CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8003, 5 May 1904, Page 4

CYCLING.

WHEEL TALK. (By ROVER.) Commenting on the North Canterbury Centre's decision in the now famous interference case which was as follows: — "That the Centre, having heard the evkLence of Sutherland, Araist, and Cornell, and of the chief consul, considers that Major Taylor obtained a. l>ad position, and w»» afterwards prevented from getting out of it, which was, however, justifiable," — "Australian Cyclist" would like to know if Major Taylor was justifiable in not getting out of a bad position, or if/ the position which Major Taylor could not get out of, after justifiably getting into it, was justifiable ?.. "It is certainly not at all clear, thajs journal concludes, " 'but, as the offence was committed tihree months ago, the Centre to which was delegated the matter of tne inquiry, having to say something, said it in the most ambiguous manner possible." Sir Harry Ra.wson> State Governor, has given a handsome ctfp^ to the New South Wales League of Wheelmen. It will be attached to a championship next season. The Council of the New South Wales League is said to have under consideration at the present time one of tEe heats £n another handicap in which it is alleged- all the other competitors were " stiff " for the man who won. With regard to the recent suspension in connection with the running of the final of the Sydney Thousand it, is reported that pressure has been brought to "bear on the New South Wales League Council to mitigate the punishment inflicted. The Council, however, has remained firani. Major Taylor's movements after his final Melbourne appearance are as yet uncertain. He thinks it possible that he will proceed to London to take par€ in big race meetings that come off in the/ course of a few months. He is waiting receive word i- from the- syndicate that is running him now. The promoters of the WaTrnambool-Mel-bourne Road Race, the Dunlop Tyre Company, have decided upon running this year's race on Saturday, August 20. In accordance with their former mode of procedure, the company intend holding test races throughout Australia and New Zealand, with the view of getting the best representative riders from each State. The New South Wales amateur, Arthur Smyth, still keeps on his record-breaking way, his latest feat being a successful attack, on tie world's tihirty-anile amateur record. Pounds avoirdupois seem no deterrent to Smyth's pace-following instincts, as 'he scales 15 stone 101 b. On this occasion Smyth reduced the previous record by nearly, two minutes, riding the thirty miles in 48min 26sec. A feature of the second day's programme of the Adelaide carnival was the capital performance by E. A, Pye, the Victorian' rider who essayed to reduce the time for the Australasian mile record of lmin .27 2-ssec, held by Beauchamp, and succeeded in doing the distance in lmin 27sec. Pye enjoyed the advantage of wind-shields, but the effort must be considered a splendid one considering that he is only a novice at paced work. : For the last three years Major Taylor 'has been recognised as the champion sprinter of the. world, although he has not won the coveted blue riband event— the one mile championship of the world. The reason has been that the classic event .'has been held on the Continent, and run on a Sunday, upon which day Taylor has absolutely refused to race. This year Taylor will have his long looked for chance, as the 1904 world's championships are to be held, in London next August, when the final will be decided on a Saturday. Recent developments have led "Fortis" of the " Australasian " to the opinion that individual big prizes are not desirable, and that £100 is amply rich enough for the first prize of any race, plus what the rider may win in his heat and semi-final. These latter events should certainly carry! a fair proportion of the prize money. In the great majority of instances these preliminary events produce by far the most interesting racing, and, especially where there is but one man taken, there are sure to be several triers. But lst every winner either of heat or semi-final be properly rewarded. ' Each of these trial events in the big races should carry at least £10 — indeed, the semi-finals should be worth double that. During the progress of the racing at the Melbourne Druids' Gala, the matter of a twenty-four hours' path competition cropped up among several prominent cyclists in the arena(writes "Fortis" in the "Australasian"). All were agreed that such a contest would be an attraction, and would pay. It is ten years ago since we had our, first and only all-day ride, in which 401 tmiles were covered, but during the decade both machines and tracks have improved, and the methods of training are better 'vt&deretood; there is little doubt but that we could add almost » 50 per cent increase to the total of 1894. The world's record for the full day is in the neighbourhood, of 640 miles. As a novelty it would prove acceptable, and in this, respect we lack very much. The matches between Taylor, Lawson, and Macfarland having practically ended in fiasco, the question has been asked (says the "Australasian Cyclist"), "Where are the stakes?" the money, amounting to £225, having been lodged by the promoters with the League of Victorian Wheelmen. Taylor, having defeated Lawson, was handed a cheque for £75, but there is a balance of

