TIMARU TO CHRISICHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7765, 24 July 1903, Page 3

TIMARU TO CHRISICHURCH.

TO-MOfcROWS BICYCLE RACE.

AN EXHAUSTING RIDE

Blinding sleet, biting, cold windy, sloppy street,--;, foggy atmosphere, and, above all, the oppressive dullness of the general aspect combine in inducing the Christchurch public to choose the maximum of -shelter ia making its way to and from business. Tho few " mud-pluggcrs " who, braving the elements, s-tiJi fct.ick to their cycles are looked upon cither as> cheerful idiots or cycling Ite-rocs*, according to the view-point of the critic. Yet these cyclists aw as a. rule equipped for tho weather, have only a ten to* twenty minutes' ride over well paved thoroughfare, aaid for the rest — wcil t tho mud will wayh off.

But what is to be said of tbe score or -so of young fellows who left foi* the south uy thi-9 morning's- express and who, as presen ti arrangements hold, -will, in company with a still greater number of othea- competitors from various district-?, take part iv th© road race from Timam to Chriatchurch to-mor-row. Their outward equipment, light, woollen jersey and knickers, socles and! shoos, their internal, strong "muscles and stout hearts. The racing opportunist who! uses liis fellow-competitor-- on asphalt tracks to his own advantage, " arid; then, flashily streak* past in the final round, has no part in -such* a. contest as the present, where nothing short of great po weirs of endurance and' unexampled grit can hope! to win a. prize.

To-morrow morning at half-past) seven the first competitor will start for Christchurch. Through the sloppy streets oj Timaru be will splash along at about fifteen to sixteen miles an hour, and before he is well clear of the town his light mudgnardikss racer will havo painted him so that his features will 'be unrecognisable. One© in tho country tlb© roads aie: execrable. Over dray -ruts*, through snow drifts and tussocks' lio will find a difficulty in making any headway, whilst tha sou-west wind smites his face and th-e chill -atmosphere freezes his' feet and lower limbs, despite excessive' exertion. The Hinds River will have to be forded, and then the Mai'onan Road must, be negotiated. By this time tlio oeas-eless* grind will have wea-ried the I'ider, the interminable, plod, plod, pilod, now on htel wheel, now on foot, will have stiffened thco muscles, and when at last he drags himself into Ashbua'ton tho wielconua attentions of fellow sportomem will be accompanied by wholesome amd sympathetic advice, " Tpm it up old 1 man," "turn it up." But- the stout-hearUd rider is stijl nncono t u«K?.d. Temporarily refreshed, he "undertakes th-o latter lialf of tho journey, which includes miles of muddy road between llaknia amd Rolleston, and the crossing of the Selwyn by ford or .railway planking. If any ri-der completes this task at «11 it will constituto a most* remarkable performanoe. If he doea it within nino or ten, hours! his achievement will deserve to ]y& chronicled_as onio of most severe physical feats that have been acco.mpliuhod in this country. It has been asked why -not postpone the event rather than allow tlie- competitor's to undertake such uit ordeal? Thei reply ia that oven noAV tliei-e** is littlo enough t-imei to enable tiie winner of tho fa^itest t\imprize to make his arra-ngeinents for compiling in tho WaiTn-am.bool-Me.l'boiU"ne- race. A week's postponement might have l>ee*n arranged, but this would havo greatly in-, conveaiienced visiting riders, and tihe worst parts of tho road are likely to b© little improved for^several weeks. The ride"* is .noit* without its daugerous aspect. The Hinds Rivea? is ww.pUt.-i], «uid a. rider entering the snow-cold water wliile in a semi -exhausted, condition, : ' and with his bicyclo on his shoulder, endeavouring to ford it, nms certain risks. Again, iihomld the day be a*s cold as present indioatidns suggest, a tined-out comi>etitor giving up his self-imposed tapk on a country road, too. weary to tmdge along, would undoubtedly he hi a- 'dangerous situation. Even should a. rider -succeed in completing- the journey the after-effect®, except to the thoroughly trained, might be disastrous. In tliis respect* the promiotiuig- fi]_in, tho Dunlop Tyre Oompany,' has made provisioni against- such coiitiiigeucies by providing food nnd htfb milk nit Rangitata, Ashhurton and Duusandol for comipetitors. As a race, it is almost superfluous to statye- that tlie event has been partially spoilt by the unfavourable climatic conditions. Under ordinary circumstances, it would have proved the piost important cycle contest that has yet boen> decided in the colony. The original entries comprised 160 name sy representing- practically every district in New Zealand, from the Thames to the liluff, and the back-markers included as fine a score of riders as have ever b^en got together in a country that i» famed for its--- proficiency in this branch of cycle racing. As it- is, tliere is likely to be a very large entry face the starter. The winner of the handicap receives a Swift bicycle, the second prize is £6 6s, and the third £3 3s, whilst the rider who accomplishes, tho fastest time is selected to ropre'sent the colony in the WarrnamjjoolMelbourne Road Race, and receives £18 18s twards his expenses.

Tlie prospects of the riders are thus dealt with by "Rover" :-- 1 \ Amongst the back division, I have heard that G-. Sutherland, W. Clarkson arid H. Holland are unlikely to 'start. To attempt .to forecast the winner of such an event, with such a number of unknown rwtafs, would be ridiculous, but I fancy the rider putting up the fastest time will be taken from A. Ralston, A % Calder, J. Bain, R. Arnst, W. E. Congreve and J. Arnst, though either of tho Connel brothers, "Dick" and "Jack," may be expected to give trouble. In the case of Ralston, it must be remembered that this wonderfully fine performer is rapidly approaching the veteran stage, and it will be no disgrace if he is compelled to give way to one of the younger generation. ; Moreover for some months there has been so little fine weather in Southland that his opportunities for training must have been .very few. All the same, his great natural powers of endurance, coupled with the knowledge that is born of experience, make liim on paper tlie most formidable competitor to be. reckoned with. •

Calder, too, who accompanied Ralston to Melbourne last year, has to look so far back to his first race jthat one is surprised to see him stilL defending his reputation against the best riders of the day. Strict attention to his daily business has prevented him undergoing the .thorough preparation! that is necessary for such a ride, and he may be found wanting if the youngfer division cut the pace out as " willing " as I fancy will be the case. •?•

J. Bain is somewhat of an unknown quantity, inasmuch as he has done no riding for a twelve month. If ho is in his best form, I would pick his chance before that of any other of the back-markers.

It. and J. Arnst are the sturdy youngsters who— practically unknown before—^ made their reputation by keeping with Ralston and Calder in the 100 mile ride last year. They have the advantage of an additional year of development and experience, besides which they have trained most thoroughly for the big contest. If either bo successful, he will richly deserve- the reward of enthusiastic determination in making a proper preparation. | These latter remarks apply with equal force to another young rider, W- E. Con-^ greve, who, however, is most unfortunate' in connection with long-distance road event*. Last year he was debarred from competing because of a severe injury, and during the past week his knee has been giving trouble, and it may prevent his start-; ing trouble. (Fib and well, he is undoubtedly a top-notcher over such a journey.