GREAT CYCLING FEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

GREAT CYCLING FEAT

RECORD IN ENDURANCE 102 MILES A DAY FOR YEAR Amid prolonged cheers and the continuous ringing of 3000 cycle bells, Mr. A. A. Humbles, a 22-year-old member of the Ingleside Cycling Club, rode from Buckingham Palace to Marble Arch on December 11 on the last lap of his recordbreaking endurance cycle tour of Great Britain. Mr. Humbles was acclaimed as the new holder of the world's endurance cycling championship, since he had beaten by a mile the record of 34,366 miles established by Marcel Planes, of France, in 1911. Mr. Humbles, riding a Hercules Empire Club racer,x has ridden an average distance of 102 miles a day since the beginning of the year, and has visited every county in Great Britain. Sir Malcolm Campbell, who presented the young world champion with a silver trophy and a large laurel wreath, Baid: " Your great effort in creating this new record for Britain reflects great credit on the grit and determination of a young man, who, finding himself unemployed, thought*.' out this means of doing, good, both for himself and for the British cycling industry." Miss Yvonne May Bowen, the eight-year-old niece of the champion, presented her uncle with a small laurel wreath. Mr. Humbles, after the ceremony at Marble Arch, was escorted by a large crowd of cyclists to Dorchester House, Park Lane, where a reception was held in his honour. Among those who greeted him was Marcel Planes. I have travelled all over England," said Mr, Humbles, " and of all the counties, I prefer Yorkshire. Weather conditions do not interfere with my travelling. . I made up my mind that I would do 36,367 miles before January 1, 1933. And I am going to fulfil my object." Mr. Humbles, who became a cyclist to improve his health, has still to ric'le some 2000 miles before his objective is reached. When the reception at Dorches-» ter House ended he set out to complete his 36,367 record miles for the year i 932. He is determined to ride regularly 100 miles a day, until December 31, and intends cycling even on Christmas Day.