THE WHEEL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 24

THE WHEEL.

W.C.C. RACE. March 30. —Handicap Road Race, Taita to Telephone Exchange'

SPOKES.

By " Cyclometer." The Wellington Cycling Club will hold a handicap road race from the Taita to the Telephone Exchange to-morrow afternoon. The first prize is a trophy presented by Mr John Danks, the second prize being a trophy given by the Club. Nine entries have been received for the race. There should be a good finish for first place between Smith, Lucy, Herbert and Fabian, and I anticipate these will finish in the order named. The race will start from Guildford's Hotel, Taita, punctually at 3.30 p.m., and those who desire to witness the finish of. the race should be at the Exchange by 4 o'clock. Mr H. Coombs will act as starter, Mr W. F. Christie will judge the race, and D. Brand will act as timekeeper. The following are the handi-

Hy. Jessup ... :.. 35 90 The following handicaps have been declared for the Two, Three and Five-mile Races at the Druids' sports on Easter

The three-mile race is for roadsters only, and Lucy, Muir and Smith should fill the first places. The two-mile should be a "moral" for Hunt, with Herbert and Nicol close up. I fancy Muir for the fivemile, and Smith and Lucy for the second and third places. Hunt has been very favourably treated by the handicappers. I think he has won more races this season than any other local cyclist, and yet in each event he is given a start from Smith, who will only make his second appearance on the track on Easter Monday. Smith may be a better man than Hunt, but he has not yet proved it, and therefore he should not be placed behind Hunt. The other handicaps appear to be evenly adjusted.

Messrs J. D. Avery and H. Jessup, who left Wellington on a bicycle tour through the Taupo district on Saturday last, arrived at Tarawera on Tuesday evening. They left for Taupo the following morning. . "Tuck" Herbert left for Masterton on his bicycle on Wednesday morning. Cyclists have ridden round the world on their machines, and it has been considered a great achievement; but what must be said of Messrs H. T. Throner and G-. Kogel, who have set themselves the task of putting a girdle round the earth on Shanks' Ponies. These two young men have backed themselves for six thousand dollars against ten thousand dollars to walk round the world within two years, without money, arms (within America), watch, or compass. The distance to bo travelled is about 12,700 miles, of which they have covered 4000 miles. Starting from San Francisco, they have crossed the continent of America, and from London they go through Portugal, Spain, Southern France, G-ermany, Austria, Southern Russia, Asia Minor, and, taking the steamer from Vladivostock to Yokohama, they take ship for San Francisco. While crossing the American continent they have averaged 30 miles a day. Throner is 24 years of age, and Kogel is 29, and while travelling they are total abstainers, their only drink being ' water, coffee, and tea.

In the Sydney Wheel Race, J. Megson, L. A. Simpson (Noav South Wales), E. Davis (Sonth Australia), A. A. Middleton and J. W, Parsons (Victoria) start from scratch, while J. Boyd and H. A. Soanes (New Zealand) receive a start of 45yds. For the League Cup, Megson, R. W. Lewis, J. Mclnnes, Simpson (N.S.W.), Davis and Parsons are on the scratch line, Middleton receiving a start of 10yds, and Boyd and Soanes 15yds. Megson, Simpson, Parsons, Davis and Middleton start together from scratch in the mile and a half First-class Handicap, while Boyd and Soanes receive 35yds. Miss Annie Londonderry, the American young lady who is endeavouring to cycle round the worid in 16 months without money, and who started from Boston on the 25th of June last year, has left Paris en route for Melun, Dijon and Marseilles. During her stay in the French capital she earned 490 francs by the sale of pins, &c, which sum she has forwarded to New York as part of the 25,000 francs to be earned on her voyage.

The cyclists of Oamaru have decided to provide themselves with a racing track, and arrangements are being made to lay one down immediately.

A Californian cycling club is investing in an electrical tricycle for pacing purposes at race meetings. It is said that it can be geared " up to a inile a minute."

Lady Wolverton, who is an enthusiastic cyclist, received a safety bicycle among her wedding presents.

An amateur cycling club has been formed at Oamaru, with Mr D. Weir as captain, Mr S. Macdonald as deputy-captain, and Mr C. Ferens as secretary and treasurer.

D. Charleston, of the Melbourne Bicycle Club, has ridden from Warnambool to Melbourne in 12hr 48min.

Miss Mitchell, of Gore, who has been on a cycling tour as far as Masterton, has returned home, and was welcomed by a guard of honour of the local cyclists.

At the Victoria Bicycle Club's meeting on the Brunswick track recently, a dog attempted to cross the track during the progress of a race. The dog brought down the foremost rider, and those following were also overthrown. A boy who was amongst the spectators was struck on the head by the handle of one of the bicycles, from which he sustained concussion of the brain. All the riders were, more or less cut about and bruised. It would be well if the authorities at cycling meetings were to see that no dogs are admitted to the ground.

An English clergyman has hit upon a good idea for home training on the bicycle. The rear wheel of the bicycle is fixed a few inches off the ground, and six pieces of cardboard are * attached to the driving wheel. The cardboard plates offer a resistance to the air when the wheel is revolving, and it is necessary to keep a continual pressure on the pedals. The council of the Victorian League of Wheelmen has suspended two of its members from the racing track for alleged racing under assumed names at a country town. i ■'-'■.■; •.';"•' '. • • • * -*■ A writer on cycling explains that sporty youths who ride with low handles are threatened with other ills than bowbackosis and ohickenbieastitis; they may expect paralysis into the bargain. It would be very foolish for the fine young fellows to heed the croaking of this raven. There is really no danger of paralysis; he is misinformed. (Aside) Jambang the fellow '•—why can't he mind his business ? Paralysis is just what we want them to have.—Abrose Bierce. • * * * The Christchurch Star says "that it has been roughly estimated that within a radius of ten miles from Cathedral square there are about 1500 cycles in constant use.

Puck, the chirpy New York weekly, adds another to the blessings of the bike, thusly— An Extra Advantage. The bloomer girls who ride the bike Can now indulge in smoking too, Since they at last a match can strike The same way that their brothers do.

caps:— Name. Weight of Machine. Hdcp. Sec. L. T. Herbert 35 0 T. M. Lucy ... H. G.Smith... 32 30 0 20 F. Fabian ... 30 20 A. H. Hunt ... ... 30 40 A. Nicol 30 50 G-. Jefferys ... F. A. Gardner 30 34 60 60

Monday:— Two Three Five Name. Miles. Miles. Miles. Yds. Yds. Yds. F. B. Muir ... 0 0 0 L. T. Herbert 0 — 0 T. M. Lucy ... 0 50 0 H. G. Smith... ... 80 70 200 A. H. Hunt ... ... 120 90 300 J. D. Avery... ... — 150 — G. Jefferys ... — 160 — A. Nicol ... 320 200 400 M.E.Herbert — 150 —