CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 22734, 9 November 1935, Page 14

CYCLING

(By

“Pedal.”)

COMING EVENTS. November 9.—Drummond, 6.30 p.m., 14 miles. The road season has closed with the Invercargill Club having put on 15 races. This season has been a very long one. It commenced its first race on June 29 and the last one on October 19. The shortest races was 10 miles and the longest 140 miles.

The most consistent rider on the road was W. Frame, who started 12 times for seven fastest times, one first and two seconds, always starting from the mark of honour. A. Drury comes next with 12 starts, two fastest times, two firsts, two seconds and one third, this being a very good record for a first-year rider. Three championship events were held during the season. W. Frame won the 25-mile senior unpaced, C. A. Robinson tfie junior, A. Drury the 56-mile Southland championship, while A. Calder took the junior. In the South Island 50-mile championship F. Grose (Christchurch) won the senior and R. Dixon the junior title. A. Drury is very fit at present. He rode at Drummond, registering fastest time and getting . second place, covering the 14 miles in 45min 20sec.

D. Patton has every intention of turning out on the track this season after a long spell of two seasons. He says he cannot look on any longer. C. A. and C. W. Robinson started most times on the road this season with 13 starts each. D. Milne has procured a Cyclo threespeed gear machine. He is very anxious for the next road season. P. Meehan turned out again on Saturday week. He is going to get down to solid training for the track. J. Humphries has turned his attention to tennis, now that the big road races are over. s A. Calder registered fastest time at Oteramika from the mark of honour. J. Gardiner started twice this year and collected a trophy on each occasion. The only secret of success on . the track is in serious training. Training should not be a hurried business nor should it be undertaken haphazardly. Indoor work should be started right away and should include physical exercises, deep breathing movements, half an hour or so occasionally on the rollers and a little boxing. By boxing I do not mean fighting. Have a few friendly rounds with the gloves on, using only the left hand, This can provide plenty of fun combined with a healthy exercise that improves the breathing and reduces superfluous weight. All the training should not be done on the track. For instance, a ride ,on Sunday mornings for 20 or 30 miles should be done. These rides should not be strenuous, and it is best to go out with a couple of riders and keep

up a steady pace. Always have a bath and a brisk rub down when you get home. Later on go out in the evenings on the road, and make the distance shorter and the speed a little faster. The idea of this is to build your body up gradually to a state when the faster speeds you hope to do later on in races will cause no strain. Don’t think just because on the track riders do short distances that they need speed and no stamina; the champion is he who has plenty of speed and stamina to sustain liis speed. When you get down on to the tracks amble round for five miles or so, using a machine that is not equipped with toe straps or clips. Take no notice what others are doing, but concentrate on more stamina and perfecting yourself as a pedaller. Do this for at least a fortnight and never once try to sprint Just wind up your pace, but never go all out, and keep to five miles. When you have finished each evening get straight for your machine and have a shower and a massage. Self-massage is of very little use, but a trackman can never have enough proper massage done by someone who knows how to do it. .... Your position on the bicycle is important. Do not necessarily copy others. First of all make sure that you are sitting right, and that there is no weight at all on the handle-bars. This is essential to ensure control of the front wheel when steering. Spread yourself out on the machine; dont cramp yourself into an awe-inspiring crouch. Never be afraid to ask advice from those who have had some experience. And when you listen, taken heed and experiment; but from those who know not, listen politely—and then go on with your training.