CYCLING

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 11

CYCLING

AVON CUP SERIES

(By

PEDALLER)

COMING EVENTS July 17.—27-mile race, final of the Avon Cup. July 24.—25-mile race, Grove Bush— Makarewa. July 31.—Free. August 7.—25-mile time trial. August 14.—17-mile race, to Bluff. August 21.—44-mile race, to Edendale and return. August 28.—40-mile race, Gore to Invercargill. September 18.—50-mile race, Otago Championship. October 2.—-South Island Championship (Dunedin).

Last week’s race to Roslyn Bush and back, was an excellent fixture, drawing a good field and giving conditions, severe enough to test the average Cy France, although handicapped | on his win the previous Saturday, was victorious again after riding a welljudged race. He is a strong pedal!er but would improve if he concentrated on keeping his body still, as this would save energy he is wasting. Maurice Harris, who was only fourtn the previous week, improved his placing last Saturday by being second and was only beaten for first by inches. Harris did not compete very often last season, but on his riding so far this season he will be one of the highest bidders for honours later on. , Allan Broad rode a good race, doing the outward journey on his own, but he seems to find it hard to improve on third place. In his last five starts on the road Broad has gained three thirds. Bob Blackbum put up a plucky perform an co and ha a his co-marker, Tom Muirhead, been a little fitter the result of the placings might have been different To have to pedal against a stiff head wind for four mile to stave off a challenge from a bunch of three riders was indeed a test of fitness. Wally Frame made good time considering the conditions although he was not able to reach the placings. Jack McCartney and Bob Young made their first appearance last week and both shaped well, but will probably be more at home in the longer races* Harold Patton and Les Johnston rode their first races, the former being far from fit Johnston suffered from mechanical trouble. Today’s race will be the final of the Avon Cup series and the following are the points to date:—R. France, 6; E. Summers, 4; M. Harris, 2; W. Frame, 2; R. Blackbum, 1; A. Broad, 1. The course today, is to Woodlands and back by way of Rakauhauka and Roslyn Bush, a distance of approximately 27 miles. hints on cycling The first thing in team-riding is for each man to be physically fit, so that there are no passengers. To start with the handicappers do not handicap men singly for road racing, but in bunches, so that the riders can team together and the, race will be a success from both the riders’ and spectators’ points of view. > ?■. - The riders themselves will soon realize if they are carrying a passenger in their bunch and it is their place to drop that man. There are ways of dropping a man but it requires experience and must be done at the right moment and done smartly. Once a man is dropped from a bunch the pace must be so regulated that he cannot regain his lost position. It is up to every man in each bunch of riders to do his best for his particular bunch and if he cannot stand the pace, he is not properly fit or should be on a longer handicap and this will probably be adjusted by the handicapper. To start off in a race each bunch of riders should have an understanding, of how they are going to ride. It should be arranged who will take the first lap, the length of laps and the method of changing laps. It is usual for the man who has just finished his lap to pul’ over towards the inside of the road and thus allow his team mates a clear rim through. Lap lengths can often be judged from telegraph or power poles on the road line. A team riding even laps at a steady pace and losing little or no time in lap changes, will have a distinct advantage over the bunch with no understanding.