THE AMATEUR CHAMPION BICYCLIST.

Waikato Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3652, 28 November 1895, Page 4

THE AMATEUR CHAMPION BICYCLIST.

On Tuasday the renowned New Zealand bicyclist, Mr E, Reynolds, arrived in Gambridge totake part in the Cambridge West Athletic Meeting, and, knowing that his opinions on cycling matters would be acceptable to many of the wheelmen of Waikafco, our representative waited upon him and asked a few questions, to which" he courteously replied.

In the course of his remarks Mr Reynolds said : As you are doubtless, aware, I am a native of Cambridse, having been bom in the old post-office which stood opposite the entrance to Major Wilson's grounds, The building, I believe, was afterwards moved into the police reserve, near the lock-up. I went to the public school when Mr R. D. Stewart was master, and many of my old schoolfellows must still be in the district, Several people recognised me at the station to-day, but I had forgotten them until they mentioned their names. I left Cambridge about 1882, aud am now 22 years of afie. My heißht is oft. i)in, and my weight list, but when stripped for racing I do not think I am more than about lOst Gib. I embarked in the wheel business about six years ago, my first venture being on a tricycle, but that! soon discarded for a high wheel bicycle, and in 18U01 rode my first raceon it, which I won. That year I rode in six races and was placed in all of them. Since that time I have started in 'l3O races, and have been placed in over 100. I hold the amateur record of Australasia for the half-mile, the time being lm. 7secs., and am the amateur champiou for the fivemile race, haviug won it at Sydney last month.

Our readers must not imagine that Mr Reynolds made these statements as glibly as they appear here, for ho is rather diffident, and needs to be carefully drawn on to speak of his doings. In the Sydney race he was considered a rank outsider, but at the finish of it, McDonald, the man who up to that time held nearly all the records, was about 400 yards in the rear, it seems they have tandem bicyclists, to cut out the pace for the competitors in the race. These tandems have about a quarter of a mile start given them, and there is a great spurt put on by those racing to get up to the tandem, and the one that 2an catch it and keep close behind it is usually the winner, for it cuts the air and relieves the bicyclist from wind pressure. " Teddy" caught the tandem at the end of a mile, and called on the riders to incroaso the pace, but at the end of the second mile the tandem retired "licked." On the road a tandem is considered to be one mile in twenty better than a bicycle, so Reynolds must have made the pace a cracker. He considers the Sydney grass track the best lie has ridden on, the cinder tracks down South are not raised at the sides sufficiently and the wheels are apt to slip in turning angles at a high speed. When asked what machine he preferred, he laughingly said; "A Reynolds of course," for I manufacture and also import machines. Formerly I rode a Raleigh, but now I make my own. Ido not go in for any particular kind of training ; I believe in long steady work, and usually cover eight or fc-m miles each evening. Of course I only eat plain wholesome food, and I find it best to abstain from alcohol. 1 am a great believer in a salt water dip,and usually take one alter having had a spin. Mr Reynolds has been chosen to represent Auckland at the coining amateur meeting at Christchurcb, but he is not sure that he will go, as his business is fast increasing in Auckland and needs more attention. He will probably book a few orders, while in Waikato, for cycling is certainly " catching on'' at a rapid rate. Mr Reynolds has a largo collection of gold medah., etc.-eight handsome ones were on exhibition in Mr Bond's window on Tuesday—but it seems rather hard for the amateur riders to have to be content with baubles while others are pocketing the dollars. "Teddy" has been scratch man amongst the amateurs for the past four years-with the exception of a time when 'he had fever, during which another man was put on scratch—and we should not be surprised if he qnittod the amateur ranks and went in for the solid cash. Whatever he does we wish him luck tor he is a plucky rider.-(Own Correspondent).