CYCLING. NOTES BY DIMON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2493, 25 December 1901, Page 55

CYCLING. NOTES BY DIMON.

The editor's mandate is that thi» week's cycling notes are to be brief — as brief as 'possible — and I bow my head in submission. First let me take this opportunity of wishing all cyclists a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and expressing a hope that typical cycling weather might prevail during the holidays, and that cyclists on tour may have all the enjoyments they desire during their wanderings in the country. During; last week I spent a few days in the goldfields district, and have to report the roads -in good order. From all parts favourable reports at© given regarding the state of the roads, and 1 have no hesitation in strongly recommending cyclists to packi up, and, taking advantage of their holidays, spend their time in touring. It seems evident tho worst weather last week was in. and around Dunedin, and, 'provided that riders take the precaution of taking their capes and mudguards with them, there- can. be- little doubt that the holidays will be best spent on the wheel. I recently watched two cyclists doing some training on a goldfields cycling track, and marked the contrast between the training conditions" of the town and countrycyclists. The country rider has no pavilion to change hh clothes in, no shower bath to use after training, and in most cases no trainer to do the necessary rubbing down night after night ; but, worst of all, his track 13 uneven, and unsuited tc fast times or pleasant riding. In contrast to this the town rider has all the advantages that the eountiy rider lacks, and if at times he thinks he is training under hardships, a, spin on a country tiaek would soon dispel the illusion and make him think of how well off he is. Although I appreciate the work the town rider has to put in to fit himself for the greater competition in the town, my sympathies go out to the country rider who grafts away uncomplainingly under disadvantages, and counts himself happy in winning a small prize at a country meeting. The danger arising from cycling behind, vehicles was exemplified in ' Princes street the other day. A cyclist was riding close behind an express, the road being too crowded at the moment to enable him to get to either eide, when the express suddenly etopped, with the result that the cyclist ran into it before he could pull up. He escaped with nothing worse than a "barking" of one of his hands, but obviously if he had been travelling faster, the result might have been serious. ' A cyclist, Charier Edward Heatley, was thrown from his bicycle while descending the Beaumont Hill, near Lawrence, on Thursday evening last. He was conveyed to, I/a wren cc Hospital, where he succumbed to "his injuries. The coroner has deemed an inqueaf tinneoessary, hi doctor having given a, certificate of the cause if death, [t is stated that the deceased lost control of Ins machine. - — Parsons, who was fancied foi Lhe Austral, had a fall it? a. preliminary practice round before his heat. He was having a trial spin with Martin when he fell, cutting his legs badly, anc l ricking the arm he broke at St. Kilda. His machine was broken up, and he rode unsuccessfully in his heat on a borrowed machine. — The second day's aoing of the Austral race meeting held at Melbourne on 24th ult., drew 15,000 people. The first of a proposed series of novice races under the auspices of the Dunedin Cycling Club for the encouragement of young riders took place on Wednesday at 7?30, on the Caledonian ground, before a large number of spectators. All the 1+ entered faced the starter, Mr R. Crow, and an interesting race was the result. The limit man went off at a good pace, but th« backmarkers, by unselfish pacing, managed to pick them up just before entering the lasb lap. When the bell went Roxburgh rushed to the front, followed by Craig and Gordon, and after a- ding-dong go Craig won by two lengths from Roxburgh, with Gordon si good third. Time, smin 5 2-ssec. Several of the new riders displayed fair pace, and .should be heard of later on— notably, Munro. There were several punctures, etc., but the result would not have been affected., winner (Craig) rode with great judgment, and is a very determined rider. Roxburgh lost whatever chance he had by a premature sprint three laps froni home; while Gordon, through pacing Oraier through, could not ■tay out the sprint. Th« club is to be eon» gratulated on their enterprise in running

