CYCLING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9642, 14 January 1899, Page 3

CYCLING.

Notes by "Dayton."

E. Reynolds won the Uvo-mlle ovont at the Auckland Caledonian sports on Monday, 2nd January. During the Christmas and New Year holidays the vast sum of was competed for in Australia,

Pither, one of those who defeated Zimmerman when he visited Australia, has appeared on the track again after an eighteen monchs 1 spell. Stackwood. after a few days' spell, is again in training. lie will shortly leave for Invercargill to compete at the cycling sports to be held there next monlh.

It is probable tbat an American team of pace followers will visil England during the coming season, so that the American flyers will be matched with the English cracks.

Upwards of 40 riders, it is said, have Bent in their names for the forthcoming six days' race at Madison Square Gardens (New York), amongst the entrants being Miller, the holder of the record and winner of the last similar race.

rlt is remarkable how Forbes and Hunt manage to keep fit and race so much in Australia. At the conclusion of a hard race at Christmas time Hunt wns very sick, and the gruelling he got should act as a warning that it can be overdone, as well as underdone. ■- Walne still keeps up his winning form. At Melbourne on New Year's Day he easily won the one and ten miles scratch races. ]n the mile scratch race On the second day of the meeting, he, ' however, bad to be contented with third place. The race was won by L. Park, the ex amateur, M' Donald being second.

As to condition, I often wonder why some of our rider?, instead oi pottering along the whole yeur round and playing with training, do not make up their minds f .o rest the greater part of the year and train particularly for, say, three or four months. They could time it for the best part of the racing season, and would' find that they were better off in health and pocket at the year's end.

If Elkcs (the American), accepts all the responses to his challenge there will be a good, or, at least, a busy time, coming for him. Cor dang, Chase, Linton, and Armstrong are amongst those who have expressed a desire to meet the holder of tbe hour record, so that Elkes, if he falfila the terras of his challenge, will have to meet the best European riders at their own distances.

At tbe Otago Caledonian Society's sports, hold on the 2nd and 3rd inst., A. Ealston distinguished himself by winning the Mile and Five-mile Handicaps (both from scratch) on the first day, and the Two-mile Championship and the Five-mile Handicap on' the second day. J. Stewart, 210 yds, won tho Caledonian Wheel race, of two miles, worth to the winner. At the closing night of the Sydney Electric Light Carnival, Forbes and Hunt were again competing, but were not so successful as on the opening night. Megson was riding in great form, and he won both the Five-mile and „Two-mile events, Forbes being second each time. Tbe longer distance produced a magnificent finish, Megson winning on tbe post by a wheel, amidst great excitement. The final of the, Twolnile Handicap was a brilliant rao between the placed men — Megson, 3?orbes, Hunt — and Megson won by four lengths. " Major " Taylor, the marvellous negro rideri who has had., .such a phenomenal time in America this season, and whose latest achievments I referred to last week, complained of severe pains in tbe thighs and across tbe hips after hi« last ride, and said that he has never before felt the effects of a hard ride in this manner. Taylor now holds all world records from half to two miles, the quarter-mile standing to the credit of J. Megson, of Sydney. Some idea of the expense of securing world records may be had from the statement that the weekly salary list of Taylor and his pacemakers came to £160. Taylor himself, pocketed 36700 as a raward for his wonderful records. His . machine was geared to 114, and weighed 24< pounds, and it was a chainless one. ne says tbat with his cbainless gear it was impossible to lose the pace, as he found the action so positive, no jerks of the pacing machines could drop him. Before hia last attempt he expected to put the figures for the mile ot lmin 30sec. He, however, is satisfied with the times he has j accomplished.