CYCLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1832, 31 December 1886, Page 24

CYCLING.

The world's bicycle records have again been beaten in America. Mr W. A. Rowe, of Springfield, U.S.A., has ridden 22 miles 150 yards in one hour, and Mr S. G. Whittaker, of Indiana, U.S.A., 300 miles in one day on the road.

Describing the race for the Three-mile Championship, the Lyttelton Times says : — " Painter showed in front immediately after the start, followed by Jenkins, Bean, and Crow in order, Webb being last. After doing three-quarters of the first lap Crow went to the front. Wilmot missed his pedal near the conclusion of the lap, and lost some thirty yards thereby. At the completion of the round Painter was riding second with Bean third. When half over the nexb lap the two of them passed Crow, who shortly afterwards yielded to Dunsford also. Bean immediately after shot ahead of Painter, and Wilmot, riding hard, went into second place on the fourth lap. After another round, however, he gave place to Barlow, and after a severe tussle Painter also overhauled him. On the commencement of the eighth lap he fell heavily, receiving a severe shaking, and had to be removed from the course. By this time it was evident that the Dunedin men, except perhaps Webb, were quite out of it, as they had fallen so hopelessly to the rear. Barlow now gained the lead from Bean, but only maintained, however, till about half round the fiual lap, when Bean, who had stuck tolerably close to him all the while, again assumed command. Painter was now riding third, with Dunsford half-a-dozen yard»behind him. Bean was never afterwards headed, and won as he liked by about 35yds, Painter third, and Dunsford fourth. The winner rode a 55in "Invincible," weighing about 241b; Barlow was on a 57in "Rudge," 221b in weight; Painter's machine was a 54in " Premiei'," weighing about 251b. The first mile was done in 3min 15 4-ssec, the second in 3min 14 4-ssec, and the third in 3min 7 l-ssec, making a total of 9min 37 4-ss'ec for the race.

The same paper states that the final heat for the one-mile race, won by Bean with W. Crow of Dunedin se.cond, was one of the finest ever witnessed at Lancaster Park. Bean, the scratch man, showed his speed by working his way to the front on the third lap. Crow (80yd6), who rode very gamely, was in the third place when Bean took the lead, and made a gallant spurt. He was almost level with the Christchurch man at the home turn, and a splepdid race resulted, Bean winning by a couple of feet. The race was finished in 2min 59 2-ssec from scratch — the first time a mile has been done under three minutes at any cycling meeting in the colony. Last year's time was 3min 5 l-sseo. In the half-mile race, in which Crow raced second again to Bean, Webb, the Dunedin rider, was unfortunate enough to collide with Martin's hind wheel at the back of the course, and fell. Painter, who was just behind him, was unable to stop, and rode right over him, of course coming to grief himself. Webb's bicycle was broken, and he himself badly shaken. The time of the race was lmm 32 3-s«ec. A Consolation race, for which there were five entries, and which was won by J. M. Henry, Dunedin, concluded the proceediigs. At the Invercargill bicycling sports on Monday Mr S. Kerr, of Dunedin, won the championship, the three-mile, the five-mile, and the 10mile races— in fact swept the board of all the good things going at the Southern cyclists' tourney. He won the championship of luvercargill last year.