these races, as they will undoubtedly bring c forward the young riders of Dunedin. A. C. Middleton, who won the fifth y heat of the Austral, has for somi» months j crawled around on a stick, aiid it is quite c two years since- he did' anything on tlie n track. His ride in his heat showed a mar- fc velloußly quick return to health and form. His friends, it is stated, have bees falling over each other to back him. Chalmers (New Zealand) made a magnificent run to catch the field in his heat of the Austral, and he succeeded, but the j effort exhausted him, and he faded away at ; the finish. Randrup, another New Zealander, it is stated, would have scored a first in his heat had he not got badly picketed. * ; For improperly pacing Beauchamp, to the disadvantage of other competitors, Forbes was disqualified for the whole Austral 'V meeting. Symonds was disqualified for the meeting for boring Chalmers. i ! George Sutherland ran second to Bill ' | Martin in his heat, the tenth, in the Austral. < i He tried hard to beat the American, but < was unable to do so. ! The takings on the second day of the « Austral meeting were £726 — a few pounds better than on the corresponding day la^fc year. I Don Walker did some good riding ! on the second day of the Austral meeting. He won three events out of four starts. It , seems that the only way to beat Walker is to practically run him off his legs. His forte is sprinting, not long-distance racing. — — The winner of the first heat of the Austral was fined 20s for not taking Ins share of the pace. J. Body was fined 20s for careless and alleged unfair riding. J Bill Martin was in good form on the second day of the Austral- meeting, and { seemed to bave suddenly struck form. The day was suited to him, there being little j wind, a warm atmosphere, and a judicious ! amount of sunshine. His party backed him to win the Austral to the extent of about £5000. The admirers of Don Walker, who rode splendidly at the opening day of tho Austral meeting, ami on the second day, can obtain a fine photo illustration of that clever pedaller by sending to the Dnnlop Tyre Company's depot for » copy of their artistic racing souvenir. Splendid photos of J. Megson, the . Sydney champion, Andrew Raleton and G. Sutherland, of New Zealand, anO E. Wilkscli, of South Australia, are also iueVucled in the pretty folder, which is well worth obtaining. J. Michael, the Welsh midget, who a few years back was the fastest pace follower in the world, has again struck form, and is ' proving what a wonderful rider he ia behind pace. After carrying all before him in America, he proceeded to France to ride against the crack pace followers of Europe. The latest English exchanges to hand now bring particulars of a further fine ride by Michael. In an hour's match against the French crack, Bouhours, the Welshman jumped to the front for the start, breaking world's in the first mile ; 10 miles were covered in 14min 6 1-5 sec, by which time the Frenchman was a lap to the bad : 20 miles were clocked in 29min 7 4-ssec, despite several mishaps to the pacing motor taadems. At SO miles (covered in 44mm 43sec), Bouhoars was hopelessly beaten, the "Alidgct" eventually winning easily by seven laps, covering 39 2-3 miles in an hoir. Michael's next match is with the world's hour record holder, Robl. Thie match, barring . pacing troubles, should prove the event of the season. — A motor car valued at £1000 will be amongst the kit Madame Melba will bring, to Australia. .A. new device