£150 held by the League. This amount it very probaWy decline*, fos its own safety, to refund' to the promoters, as it is rumoured that Maofarlamd intends to claim his match on account of Taylor not coming out, owing to his accident, to ride at the appoin--ted'time. The promoters have therefore decided to sue the League in a formal -way for tha, recovery of the money. The league will then he indemnified against any likelihood of complications arising. The principal item on the evening sports programme of the Melbourne Druids' Hospital Bazaar on April 11 was the Ten-mile Amateur Championship of, Victoria, which resulted— J. G. Lindsay 1, E. J. Wright 2, W. S. Wenborn 3. There -were thirteen | starters. Time — 25min 39 3-ssec. The most ! consistent rider of the evening was A. McDonald, who distinguished himself at the recent amateur championship meeting. He won his heat and ran fourth in the One-and-a-Half-Mile Handicap, and in th« Half- J Mile he won his heat and final. During the ; .made behind motor pace. In the absence ] of any similar "records, so far as Victoria • evening two mile amateur records were made behind motor pace. In the absence of any similar -records, so far as Victoria is concerned, the times will have to stand as such until they are bettered, although there should be little .trouble in doing bo. From a flying start the best time was made v by" H. Tucker (2min 32-ssec). On the evening of the first day of the South Australian Leacfue's recent carnival, whereat Scheps and Pye suffered disqualification, there, was a rumour about town (says an Adelaide writer) that the local cyclists intended to " strike " for the two remaining days of tfoe carnival unless the disqualifications of Scheps and Pye were withdrawn. This Fmells as though there are a pretty big crowd in the apppirent conspiracy against Taylor. "Oh,"\growl the majority of cyclists when you |commence discussing the position,\"the Leagu© is too lenient wi+h the darker !" In the course of a chat with Taylor on the disqualifications, the dark man said : "If I don't do any fair share of work, or do anything at all sfyady. I want the referees to come down on me." Here a referee standing near put in, " Yes, Mrjot, we're waiting for yon to do something a ibit suspicions, so that we can show the public we treat you the same as other riders." Referring' to the number of suspensions and fines that have been imposed in Australia! this' season on riders who have refused to do their share of pacing the Sydney "Bulletin" says: — Truth of the • matter seems *to be that other riders, will not pace Taylor up to the front- bunch for the pleasure of seeing him win, in which case it is a mystery why they enter. Why not say Taylor is too good for them and refuse to race against him. At least that would be straightforward, and! not look as though their refusal to pace was in the interests of someone in the front bunch and the men who lay the odds. Twelve months' disqualification would have been more in proportion to the magnitude of the offence. Take tit all .in all, the better way would seem to be to allow teaming, so long as the teaming arrangement was made public. That, and heavy sentences which will make crooked riding unprofitable, seem to be the .only way of dealing with the pie-biting disease which threatens to kill cycling. The action of the New South Wales League Council — the appeal board — in upholding. O'Brien's protest in the Sydney Thousand, was a severe, commentary on the perception of -the race officials. It seems particularly strange, says a -Melbourne scribe, that they saw nothing wrong in the running of the race, and dismissed the protest. Yet, when, the matter was brought before the appeal board, the most drastic measures for- punishment were resorted ti>. The public saw, or instinctively felt, that there was something amiss, yet the officials were blind. There are naturally all sorts of rumours as to what will be done further in this connection, and 1 what may be dome in the future; In the latter case it has been said that the syndicate financing the" Sydney Thousand Carnival has had enough of Sydney management, and next season may turn its attention to Melbourne, when the name of tie big event will be changed to "The Melbourne Thousand " — -supposing the prize money to be the same. Tne secretary of the New. South Wales League, Mr H. D. M'lntosh, wrote to Mr T. D. Scott secretary of the Summer Nights' Amusement, Limited, 6ome days ago (says a Sydney paper) directing the latter to pay the .first prize of £750, in connection with the Sydney Thousand, to O'Brien, the second prize of £150 to Major Taylor, and the third prize of £50 to the League. Corbett's legal advisers have, however, wßirned Mr T. D. Scott not. to hand over the money"; as Corbet* intends, taking legal proceedings in the matter. T.D.S., not being inclined to. take any risks, i& therefore intent upon holding the stuff until the decision of the Court is announced. It is understood that Mr M'lntosh has not received any notification from Corbett, and that Larry is proceeding against the Summer Nights' Amusements,. Limited. M'Farland and Downing are also taking in as much legal advice as possible, and they art likely to go for a rehearing, on the grounds that :they were called as 'witnesses at tb*' League inquiry, and did not know thai they themselves were on trial. A new double-acting free-wheel clutch, for which the inventor claims that it enables the user, to coast faster than with any other, has just been patented (says aa. Australian writer}. It is called an auto-

