ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 401, 31 March 1898, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

Cyclos.]

[By

Auckland, October 27th, 1896. To the Proprietors, Sporting Review, Auckland. Dear Sirs,—l have pleasure in advising you that the Sporting Review has been appointed the Official Organ of the Auckland Cycle Club. Yours faithfully, E. G. SKEATES, Hon. Sec. LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND WHEELMEN. The Governing Body of Cycling New Zealand, AMATEUR and CASH. Affiliated Clubs in the North Island. Club. Secretary. Auckland Cycling Club G. Peace Carterton Cycling Club W. McKenzie Danevirke Cycling Club G. N. Wallace Egmont Cycling Club ..'. ... N. Benporatb Eeilding (Cycling Club M.S. Brunette Foxton Cycling Club C. T. Austin Hastings Cycling Club H. Symonds Hawera Cycling Club W. D. Nicholas Hawke’s Bay Cycling Club ... -A. W. Evans Huntly Cycling Club W. Ellison Manawatu Cycling Club J. F. Manning Otaki Cycling Club A. Knocks Pahiatua Cycling Club J. Connel Rangitikei Cycling Club J. Robson Wellington Cycling Club H. J. LevyWanganui & W.C. Cycling Club H. R. Woon Wairarapa Cycling Club P. C. Reynolds Woodville Rovers Cycling Club H. P. Horne Weraroa Cycling Club C. Thompson New Plymouth Cycling Club ... H. H. Mace Reliance Cycling Club F. L. Seager Petone-Hutt Cycling Club ... F. Packard Affiliated Clubs in the South Island. Club. Secretary. Ariel Cycling Club W. Lan dels Christchurch Cycling Club ... F. D. Kesteven

Denniston Cycling Club J. T. Jaspers Greymouth Cycling Club E. M. Sheedy Hokitika Cycling Club F. L. Kirwan Invercargill Cycling Cash Club... W. E. Gladstone Jubilee Cycling Club .. ... T. G. Jamieson Kaikoura Cycling Club J. B. Borthwick Kumara Cycling Club R. Rouse Marlborough Cycling Club ... H. Hillman North Otago Cycling Club ... J. E. Hood Reef ton Cycling Club ... ... J. F. Clark Riverton Cycling Club H. H. Twemlow Selwyn Cycling Club G. Porter Linwood Cycling Club T. Reed Amberley Rovers J. Blain Alexandra Cycling Club J. R: Cairns Otago Cycling Club A. Munden Roxburgh Cycling Club B. V. Reilly Vincent Cycling Club G. Stumbles Invercargill A.C. & A.C.... ... E. Norton Dunedin Cycling Club W. R Brugh Lawrence Cycling Club ... ... J. B. Rinley Middlemarch Cycling Club ... J. Robertson Star Cycling Club J. W. Manchester Mataura Cycling Club T. G. Smith West Taieri Cycling Club ... J. Mcßride Gore Cycling Club ... .., J. C. Allan . Westport Cycling Club ... ... J. S. Webb Wyndham Cycling Club D. J. McLauhlan Balclutha Cycling Club J. W. Mitchell Otago Railway Cycling Club ... Jas. Emerson F. D. KESTEVEN, Secretary. 7, Chancery Lane, Christchurch.

