:" A machine thus mutilated suggests a hornless ox, or an earless mule, and always a brainless rider." The three American riders that arrived by the last 'Frisco mail have nominated for the Austral Wheel Race. These, with Green, Martin, and the Australian cracks, Walne, Gordon, Beauchamp and Co., should prove sufficiently attractive so far as qualitygoes, while the several hundreds of rank and file win be ample for quantity. Now that the Dunlop Welch rim is slightly modified by the flattening of the previously circular edges to an eliptioal section, there is a broader surface for the edges of the cover to take firm hold of the rim. It is this shape which allows the outer cover to be put on and taken off without mechanical assistance, and to remain on, when the inner tube is inflated, with perfect security. Matters are shaping to an amicable settlement between the Victorian League and the Melbourne Bicycle Club on the question as to the control of cycling in "Victoria. The American riders—Coopei and McFarlanewho have recently been racing in Paris, and who contemplated paying the colonies a racing visit, have, according to latest advices, abandoned the trip and intend returning to the States. } T. Dyer, a well-known Queensland cyclist, now resident in Wellington, in the course of a letter to the Sydney Referee, expresses the opinion What D. Plunkett is quite the equal, if not the superior, of Reynolds and Sutherland. In unpaced races plenty of money could be found in Wellington to back Plunkett against Sutherland. It is stated that the front tires of the motor-driven quadricycles are the first to wear. Just the opposite obtains in ordinary cycles, and it was not easy to explain the reason of this difference. It certainly appears reasonable that it should be the back tires of the motors to first show signs of distress, seeing that not only have they to stand a driving strain, but to carry a good deal more weight than the front ones. The wear is caused by the sudden deviations made by the front pair of wheels in their position as steerers. In these movements they are more likely to be cut, while the racking lateral strain must also be detrimental. A simple test of the accuracy of the freewheel clutch is to lift the machine and spin the wheel, holding the cranks stationary if they will not remain so otherwise. Get the wheel spinning at a good pace, and then note the behaviour of the chain ring. If the hub and clutch are truly made the ring will- not show any sign of movement as the hub runs inside it, but if it is poorly made and fitted it will be seen to move up and down and sideways sort of gentle rolling motion. If watched very closely the best clutch made will bo found to move very slightly, but the motion will be so small as to be unnoticeable except under very careful examination indeed.