ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 459, 11 May 1899, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

LBy

Cyclos.]

The following is Martin’s account of the incidents leading to his accident, which occurred at the Melbourne Eight Hours’ Cycle Sports, as told to the Australian Cyclist-.— “l was riding behind Parsons, with Crowell and Corbett just in front. As we took the turn into the back straight, I passed Parsons, whom I called to open out. He let me go by all right. As I did so, I noticed that Crowell was making down the banking on the outside of the track, about five or six feet from the rails, and that Corbett was riding on the inside of him, a space of s.bout ten feet being between them. No one else was close to us, as Carpenter and the leading men were strung out, five or six lengths or more away. Crowell appeared to be trying to pass Coibett, and, as there was then plenty of room, I made a jump to go by on the outside of him. At the instant that I jumped I saw Corbett pull his wheel outwards, and make a dive straight at Crowell. They both collided, and continued to come across my path, crowding me so that I had no chance to get through. The fearful pace I had on made it impossible for me to stop ; nor could I get off my wheel, as my feet were, as usual, strapped. I saw in a flash that an accident was inevitable ; and knowing that if I allowed my front wheel to strike the arena ground wall I should be killed, I wrenched the handles round just as I cannoned from Crowell, who came over on to me as I tried to jump through on the outside, and thus was able to take the force of the fiist collision, against the rails, on my side and back, instead of on my head, which, if I had not ducked, would have been split like a melon. The back wheel of my machine got the balance of the impact. That is all I remember until I came round in the casualty iroom. I don’t want to make tr üble; goodness knows, I have had enough of of it I But, for the safety of the general body of riders, this case should be thoroughly investigated, and the reasons which prompted a certain rider to cut clean across from the inside to the outside of a twenty-feet wide straight track, in front of a man coming through the field on the outside, should be sifted. That there was plenty of room on the inside was demonstrated by the fact that Parsons, who was close behind me, was able to save himself by taking a clear run along the inside of the track. In another race, as I went to go by the field, someone called, “ Spread out; he’s coming;” and they then spread out across the track to block me, but I took a desperate chance, and came through on the outside of them. These wrongs want righting for the good of all who race, with their lives in their hands, and whose very>9xistence depends on honest intention and fair dealings ” A special meeting of the Pioneer Bicycle Club, Christchurch, is called for Friday evening, May 19, to consider, among other matters, the following notices of motion by Mr Frank Cooper : — (1) “ That this club should consider the advisability of seceding from the League of New Zealand Wheelmen and affiliating with the New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance ” (2) “ That this club instructs its delegate to the League of New Zealand Wheelmen to give or support notice of motion at the next meeting of delegates to the effect that all matters pertaining to the government or control of amateur cycling at present existing on the constitution and rules of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen be deleted therefrom.”

The West Australian Wheelman, commenting upon the apathetic tone of the W.A. League officials, says: —“There can be little doubt that a long struggle is impending, and that those interested in the League will need to support it to their utmost to save it from tottering. The class of wheelmen known as racing men —for whom the League has catered well, thereby neglecting other aspects of cycling—appear to take little or no interest in its welfare. They care not

whether the League stands or falls, being unable to see ahead. One of the most selfish and self-interested specimens of a human being is the average racing cyclist.” The Rotorua Amateur Cycling Club has appointed Mr C. S. Palmer to be the club’s delegate to the Cyclists’ Alliance. S. C. Baron who rode the half-mile in Imin 2sec and the mile in 2min 9sec at Lancaster Park a short time ago, has applied to the NZ. Cyclists Alliance to have the records granted. The cycle firms in Christchurch are considering the adviseableness of forming an association to protect their interests. Some months ago an agitation was got up to form an association, but nothing came of it; now the leading firms think there is something to be gained by amalgamation. Alliance affairs are progressing very favorably, and down South amateurs are evincing a keen desire to affiliate. Now the Pioneer Club is almost certain to join the Alliance, the Oxford Cycling Club and a South Canterbury cycle club have expressed their intention of applying for affiliation. The Dunedin Amateur Club, the Otago University Cycling Club, and the Gisborne Cycling Club are also mentioned as being anxious to join hands with Aucklanders. Such has been the rush for the new Mulitflex Dunlop tyres in England that the home company for a time were quite unable to compete with the demand. Orders for no less than a quarter of a million of tyres were placed with the big company within one week, so that there is hardly any wonder that things are humming in the company’s factories. The Australian factory is also working at high pressure, trying to get out the new tyres on order, which orders are now pouring in from all quarters of Austraasia.

The supporters of the N.Z. Cyclists’ Alliance in Christchurch are throwing more energy into their work, and every effort will be made to get the Pioneer Bicycle Blub to leave the League and join the Alliance. Ever since the Pioneer Club joined the League it has received anything but fair treatment and a few of the more prominent League men have attacked the old club simply because it tried to keep amateurism afloat in Christchurch. The Pioneers are now tired of League management or rather mismanagement. . ;

A good deal of the present bitterness? between the two leadi g clubs in Christchurch is due to the attitude the League’s' official organ has adopted towards the Pioneer Club. The editorial staff of the official organ are staunch Leagueites, and one of their number is a member of the committee of the Christchurch Cycling Club; the Pioneers are without news-j paper influence, and consequently comb in for some severe handling at times? The Club has appointed a deputation toi wait on the management of the official ’ organ, and the captain demands anapology from the Cyclist for publishing j some alleged misleading statements con? cerning him. Interesting developments!; are expected, and it is even hinted that ! libel actions are pending. " " The revival of amateurism has put the 1 League’s leading men on their mettle? | and in order to get even with the Alliance they contemplate altering the League’s’ amateur definition in the direction of allowing a competitor to take a bicycle as a prize. This is climbing down with a vengeance, the League prided itself on having the only true amateur definition, and now it intends going back to the old order of things. Truly, the League has very little backbone.

