WHEEL TALK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7607, 17 January 1903, Page 6

WHEEL TALK.

(By KOVER.) ! Another Council meeting of the New Zealand League without a quorum ! I don't like the look of things from the point of view of the League. It is practically decided that this year's New Zealand League championships will be decided in Dunedin, under the management of the Dunedin CO. Mr G. H. Lcthaby has, with his wife, returned to the colony from his recent trip to England, but he has not arrived in Ohristcburch yet, having broken the journey at Dunedin. ; There is no word of the Ellesmere Club holding a race meeting. This was one of the most energetic country cluos in the colony, but since the President, Mr Spring, left the dißtrict little has been heard of it. • , . The Sydney "Referee" on Major Taylor:—There is no "beastly pride", about him, and" he will train with the greatest novice as readily as with the most expert. Major Taylor has completely put to rout all tho 4.ustralian ideas of training. He retires two or three times in the course of hi& work, and is rubbed down, returning at once to the tra-ck to continue riding. The training of Robl and Dickentman behind their motors in Melbourne has aroused an exceptional amount of interest. There is no doubt in my mind that paced raciug would, " for a season at least, prove a tremendous draw in the colonies. Judging from cabled reports, the Sydney syndicate which imported Major Taylor can have had no cause to regret its action. "Gates" have been large, and the "Black Zimmerman" has, apparently, ridden well up to his groat reputation. C. A. Best, one of those who qualified for the final heat of the Austral Wheel Race, and who " scooped the pool " at Leeston two seasons ago, had a couple of wins at Ballarat on Christmas Day. Subsequently, however, he Avas the victim of a nasty fall, which was so serious that it was not anticipated he would be able " to compete in the- Austral. But for this he was looked upon as a likely winner of the big event. A new club has been formed in the. Wellington district, to be called the Hutt Valley Cycling and Athletic Club. I notice that that energetic gentleman and speedy racing cyclist, IP. Nattrass, is on the committee, as is, also, young George Bradley, so presume the club will be a really live institution. Mr O. Davies is secretary. Probably the track at Petone will be the racing headquarters "of ■ -the new club. I wish it every success. . ■Writing- -of Major Taylor's track work before he had appeared in competition, r the Sydney "Daily Telegraph "said:— "Major Taylor has a lot to teach Australian riders so far 'as training is concerned. The cardinal feature of : his work is the persistence with which he Carries out his various methods, and the thoroughness of all ins preparations. As he mounted and pedalled "slowly round, Major Taylor was given a •welcoming cheer by the crowd. Tho champion is so modest and unassuming that he is likely to prove as popular with the public as h<j;has already become with the riders and .officials with whom he has come in contact. Owing to the fact that the stage was being erected' lor the continental in the evening, the champion could not attempt any fast 'work, but in the half-dozen laps j that -lie rod© he . showed that his -style is that of a master. He sits neatly on his wheel, which' is fitted with handles of a wide spread, and When sprinting crouches forward with his .shoulders pushed well back to expand his chest. He is not so upright as Don Walker, but looks comfortable and capable of great^ speed. . No rider lias ever given the impression of being so thoroughly in earnest as Major Taylor, and those of the local experts who thought that our riders might beat him have now changed their opinions."