CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

CYCLING.

It is to be hoped that the Management Committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will endeavour to arrange with the League of New Zealand Wheelmen for the holding of the amateur bicycle championships in conjunction -with the club's March carnival. If this were done the chances are that both Amos and Rodgers (winner of the one-mile championship of Australasia) would be sent up to represent the Canterbury district, and it would be extremely interesting to see how the Southern pair compare with W. Reynolds and others of our local riders. The Auckland Cycling Club have chartered the p.s. Wakatere for January 29,' and intend holding a picinic and sports . mooting at Cowes Bay, Waihcke. Among trie events will be a trick riding contest and pursuit race, also a steeplechase race, open to all amateur runners. Given fine weather, this popular picnic resort should be well patronised on Anniversary Day. Entries for all events close with the secretary on the ground. President Roosevelt, of the United States of America, is an enthusiastic cyclist, and is usually seen out awheel every morning. He also attends most of the big cycle race meetings. It is reported from America that W. B. Vaughan, who, with Ivor Lawson and J. M. Chapman, raced in Australia last season, died of typhoid fever. The world's championships for 1902 are to be held on tho Porto Salaria Velodrome, Rome, on June 29, July 3 and 6. W. Martin's age is usually so mysteriously referred to by the otherwise candid William that few venture to make a guess at it. "Demon," in the Otago Witness, sets it down at 45.

The league cash championships for 1902 are to bo field at Inrercargill on March 12. Touching on the five-mile amateur championship erent, run under the auspices of the New South Wales Cyclists' Union recently, a writer in the Sydney Referee says: — "As is generally the case, there are differences of opinion about the five-mile championship. One ex-racing man, and good judge is confident that, bar the fall, Rattray would have won; another thinks Rodger, the New Zealander, would have scored the double had he used a little more judgment and had a bit more luck."

An Australian writer says that amateur racing in New South Wales is on the upgrade. A. Richardson, tho overland cyclist, who established a wonderful ride around Australia in 1899, riding some 11,500 miles in less than eight months, and who subsequently saw service in South Africa as sergeant-major in the West Australian Bushmen's Contingent, has returned to South Australia. He was a despatch-bearer to Lord Methuen, his Australian bush experience serving him in good stead, and his services were specially recognised by a public presentation of his service medal by His Majesty King Edward VII. at Marlborough House last August. " Charlie" Jones' invention, the stage cycle track, will shortly be exploited in the colonies by one of the New ©slander's numerous copyists. According to Sporting Life of November 25, the famous racing and trick cyclist, Alf. Lotto, is on the high seas bound for Australia in the. It. M.s. Oroya (Orient line). He lias left England to fulfil an engagement made with the celebrated colonial manager and agent, Mr. Musgrove, and lias taken with him the pursuit racing track, which caused a great sensation in London and the provinces. Lotto's company includes E. J. Callaghan, tandem amateur champion, September 21, 1893, who won the Surrey Bicycle Club's challenge cup three years in succession, and many valuable trophies when pitted against the best riders in England ; and Sid and Albert Mor ell. They open at tho Princess' Theatre, Sydney. Many cyclists are awaiting 1902 in the hope of a reliable motor bicyolo being placed on the market at a cheap iignrc. A well-known ; English cycling, writer says that the price of motor bicycles for next season will remain about the same as that obtaining last year. It is well to realise this, in view of the airy statements made in some quarters that we may expect to see a huge reduction before very long. These sensational announcements are" often given on mere hearsay, and when repeated go a good way towards repeating the £5 bicycle fallacy so persistently pushed forward a little while ago. The statement, in fact, is calculated to do considerable harm, both to the trade and to the public. - While heartily; desiring that the price of motor bicycles should be as low as possible, we do not want to see the shoddy article, dangerous to life and limb, placed on tho market. At present the first cost of motor and fittings, with tho special frame and motor tiros, is too high in price to allow tho £2,5, motor bicycle to bo thought of.