ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 412, 16 June 1898, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

[By

Cyclos.]

Auckland, October 27th, 1896. To the Proprietors, Sporting Bbvibw, 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. i L EAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND WHEELMEN. The Governing Body of Cycling in New Zealand, AMATEUR and CASH. Affiliated to National Cyclists Union of England. t International Cyclists Association and to the Leagues of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia. AFFILIATED CLUBS. Club. Secretary. Auckland Cycling Club G. Peace Carterton Cycling Club W. McKenzie Danevirke Cycling Club G. N. Wallace Egmont Cycling Club ... N. Benporath Feilding Cycling Club ... ... M. S. Brunette Foxton Cycling Club C. T. Austin Hastings Cycling Club ... ... H. Symonds Hawera Cycling Club ... ... W. D. Nicholas Huntly Cycling Club W. Ellison Manawatu Cycling Club J. F. Manning Otaki Cycling Club A. Knocks Pahiatua Cycling Club J. Connel Bangitikei Cycling Club J. Kobson Wellington Cycling Club .. C. E Eagar Wanganui & W.C. Cycling Club Wairarapa Cycling Clnb P. C. Reynolds Woodville Eovers 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 Ariel Cycling Club H. Thompson Christchurch Cycling Club ... F. D. Kesteven Denniston Cycling ClubJ. 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 Kumata Cycling Club ... B. Rouse Marlborough Cycling Club ... H. Hillman North Otago Cycling Club ... J. E. Hood Beefton Cycling Club ... ... J. F. Clark Biverton Cycling Club ... ... H. H. Twemlow Selwyn Cycling Club G. Porter Linwood Cycling Club T. Seed Amberley Rovers . J. Blain Alexandra Cycling Club J. B. Cairns Otago Cycling Club A. Munden Boxburgh Cycling Club B. V. Beilly Vincent Cycling Club G. Stumbles Invercargill A.C. & A.C. ... E. Norton Dunedin Cycling Club W. B Brugh Lawrence Cycling Club J. B. Binley Middlemarch Cycling Club ... J Bobertson 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 Bailway Cycling Club ... C. Coon Stratford Cycling Club ... G. Pritchard Wanderers'Cycling Club ... C. Cunningham Nelson Cycling Club ... ... N. B. Levien Wanganui Cycling Club ... J. T. Muir Thames Cycling Club ... ... T. Day F. D. KESTEVEN, Secretary. 7, Chancery Lane, Christchurch.

League of New Zealand Wheelmen’s Definition of a Cyclist.

Amateur Definition. An Amateur is one who is the holder of an amateur licence from this League, and who has—a. Never engaged in, nor assisted in, nor taught any swimming, athletic, or cycling exercise for money or other remuneration, b. Never knowingly competed with or against a person who does not hold a licence under the Amateur Definition of this League for a prize of any description, or in any cycle event in public, except where permission is granted by the League, c. Never made pace for, or been paced by, a person who does not hold a licence under this League, or for or by a person under suspension, d. Never sold, realised upon, or otherwise converted into cash, any prize won bv him. e. Never accepted, directly or indirectly, any remuneration, compensation, or expenses whatever from a cycle manufacturer, agent,sport promoter, or other person interested in the trade or sport, for cycle riding’ except where special permission is granted by the League. Cash Definition. A Cash Cyclist is one who is the holder of a licence under this League, and ceases to be eligible by—a. En gaging in cycle racing, or training or coaching any person therein, as a means of obtaining a livelihood, b. Or competing against any person who does not hold a licence under the Cash Definition of this League, except where permission is granted by the League, c. Making pace for, or being paced by, a person who does not hold a licence under this League, or for or by a person under suspension.

The proposed road race between G. Henning' and R. Dacre, the outcome of a dispute in connection with the annual road race of the amateur club, has fallen through, Henning not agreeing to certain of the conditions proposed by Dacre. Mr Norden, of Auckland, called on the Christchurch Press cycling contributor last week just before going to press to say, with reference to the statement from an Auckland cash man that the proposition to form a North Island cash governing body would be supported by Auckland, was not correct so far as the Auckland Cash Club was concerned. Mr Norden is the energetic gentleman who was mentioned as a suitable man to be at the head of the north body but Mr Norden says he has no sympathy with any movement that may be going on to form a North Island League —he is satisfied with the League in Christchurch. It is to be hoped the League will fix up its internal and external troubles satisfactorily to themselves and their supporters. Johnny—“ Ma, do flowers ever ride bicycles ?” Mother —“No, my son; what makes you ask such a silly question as that ?” Johnny—“ Oh, nothin’, except that I heard pa tell another man that he goin’ tandem ridin’ with a ‘ daisy ’ tonight.”

It is now definitely announced that Zimmerman will again race this season in America, his first engagement being a match E. Bald, another Yankee crack.

Sutherland and Wall, the two well-known League riders who visited Australia a few weeks ago, returned to Wellington by the Talune on Monday last. It had been their intention to try conclusions with the champions of the sister colonies, but this has been abandoned for the present, and both will be seen on the New Zealand tracks next season.