The news of the League’s contemplated action in amending the amateur definition will come as a great surprise to many cyclists in all parts of New Zealand. The alteration will appear in the new rules which of course will be distributed to affiliated clubs. The Cyclists’ Alliance, now that the League has again copied its amateur definition, should amend its constitution, and have two classes— cash and amateur.

The Dunedin amateur cyclist, Gibson, who competed in the cycle races at the Canterburbury Athletic Club’s recent meeting, has been suspended during the pleasure of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen. Ernie Wail, whom North Island, cyclists know intimately, has again made an attack on the New Zealand records. At Lancaster Park on April 29 he cut out half a mile from a flying start in 55sec, and reduced the ten mile record from a standing start from 22min 29sec to 22min. He made an attempt to capture the mile record, but could only do 2min 4sec. Wall is in capital fettle just now, and with the splendid pacing at his dispos?.! should beat all the existing records before many weeks go by. The Grand Prix which is to be put up for cycle races at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 will have an aggregate value of £ 1,000. This is one of the races in which it may safely be assumed every man will be a “trier.” It means a bit more than a £l,OOO to the winner. The sudden appearance of Martin in Melbourne recalls an occasion about two years ago, when Fred Hawley was secretary of the League of N.S.W. Wheelmen. He received an entry from Martin for a race meeting, when the American champion had been scooping in gold and glory down Tonga way. Martin was entered and handicapped for the various events, but when Friday, the day before the race meeting, arrived, and there was no sign of Martin, the secretary became anxious, as he had gone to considerable expense and trouble on behalf of the League in booming him. On enquiry (says the Australian C'ycZ'Mtf)‘itjwas elicited that no boats were expected to arrive in Sydney from the Islands till about the Wednesday after the first day the meeting. Martin’s name suddenly ceased appearing in the advertisements, when late on Friday evening his Yankee Highness appeared in the League Club rooms, and said to the secretary, “ Look here, old man, am I no longer a draw that’you don’t mention me in your advertisement of meeting ?” A Parisian race-manager, M. Victor Breyer, is negotiating with Zimmerman, Bald, and “Major” Taylor, the crack American riders, for a season in Paris. The English branch of Gormully and Jeffrey, U.S.A., cycle and tire makers, have applied for a compulsory to manufacture tires under the BartlettClincher patent. The Dunlop company is opposing it. Jenatzy, a Frenchman, with his electromotive vehicle, has covered 49.93 miles in an hour. In a run from St- Germain

to Rouen and return (133 miles) one Giradot averaged 30 miles per hour, “ stops and all else included.” Mr W. Tierney, who has acted for’some time as the travelling representative of the Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Co., will be permanently stationed in Auckland for the future. The following letter appears in the New Zealand Wheelman of the 26th inst. : — “ Sir, —It is very gratifying to old supporters of the N.Z. Cyclists’ Alliance to find that efforts are again being made to place the Alliance on a proper footing ; and, as one of the old school, which w.is perhaps lacking in energy at the time the Alliance was going through a critical stage in its career, I cannot but admire the way the Auckland pillars of pure amateur sport are working in the interests of amateurism. Now that the Auckland amateurs have got firmly established and are within measurable distance of putting that much-puffed-up club affiliated to the League in its proper place, we shall soon see amateur clubs springing up in all parts of the Auckland province. Auckland had always been a stronghold of amateurism, and those who are endeavoring to push forward the cause will not have much opposition, but in other towns it is different. In Wanganui there is a club which has always professed a leaning towards amateurism, and an

abhorrence of anything in the shape of cash ; then it may bo confidently expected that the Alliance will soon receive some support from Wellington. In Napier two years ago amateurism flourished, and if anyone at that time had the audacity to twit such a person as W. R. Jourdain w'ith having anything to do with cash cycling he would probably have been considered insane. But things have undergone a great change in two years, and W.R.J. now gives his support to —well, cash cycling I Isn’t it awful ! No wonder the Auckland amateurs do not support the Napier Wanderers as in days of yore. Farther south, but still in the North, we come to Wellington, also at one time a stronghold of amateurism. Bungling and mismanagement have for many years been associated with cycling clubs there, and the Alliance cannot look for much support Wellington way. Next we come to Christchurch, where the Alliance was formed, and where it defied the cash organisation for a long time. I am prepared to make a bold statement about Christchurch and the support it is going to give the Alliance. Cyclists — those who have governed the sport — have always held the opinion that the Alliance would again get a footing in the “ Wheeling City,” and if only one-half the rumors that are now in circulation turn out true there will be very little cash cycling here in a year or two. There is not a single League amateur in Christchurch who is not tired of the League ; every rider has signified his intention of racing under Alliance rules next season. Is this not a feather in the Alliance cap and a severe blow to the League ? It seems strange that every amateur rider in Christchurch should forsake the League in such a short time, but nevertheless it is true, and cyclists outside Christchurch will probably soon have the startling news sent to them that the Pioneer Bicycle Club—one of the oldest, most influential, and strongest cycling clubs in the colony—has .seceded from the League and gone back to its old love, the Cyclists’ Alliance. So much for Christchurch. All the way down South until Dunedin is reached the Alliance is meeting with hearty support, and in Dunedin many prominent cyclists are considering the best way to give the Alliance a lift. I have endeavored briefly to show your readers that the Alliance is not dead yet, but is very much alive, and I hope you will treat this letter in a fair and impartial spirit, which has always been a characteristic of The Wheelman.— l am, etc ,

Trle Amateur Christchurch, April 22.