FIXTURES, April B—Christchurch Cycling Club (Good Friday Meeting) The cycling sports had scarcely commenced at Wellington on Saturday when the rain began and put a stop to them. Jones did not start in the half-mile, and Thomson fell, getting a shaking which caused him to retire after a lap or two. The Five Mile was partly run in the rain, which affected the riding of . Jones. He was apparently afraid to extend himself, and was beaten by Plunket. of Wellington. The sport was thus quite spoiled. At the New South Wales League of Wheelmen’s Carnival on Saturday the Mile event fell to Walne, of Queensland ; the Three Miles to Green,. England ; the Five Miles to Forbes, New Zealand. The final result was as follows:— Walne, 8 points; Green, 5 points; Forbes and Ainsworth, England. 3 points each. A lady cyclist who was coming down Oxford Street, Lyttelton, a few days ago, had a narrowescape from a serious accident. She attempted to ride down the steep hill-side, and got on all right till nearly opposite the Canterbury Hotel, when she lost her pedals, and the machine at once gained the upper hand. The rider kept her seat and succeeded in steering her bicycle over the crossing at Norwich Quay, and on towards the railway yard. She was, however, unable to regain control of the machine on the flat, and went with a great smash into a line of trucks which we-e just then being got under way by the engine. The front wheel of the bicycle’ struck the middle of the truck, and rider was thrown forward, but, leyond a severe shaking, she escaped without injury. The bicycle was seriously damaged. ‘ ‘ Alcohol motors are now receiving a good deal of attention in France and Germany. In the latter country a considerable sum of money has been paid by a syndicate of manufacturers into the hands of an expert, who has been commissioned to make trials of the new motor power,” So we read in an American cycling paper. This substitution of alcohol for steam, electricity, or oil opens up a wide field for conjecture. None of the Australian cycling papers give any particulars of the new departure in methods of propulsion, so we can only guess vaguely as to the manner of application adopted with the fluid familiar to most of us, Is it used hot or cold ? If the former, do lemons and sugar enter into the process ? Granting that they do, we opine that the new idea will be suitable for “mixed” tandems, for, as everybody knows, a spoon is an accessory to that popular machine. As to the power of alcohol in “ getting a move on,” there can be no difference of opinion—in connection with human machinery, at all events —although cases have been known where an excessive quantity or strength produces the opposite effect. Still we have seen many instances where it has propelled a cycle after the owner has announced his intention of reposing under a fence for an indefinite period. In these cases the alcohol has been used cold and without water. When applied hot it has been known to run the machine so fast that double and triple brake power has been found necessary. It is said that every . modern discovery is but a re-hash of some practice known to the ancients, and this idea of applying alcohol to assist locomotion appears to be a case in point.—Melbourne Punch. Judging from the brief accounts to hand of the League championships, it would appear that G. Sutherland is about the strongest rider under the League, and a man who can always finish with a fine spurt and great determination.

E-. Reynolds, of Auckland, succeeded in annexing the Half-mile Championship, and also rode well up in other events, although the manner in which he succumbed at the crucial moment —the sprint home—seems to indicate that he has lost a good deal of his brilliancy in this direction, *s time was when few could put down the Auckland crack when once he got with them in the last auarter. Probably the injuries he sustained at le Linwood meeting last week had something to do with it.

The wide margin between the times in which the amateur half mile (Imin 9 l-ssec) and the League half-mile (Imin 22 l-ssec) gives the impression that the riders in the last-mentioned were playing the waiting game again. Surely the League can find some means of overcoming this, as there is nothing so irksome to spectators than to see men crawling along until the dash home, which never recompenses for the weary crawl over the first part of the journey. A southern exchange says that the New Zealand Cyclists’ Touring Club is not displaying any extraordinary signs of vitality. . 'aaafl'SKwi The Irish champion, Harry Reynolds, has already got the name in New Zealand of being a thoroughly genuine sport. The Cyclist says that the Athletic Association will need to seriously consider its position before the League frames its policy for next season. Mr Frost, of Christchurch, will move at the next meeting of the Athletic Association that the association ceases to associate with the Cyclists* Alliance.

The Amatenr Athletic Association has shelved the League’s suggestion to allow League racing at the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club’s meeting. The Cyclist says th at Alliance clubs now recognise the position to be that they must affiliate with the League or lose their racing men.} Walter Pilkington, who turned over to cash after last Saturday’s carnival, deserved his win in the Five-mile Handicrp. He hung to his task in good style, and after picking up his men at the end of the fourth mile, contented himself by hanging with them until the run home, when he came away with a dash and scored comfortably. J. Miller, who made his first appearance last Saturday, accounted for the Club Handicap of two miles, and rode second in the Three-mile Handicap. Miller exhibited very good judgment, and has a very good style of pedalling.