ma tic back and fore grip free-wheel clutch, and by its use the cycle may be retarded as with » fixed wheel, and the rider may ■ dismount by a rising pedal. The normal position is a free-wheel both ways, the rollers being lifted clear of the drum into recesses provided for them. Pressure on the ' pedals either forward or backward by corresponding jaovements of the chain brings the rollers on to the centre, and locks the inner and outer rings together. This is effected fry a special but simple piece of mechanism. • On pedalling ceasing, pressure being thus removed, the rollers — besides whioh there .is nothing between the side plate6-— instantly spring back to their respective angles. Therefore, during coasting, the rollers are entirely out of action. The inventor has thoroughly tested the device on the roads and among London traffic, for which it : is specially euitahle. Two modifications of the principle employ- '. ed are available. One operates a rim brake before the clutch grips, while in the other the rollers grip forward only, and backpedalling causes braking blocks to be applied to the centre, thus giving practically a coaster-hub action. The recent automobile show at the Crystal Palace, London, excelled all- previous exhibitions, the value of exhibits, it is stated, amounting to nearly £500,000. The heavy, high-powered cars predominated, : but there was a very representative display of light cars. The English cars which will compete in the Gordon-Bennett motor race will have their preliminary trials over a course in. the Isle of Man. Owing to the new Motor Act it was recognised for some time past that there would be a difficulty in getting a course on which «ue speed and reliability \ of the cars tonight be tested prior to the great race, and it was thought that the trials would have to take place in Belgium. Th<j offer of the authorities of the Isle of Man has settled the matter. The- new track at the 'Olympia, London, which <was opened recently, is comparatively small, nine laps going to the mile. It ismade of wood, fairly wide 'battens of which are laid transversely. Tie high banking sheers off at such an acute angle that there is practically a total absence of a straight. The feature of the track is its extraordinary high banking, which reaches 18ft, and at the curves it is not much of an exaggeration to say -that it is like the side of a house. This track is, of course, indoors, and is used for winter racing. i ■ The cyclist who intends discarding his pedal propelled machine for a motor cycle, should (says an authority) when placing his order stipulate for a low buEt frame: Most of the motor bicycles- are built with a twenty-four inch frame, but for a rider of average height this is too high; a frame two or three inches lower would be found far more convenient for mounting and .dismounting. In an ordinary cycle a low frame will mean loss of power, but this loss is not felt by the motor cyclist, who has only comfort- to consider. A useful tip to users of rim forakes which act harshly. Rub the rim with a greasy rag and you will find your trouble at an end (says C. H. Larette, in the " Athletic News "). Last season I had a machine fitted with a brake that seemed aa if it would shake the whole show to pieces, but a few light applications of vaseline worked a permanent cure. Don't forgefc^to protect the bearings of your new machine, pedals and all, with a few strands of worsted into which some thick fat is rubbed.' It will make them .'' dust-proof . A machine will wear twice as long if the bearings are protected and properly lubricated. The St Louis Fair, which opens on August I," and lasts for a week, includes a big cycling programme for professionals and amateurs." For the professional class there are seven big events down for decision, embracing the World's Fair Championship, a mile race, valued at £40; the World's Fair Middle Distance Championship, ° a one-hour race, valued £100; a twenty rfive miles National Championship, £40 ; a Grand Circuit Championship, half a mile, £30 ; a two miles handicap, £30 ; a mile handicap, £20 ; and a half-mile handicap, £20. In addition to the above races, there will be several events open to amateufs, including handicaps and national championships, over various distances. There will be a race for motor cycles which entitles the winner to be called motor champion fu» tue distance-