CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 7

CYCLING.

The bicycle races at last Saturday's amateur sports attracted more than usual attention, the meeting being the first at which members of the Auckland Cvcling Club have been able to compete since the league and alliance amalgamated. W. Reynolds, New Zealand League champion, and H. H. Brook, the alliance crack, were among the competitors, the first-named, who is very quick to get going, conceding Brooks, on scratch, a few yards in the races up to a. mile, after which the pair figured on the scratch mark together. Both rosin creditably in the heats of the shorter events, but so warm was the pace in the finals that tiiev were never allowed tc get within striking distance of tl|9 front markers. Nevertholp** *':■><<, ■>''- ing was of an order that went to show that when the handicaps are reduced a bit, we may look forward to some interesting battles be!wren tin's pair. But though the handicaps conceded proved beyond the cracks, it must be said that better adjustments all round could hardly have been made, as the handicap men fought out several desperate finishes, in which half-a-dozen wire often in it right up to the last, and inches only separated the placed men when th- decision of the judges was riven. The foremost place must be given to V,. 11. Cucksey, who won the One-mile Handicap, and finished second in the half and three-mile events, thus carrying oft the citib'g hr.ndsomo Victor Ludorujn cup, which this season goes to the cycling members. Cucksey well deserved his success, as he rode consistently well in all races in which he figured, and though not one to be set down as brilliant, it must be said that he is one of the, soundest performers wo have had in the club for a season or two.

After i.-c Victor winner, no cyclist claimed more attention than E. A. Thomas, winner of the Half-mile Handicap. In each of hir races he was early among those rofsnonsible for the pace mp.kinpr, and had decidedly hard hu'c in the Five Miles, where, after carrying his field over the host part of three miles, a rider struck his wheel, and upset him half-wny up the straight in the home run. when he had just, a bit the beat of it, and a chance of winning. More plucky and determined riding than that shown on Saturday by Thomas could no: he wished, while the way lie got down to his work, boded well for his future Mirer".

Others to show good form were O. TV; Spragg, winner of the Five Miles. A. Green, Two-mil" and Novice winner, W. Hendry, F. C. Wade, and A. Cooper, the three lastnamed -in;.' place-getters. The last-named was making his first appearance with the club, and I at once singled him out as a rider of considerable promise. A most interesting item was the exhibition of fahev and trick-rid by W. HenPing. a youngei brother of Oeo. I-fenning, an old competitive member of the A.A. and CO., and now one of the Management Committee. The exhibition was remarkably cood, and Meaning succeeded in riding the machine in so many remarkable positions that the onlookers would not have been surprised had he announced his intention to conclude by leaving everything else behind, and riding back to the dressing tents on one of the spokes. Before concluding I would like to draw the attention of the committee to the fact that some few of the ..ders had so little command over their bievcles that their presence on the tvnek washithh- da.n-rerous to their fellow competitors; in fact, I cannot recall an instance when there was more "wobbling" at the club's sports. Once or twice I also thought I detected foul riding, and trust that these matters will not be overlooked.

Interviewed in Dunedin recently, £iora:e Sutherland, one of the riders: sent to the world s championships as « representative of the New Zealand League of Wheelmen, denied n statement made nv a recently-returned evrdiV („ the effect that events were " cut up nt Paris, and that professional riding was on the downgrade at Home and on the Continent

Many attempts have been made to find » fitting substitute for indiarubber, but <o far all admixtures have lacked the elasticity and durability of the genuine article. The handieapper for the Austral Wheel meeting, to bo held under the auspices of the Melbourne Bicycle Club, evidently considers Bon. Goodson, ex-amateur champion of Australia, a better man than Chalmers, of New Zealand, as in a two-mile handicap he calls upon the Sydney rider to give the Now Zealnndor 20yds start, • Goodson, who shared the scratch mark with Mutton, will, of course, not be able to compete, as he was injured at a sports meeting last Saturday. The fabric is largely responsible for the spoed and " life" in a pneumatic tiro. Welch's patent fabric, which 13 used in the Dunlop tiro, is manufactured from strands '.f tho finest-quality cotton, a material of groat strength and pliability; hence its marvellous resilience and spoed. The multiplicity of the patterns of cycle saddles makes it very difficult for tho ordinary rider to choose as to which is the best for him. If he bo a rider who cycles for pleasure and health, ho should have a saddle with a fair amount of spring, and, of course, svfficiently heavy in proportion to his weight. Cycle agents, however, when turning out freewheel machines, should bear in mind the necessity of fitting them with a comfortable saddle. The fact that the legs are stationary when coasting makes the rider feel concussions and shocks to a greater degreo than with a fixed wheel. A spring saddle is almost a necessity. The majority of the American motor concerns are now striving to manufacture a cheap and reliable motor bicycle. There is no doubt a tremendous trade awaiting the first firm who can place such a motor bicycle on the market, as a machine of this description will be rideable on any class of roads, just the same as an ordinary cycle, and would natm--rally prove moro serviceable on country r< ads then cither three or four-wheeled vehicles. Cycle polo has not yet caught on very much in England, although well boomed, but a variation of the game, cycle tennis, has been introduced nt many provincial gymkhanas. Polo is too destructive; it breaks up delicate constitutions and weak machines; tennis 13 very different. It is played by either two or four players, but the Courts aro not markod into subdivisions. The ball is served from the wheel, and each player must return it while in the saddle. Should a dismount bo necessary when returning a sharp half-volley, it counts against the unskilful one.