News is to hand from Spain of an exciting contest between a racing cyclist and an expert horsewoman, for the sum of £3OO a side. The race was for three hours, and was run upon two tracks, one within the other, the outer circle being 234yds in circumference and the inner one 4yds shorter, The lady had the use of five horses and the option of changing as often as she desired, whilst the cyclist could change his machine (a Dunlop-tyred Ormond) if found necessary. For the first ten minutes the race was an evenlycontested one, the lady, who had selected the outer circle, having a slight advantage, but from this out the cyclist gradually drew ahead of the equestrienne, although she made repeated changes without reducing the gap. As time crept on the equestrienne began to regain her lost gronnd, and the excitement rose to fever pitch as it was seen that the cyclist was tiring away. But the hard riding was telling heavily on the horses, who were now thoroughly exhausted and unable to respond to their rider’s efforts to reduce the cyclist’s lead. At the expiration of 3 hours the cyclist was pronounced the winner by five miles, he having covered 58 miles 800yds (unpaced), as against his fair antagonist’s 53 miles 280yds. Both riders received a great ovation from the thousands present for their plucky and spirited riding throughout the con? test.

Is racing as nearly played out in France as looks likely. It is said that Huret is unable to obtain a job, and will probably visit England to look for work Things certainly do not seem gay in Paris, and with the exodus of so many of the cracks to America matters will be very tame this summer. But they played the game while it lasted for all it was worth, so it can hardly be a matter for surprise that the fickle Parisians are now somewhat off cycle racing. If trade is -as bad this season as some people prophecy it will not surprise me in the least if some of our leading pros, have a difficulty in finding engagements. Nothing would surprise me less than to find that the Dunlop racing team was to be disbanded. Competition is so keen in the tyre trade that itseeins almost impossible for the big company to maintain its present high prices, and with the fact becoming more and more certain that the racing advertisement is of little use to. those who purchase high grade tyres and cycles, the team will probably have to go. It may not be this season, nor perhaps next, but it will come about sooner or later. • < .

The European team of cyclists lately gone out on a visit to the States has come through quite an “experience.” Lamberjack, Gougoltz, Eden and Cissac were yachting off the coast of Florida when suddenly a Spanish torpedo boat loomed up. Eden thought it looked very like a whale. So did Cissac. i'he discussion was closed by a summons from on board the new arrival to surrender. The summons, though in a language the cyclists did not understand, was promptly J obeyed. They went on board the torpedo boat, which took their hired yacht in tow. They were suspected of laying mines. Their explanations were listened to, but apparently the torpedo boat captain’s difficulty m the matter of languages equalled that of his captives. He declared them prisoners of war, and off they went to Havana. On April 26 General Blanco declared the captives free.

A lady physician who cycles gives some excellena advice to her sisters who also ride the wheel, as follows: — “Never mount your bicycle until fully half an hour after dining, and then ride very judiciously. It is a wise plan to take a short rest about once every thirty minutes, too, at any time, as a rest to -the limbs, and also to prevent fatigue. No woman who respects her dignity, "her health, and the boon a bicycle is, will ever pretend to race or attempt fancy figures on it, however fascinating the wheel may be to her.” . ' ■ . . . .

A well-known medical man (writes Mrs Maddox in the IV. S. W. Cycling Gazette) gives it as Ins opinion that the only abuse Jof the wheel by women is over-riding. Doctors are ever ready with opinions of this kind, but usually fall into the error of classing all women physically alike. I know several lady riders who can do a seventymile ride comfortably in a day. Medical men, of course, take their examples from amongst their own patients, not allowing for the many strong and healthy women who never require the doctor’s advice, -and if cycling gives health and strength to the weakly, as we hear repeatedly of it having done, what must it do for those who are naturally strong ? The Victorian rider, J. W. Parsons, the Englishman, T. Ralph, and the Queenslander, R. H. Walne, all of whom are riding “ Swifts” in the interests of the Austral Cycle Agency, attempted to lower short distance Austalasian records at the Sydney Cricket Ground on June 3. Parsons failed, but the other succeeded. A stiff breeze was blowing in the afternoon, which gradually died away; nevertheless, all three riders were more or less hampered by it. Parsons attacked the flying quarter-mile paced Australasian record of 21 3-ssec, held by J. Megson, and the flying half-mile record of 47sec, established by Platt-Betts at the Sydney Cricket Ground. At the first attempt the Victorian could not do better than 25 l-ssec and 51sec respectively; at the second attempt he did much better— 24|sec and 49sec ; but in his third and last try he started off too slowly, and only accomplished 25 2-ssec foa the quarter and 50 2-ssec for the half. Judging by the way he hung to the multicycles, Parsons would have held much faster pace. Ralph clipped about 2sec off Platt-Bett’s two mile flying paced record, by negotiating the distance in 3min 32 4-ssec—an excellent performance. Walne’s mission was to reduce W. J. C. Elliott’s unpaced quarter-mile record of 26sec. Having been paced up the mark by a speedy quad, Walne shot away alone, gaining some slight assistance from the wind, and, finishing ; with great determination, he broke Elliott’s figures by one-fifth of a second, his time, as taken by Messrs W. T. Kerr and C. W. Oaks, being 25 4.ssec. It seems ridiculous for d rider , attacking what is termed an unpaced record to be paceci; up to and over the mark by a multicycle, . travelling at 40 miles an hour, as he gains an immense advantage over a man riding without any assistance from other pacers. But as the systems abtains throughout Australia, Walne was perfectly justified in adopting it. Whether the record would be accepted in England as an unpaced one is another matter.