THE WHEEL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 25

THE WHEEL.

W.C.C. RUNS AND RACES.

December 15. —Twenty-mile Club Championship Road Race January 5. —Run to Makara January 19.—Handicap Road Race, Lower Hutt.to Telephone Exchange January 26. —Fifty-mile Club Championship Road Race February 2. —Run to Taita March 2. —Run to Seatoun March 16. —Run to Porirua March 30.—Handicap Road Race, Taita to Telephone Exchange

SPOKES. By “ Cyclometer.” The greatest interest was evinced by the public in the bicycle events at the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club’s meeting on Saturday. Muir, Lucy and Hunt were the riders who claimed most attention, and their riding was closely watched. As was generally expected would be the case, Hunt carried off the half-mile, Lucy being second, and Muir third.' Lucy won the two and three-mile, ‘ Chegwidden and Hunt being second and third respectively in both events. Muir had geared his machine to 60in, in anticipation of a windy day, but during the afternoon there was scarcely any wind, as will be seen by the excellent times made in the races. While training Muir has ridden a 68in gear roadster, and the change to a lighter machine with a lower gear put him completely out of it. Lucy’s success was very popular, and the way in which Chegwidden rode second to him greatly pleased the spectators. A full report of the races will be found on page 38.

The Wellington Cycling Club will run their Twenty-mile Championship Race tomorrow afternoon, the course being from the Telephone Exchange to Black bridge and back. The following entries have been received : —D. Brand, J. Brodie, F. B. Muir, T. M. Lucy, H. Smith, A. W. Macandrew and W. Chegwidden. Brand won the Championship last year, and as he rides much better on the road than on the track, he will no doubt be well up at the finish. Muir and L.ucy have not before taken part in. the Club’s road races. Brodie and Smith are both good road.riders. I think the first three places will be filled by Lucy, Brand and Muir or Smith. The race will start at 3 o’clock sharp.

In the November number of the Review of Reviews there is a very interesting account of a bicycle ride through England and Scotland, undertaken by Miss Bacon, Mr W. T. Stead's private secretary. The ride is a notable one, as it is the first occasion on which a lady has ventured to take an extended solitary tour in the unconventional cycling costume. Miss Bacon’s cycle weighed 351 b, and her luggage over 101 b, the machine being geared to 56in. During her month’s holiday she covered 1296 miles, averaging from 60 to VO miles per day, without experiencing any more serious result than a greatly increased appetite. Her journey extended from London to Glasgow via Yarmouth and through the Midland Counties, and back to London by way of the western counties and Wales. Only in one instance did her novel costume cause her any unpleasantness, and that was in a Welsh town, where a number of children ran yelling and shouting after her.

Mr N. Bell, of the firm of Hosie and Bell, jewellers, has promised a gold medal for one of the races at the Wellington Cycling Club’s sports, which take place next February.

Annie Londonderry, the American young lady who is endeavouring to cycle round the world in 16 months, left Boston on the 25th of June last, and arrived at Chicago on September 24. From New York she will take steamer for France, and will then wheel through Italy, Greece and Constantinople. From thence she will go to Bombay and across India, and after riding through Japan she will go to San Francisco and cross the continent to Boston.

I must congratulate Chegwidden on his success at the amateur athletic sports on Saturday last. He has recently purchased a new machine from Oates, of Christchurch, with which he is very pleased, and which carried him into second place in the two and three-mile races. , A. H. Hunt has entered for five events

at the Christchurch Pioneer Bicycle Club sports, which take place on Boxing Day.

The Wellington Caledonian Society have placed two amateur bicycle events on the programme for their meeting on the Basin Reserve on New Year’s Day. These will be handicaps of four and five miles, the prizes in the former race being trophies valued at <£4 4s, £3 3s and <£2 2s, and those in the five-mile being valued at .£5 ss, £3 3s and £1 Is. The races will be run under the rules of the New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance. A Cash Amateur Cycling -and Athletic Club has been started at Hastings, with a membership of 30. J. Brodie, the local, cyclist, intends to compete at the Otago Cycling Club’s sports on New Year’s Day. While a party of cyclists were riding on Sunday last, one of them was unfortunate enough to slip and snap the pedal off. At Silverstream a rope was secured, with with the unlucky wheelman was towed to town by one of his comrades. The spectacle greatly amused the passers-by, who were not always sympathetic in their remarks. The fine weather last Sunday enabled a large number of wheelmen to' get out of town. Several journeyed to Porirua and Pahautanui, and from thence across the hills into the Hutt Valley. This is rather a long ride (58 miles), but the scenery on route is excellent, especially round the Porirua Harbour, and the view of the Hutt Valley well repays the cyclist for having to push his bike up the hills. Another large party rode to the Upper Hutt, and returned to town about 5 o’clock, while others rode as far as Porirua and back. The Timaru Tourists’ Club will hold their sports at Timaru on Monday next, when the Five-mile Championship of Canterbury will be run. On Sunday last C. Neilson had his wheel smashed by coming into collision with a cart on the Petone road. The Christchurch Cycling Club will hold their cycling carnival on Monday next. Last week a horse kicked several spokes out of R. Leckie’s bicycle while he was riding along the road at Hayward’s. Mr Leckie narrowly escaped receiving the blow on his leg. Ladies may become honorary members of the Manawatu Cycling Club. AUSTRAL WHEEL RACE. Melbourne, December 8. The Austral wheel race was won by Middleton, Elliot second, and Wright third. All three are from Victoria. The race was won by six yards. Time, smin 1 3-ssec. In the Ten-mile Championship, Parsons (Victoria) was first, Toms (Adelaide) second) and Sharp (Victoria) third. Time, 26min 15£sec.