for lighting lamps in a big wiad has been, brought out by an Eng- , lisa fir.ni. The apparatus is something >' alter the style of a pistol, and has to be . fixed to the side of the lamp with a barrel L through a* hole, which has to be made in , i the body of the lamp. The end of the j igniter is brought to the end of the wick, and the action of a piston drives a match out of a magazine, which during its passage . becomes ignited, and the flame coming in j, contact with the wick lights up the lamp. r The magazine holds fi\e matches, which are \ specially made for the igniter. Refills are supplied at Id per box. \ A projecting fire-plug caused a serious accident tc a young girl in Wel- \ lington last week. She was thrown from her t bicycle, sustaining concussion of the train, besides being badly cut and bruised. j Many road riders will be interested t to hear what R. J. Mecredy, the well-known j E Irish cycling authority, has to say on the ir question of using free-wheel devices in road- j h racing. He writes : . " In the hands of an j I expert a fixed wheel bicycle will probably 1 be a little faster than a free wheel on level t roads, simply for the reason that the free- . wheeled machine is necessarily heavier by > reason of the added parts of the clutch and b the brake. A fixed wheel expert dispenses 1 with a brake, and relies upon back-pedal-ling, so that his bicycle is a f©w pounds f lighter than a free-wheeler. But apart from i the question of weight, it seems to me that 1 whatever advantage there is one way or i the other ought to bo In favour of the >. free-wheeler, be<;aus.e of the rest that his 3 legs will always obtain when descending a bills by the aid of a brake instead of having „ to back-pedal. Against Jhis it is contended bi that when a man working hard in a race c takes a rest down a hill, his muscles become i, stiffened by their inactivity, whereas the t quick movement of pedalling down hill keeps L* the fixed-wheel man's tnuscleS lissom. But g it seems to me that thia argument is upset

by the circumstance that tho fiee-wheeler is not compelled to keep his legs rigidly still, but can advantageously move them about slowly and easily from one position to another, and the ability to do this nratJ be a positive relief to the muscles by enabling them to obtain a sufficient temporary relaxation to afford real rest from exertion, just in the same way as a racing man •will often be seen in a long-distance contest to sit up and take a breather with his hands in the middle of his handle-bar. There is nothing in the world to prevent the roadracing man with a free wheel from pedalling do\in the hills, if he thinks that pedalling will do hie legs more good than restingthem, so that the question seems to be «ar-rowe-d down to the matte; of weight." Reports from Paris state that the administration of the Mont d© Piete (the municipal pawnbrokeis) is much concerned over the lacY of demand for second-hand bicycles,of which there are thousands in pawn. At an auction sale recently excellent machines were offered at from 2Sfr to 50fr (£1 to £2), but did not find purchasers. The Cycling (England) took a plebiscite of its readers recently to decide what five features should most occupy the attention of the trade at the present time. The votes went as follows :— Motor bicycles, 588; spring-framed cycles, 8478; lighter biycles, 7898; variable speed gears, 7362; ross or X frames, 5784. A new free-wheel record has leen established on the Aston track.vßirmngham, by a cyclist named Bywater, who <sasted 1 mile 107 yds without pedalling the aachine. This performance is authenticated ly the Midlands Records Association. THE AUSTRAL WHEEL RACE. MELBOURNE, December 20. The Bicycle Club 'Withhold the prize noney in the Wheel Race at the Austral neeting pending the result of au inquiry low proceeding. Martin threatens ai> tction at law. December 21. The Bicycle Club, after examining th» various riders who took part in the Austral Wheel Race, decided to shift any further nquiry on to the shoulders of the League of Wheelmen. They informed the League that ;he evidence taken disclosed such an unlesirable state of affairs that if it were illowed to continue it would destroy ;ycling. The club will pay over the states to-day. NEW ZEALAND WHEEL RACE. CHRISTCHURCH, December 18. The following handicaps have been declared : — New Zealand Wheel Race. First Prize, . £so ; 3ecoud, £20; third, £5 — A. R. Barker scratch, R. Connell 30 yards, H. Holland 50, S. Draffin, 30, G. Lewis 100, B. Lochhore 100, A. Huston. 