CYCLING NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 20

CYCLING NOTES

(By “Low Gear.”) COMING EVENTS. August 15.—42 miles, Edendale and return. August 22.—26 miles, Rimu-Woodlands. August 29.—40 miles, seventh annual Gore-Invercargill race.

To-day’s race, a distance of 42 miles, will be the first long race this year and as well as being a try-out for the Gore race it will be the first trial to select riders for the Christchurch trip on September 19. Several old and new riders will be starting to-day, including W. Pickford, L. Bloy, A. Broad, D. Patton and H. Robinson. These old riders are needed to help along some of the inexperienced new men. This race is timed to start at 2 o’clock and the turning point will be in front of the Edendale school. All riders must have their registered numbers fixed on the rear of their shorts. To-morrow morning at 10 o’clock, the second trial run will be held over the Rimu-Seaward Downs-Edendale course, a distance of approximately 52 miles. All riders must be ready to start at the exact time or they will be left at home. Entries for the Gore race close with the secretary next Tuesday at 8 p.m. They must be accompanied by 2/6 entry fee. No late entries will be accepted. Last Tuesday evening Mr C. Nicholson (the coach) gave an interesting lecture on gears and physical fitness. He stressed the need for training on small gears.

Last Saturday’s race proved what a good fit rider can do against men who

think they are fit. G. Homer, of the Dunedin Club, ran away from the Invercargill Club’s best men.

A. Drury could do no better than get within 2min. 52 sec of Homer’s time. C. W. Robinson registered third fastest time, this rider being 4min. 21 l-ssec slower than Homer. W. Frame has not struck form yet. He was only fourth. This rider will have to put in some solid training if he intends competing at Christchurch in a month’s time.

The honours of the race must go to Alan Calder, who is only 17 years of age. He won the junior championship, his time being Ihr. llmin. 54sec, which is very fast time for a junior riding solo. C. A. Robinson also rode a good race. He experienced trouble through his handles coming loose. Riders should always see that their machines are in good order before a race. H. Jones, having his second start, won the sealed handicap from the 6| min mark. This makes his second success this year. He and A. Calder must be the fittest men in the club at present. S. Douglas had the misfortune to have a puncture last week when only 10 miles from the finish. This rider will yet collect a good trophy. W. Pickford cycled through to Waikaka for the week-end. More will be heard of him before the road season is over.

All riders who are considering going up to Christchurch for the gorges race will have to concentrate more on systematic training as last Saturday proved that not one rider could push along at a good pace for even 25 miles. It will be interesting for Invercargill riders who use three-speed machines to know that in the Otago 25-mile championship held a fortnight ago the first three men to finish rode with standard gears fixed to their cycles.