CYCLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XVI, 22 April 1899, Page 526

CYCLING.

We learn that the proposal to prohibit newspaper men from belonging to the Executive of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen has been defeated by an overwhelming majority. The voting was 77 for, 13 against, from which it is plain enough that the League recognises the folly of alienating its advocates in the press. The telegram also states that the League has made a change in its amateur definition. Under the new definition a League amateur must be an amateur in all branches of sport. Mr F. S. Malcolm, ex-president of the Auckland Cycling Club, left for Christchurch last week. He was given a hearty send off by the club, who entertained him at a smoke concert, and presented him with a framed photo, enlargement of himself. Mr Malcolm intends settling in Christchurch and beginning business as an auctioneer. It seems to me the Auckland Cycling Club would find in their ex-president a very suitable delegate to represent them on the League.

Jack Green, the well-known English cyclist, who visited Australia the season before last, writes to a friend in Melbourne to say that he, accompanied by Harry Reynolds, will leave again for Australia in August or September next, arriving in time to compete at the next Austral meeting.

The Canterbury A.A.C.’s meeting took place on Saturday last. The four cycling events, which are under Alliance rules, produced an average of 26 entries, which may be considered highly satisfactory. It indicates a healthy interest in amateur cycling in Christchurch, and the revival of this branch of the sport in the Southern centre will be viewed with satisfaction by Alliance supporters. A club to affiliate with the Alliance will, it is said, be formed soon in Christchurch, and judging by present indications it should meet with success. Developments are also hinted at in South Canterbury, where, it is said, the amateur athletes and cyclists formed a wrong impression (brought about by a newspaper statement! which led them to go over to the League. Little Gargurevich, the diminutive cyclist, has forsaken his old love, and announced his intention of riding a Melbourne Cup winner. He has, he says, been devoting a great deal of attention to riding racehorses, and he intends to shine as an Australian Tod Sloan. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world. Sloan is rumoured to be about to try his prowess on the wheel. The cycling writer of the Melbourne ‘Leader, hopes that ‘the farce of trial races’ will be dispensed with should Australia or any one of the colonies decide to send a rider as its special representative to the World’s International Championship Meeting at Montreal in August. Everybody knows that R. H. Walne is the one man qualified to represent Australia, and the announcement of his selection to do so at Montreal would give general satisfaction throughout the colonies. Apart from Walne’s undeniable excellence as a rider it is satisfactory to know that in all other respects he is a singularly creditable specimen of the Australian athlete, which is a matter of no small consideration.

The ‘Ceylon Independent’ gives the following answers to correspondents: ‘Should I carry a gear case?’ No; it would look very silly. Fasten it on the machine. ‘What sort of pedals do you recommend?’ I should get pedals for the feet, one hard pedal and one soft pedal, and you will make music wherever you go. It’s a mistake to hang your pedals on the handle bars. ‘Don’t pneumatic tyres puncture very easily?’ No, unless you use unpuncturable ones. These don’t puncture. They simply burst. If your tyre does puncture you can easily get it brazed. You should carry a brazing machine in your pocket with you. ‘What gear should I ride?’ It is quite unnecessary to have a gear at all. Buy a good, strong bicycle and you will not want a gear. ‘The lady I am engaged to is too nervous to learn to ride.’ Shoot her and get another. ‘What sort of rims do you recommend?’ I can’t answer any more fool questions. Get rims to match your head. Get wooden rims. The wonderful progress of the Cyclists' Touring Club of Great Britain was prominently shown by the annual meeting at St. Martin’s Town Hall. The total number of members at the close of last year was 54,332. The total revenue of the year was .-£15,989 19/, and the balance in hand is £1,542. The expenditure was occasioned by the loss of £2,000 on the ‘Club Gazette;’ the handbook free to members cost £3,300; and caution boards account for £1,200. Reciprocal agreements have been entered into with the touring clubs of Austria, Belgium, Denmark. Holland, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. Cyclists owe a great deal to the C.T.C., and it is therefore pleasant to find that the organisation is in such a healthy condition. Quite the latest thing in wheel organisations in England is the ‘Cyclists’ Political Brigade of Canvassers.’ The association bearing this imposing title has been called into existence with the object of rendering service at election times for Parliamentary or county council candidates. It makes a very good twin brother to the Christian Cyclists’ Union, which was referred to the other day. The use of bicycles, which a few years ago was unknown in Java, has, within the last three years, advanced tremendously in that country. There are now between 3.060 and 4,000 bicycles in the island, and the number is increasing. Wheeling is confined entirely to Europeans, half-castes and Chinese, the Arabs and natives not having taken it up. Elderly people

do not ride, and women ride little, as it is considered immodest for a girl over fifteen to ride a bicycle.