110, J. W. Jones 120, T. Clarkson 135, R. J. Cooko 150, A. Saugster 150, T. Hammon 160, R. Hendry 160, A. Pirie 160, W. E. Anderson 165, A. Randell 175, JV J. Walshe 180, G. Bradley ISO, P. C. Williams 190, P. O'Connor 200, W. Paget 220, D. G. Whitmore, J. Bain, C. Jones 230, J. Grant 240, A. M'Neill 240, G. H. Bradford 240, R. Campbell 245, A. Watson 250, J. Jaoobs 250, J. E. Congreve 250, F. Sutherland 250, W. H. Burt 255, P. J. Amos 235, J. Gordon 260, J. Campbell 260, J. M*Clintock 260. T. Campbell 260, H. Jftcliolls 270, H. Garlick 275. AU&TIUL WHEEL UIRETISG. The racing on the second day of the Australmeeting, in Melbourne, resulted as follows — AUSTRAL WHEEL RACE. Two miles. £ 400, £75, and £25. First Heat.— F. Smith, 260 yds, 1, J. Heirf, 190 yds, 2; G. W. Revell, 340 yds, 3. Tjme, 4min 25 2-ssec. Second Heat.— E. W. Davies, 180 yds, 1; J. A. Stewart, 210 yds, 2 ; J. C. Fitzgerald, 160 yds, 3. Time, 4min 34sec. Third Heat.— J. T. Scott,' 300 yds. 1; A. Browne, 250 yds, 2; H. H. Hudson, 180 yds, 3. Tima 8 43pin 25 l-ssec. Fourth Heat.— M. Lewis, 250ycW, 1; B. P. Kett, 160 yds, 2; A. J. Peterson, 260 yds, 3. Time, 4nxm 25sec. Fifth Heat.— A. C. Middleton, 160 yds, 1; C. Davidson, 250 yds, 2; E. Csesar, 180 yds, 3. Time, 4min 30 3-ssec. Sixth H«at.— R. Cameron, 150 yds, 1; M' Randrup, 90yas, 2; E. F. Wilksch, 20yds, 3. Time, 4min 31 l-ssec. m .Seventh Heat.— D. Slaeehan, v 140 yds, 1; J. Body, 200 yds, 2; G. R. Morgan, 20yds, 3. Time, 4rnin 34 l-ssec. Eighth Heat. — A. A. Middleton, 100 yds, 1; F. S. Beauchamp, lOyda, 2; E. A. Pye, 160 yds, 3~. Time, 4min 27 4-ssec. Ninth Heat.— D. J. Walker, 40yds, 1 ; R. W. Lewis, 70yds, 2; W. Palmer, 90yds, 3. Tiue, 4niin 32 4-ssec. Tenth Heat.— W. Martin, scratch, 1; G. Sutherland, 10yds, 2; A. Gudgeon, 40yds, 3. Time, 4min 33sec: Eleventh Heat.— D. M. Finlayson, 260 yds, l'L Corbstt, 180 yds, 2; S. Ryan, 220 yds, 3. Time, 4min 23sec. \ Twelfth Heat.— F. H. Orford, 200 yds, 1;' J. Brooker, 160 yds, 2; A. E. Craig, 250 yds, 3. Time, -Imin 32sec. Thirteenth Heat (for men who finished second in preliminary heats. First two to qualify). — F, S. Beauchamp, 10yds, 1; R.W . Lewis, 70yds, 2; J. Body, 200 yds, 3. Time, 4inin 32 4-ssec. Fourteenth Pleat (for men who finished third in preliminary heats. First two to qualify). — G. Morgan, 20yds, 1; E. F. Wilksch, 20yds, 2; A. E. Graig, 250 yds, 3. Time, 4mm 38 2-ssec. INTERNATIONAL SCRATCH RACE. j On 9 mile. , £35 and blue nbaii'l and silver badge ot the club; £10, and £5. \ Final Heat. D. J. Walker 3 L. Barker ' 2 R. Mutton . '3 Macdonalti and Martin also stalled. Time, 2nain 30s>ec. TEN MILES INTERNATIONAL SCRATCH RACE, £45, £15, and £5. W. Martin ..1 F. S. Beauchamp ..2 W. Macdonald ..3 Also started: Barker, Chalmers, Champness, Failey, Gordon, Gudgeon, Hunt, R. W. Lewis, Mutton, Palmer, Paisons, Payne, Rolfe, Sandberg, Sutherland, Walker, Walne, Wilksch Time, 211H111 37 l-ssec. — A new industry (says the Table) is being opened up for Southern Ireland by the enterprise of a parish priest. The peasants of Donegal, it seems, are nearly all apiarists, and" the honey produced is said to be oB the most delicious description, but hitherto the Irishmen of this district have not rea : -« ised how to get it sold. Father Michae 1 . of Kilmacrenan, has now not only taughto them to employ the parcel post as a meani of conveyance, but the sweet uses of advertisement as well, and this season Irish hones hae come to England in large ciuantitie c . \