ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 475, 31 August 1899, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

I By

Cyclos.

England is gradually losing its export trade in cycles. For the four months from February to May there was a decrease of £143,000. Foreign competition is deduced as the cause, principally from the United States. Another important reason is that most countries are now producing their own bicycles. Next month will be a racing month among amateur men. On September 2nd there is the Sydney’s Open Ten Mile Handicap; on September 9th the Burwood Club’s Open Ten Mile, and on the following Saturday is the big 50 mile road event of the Cyclists’ Union, which has been hanging fire so long through stress of weather.

Alex. Reynolds, who prepared the winner of last year’s Austral (T. Finnigan), already predicts, in his own emphatic manner, that the Austral of ’99 will be won by another of his men. A very important twenty-four hours’ unpaced and paced race (the first twentytwo hours being unpaced, the last two paced) was decided in Paris on the 3rd and 4th of June, the winner being Garin, jun., who covered 648 kilos 500 metres (about 425 English miles). Among others he beat the American champion, Miller.

The Dunlop racing tour now over (says the Irish Cyclist}, Palmer and Betts will make special attempts to set up new world’s records from one mile to the hour. Both men are riding well enough to improve upon some of the intermediate and, with a very favourable day, and the pacing motors in their best humour, Palmer should put up a good hour score, while Betts, if he could get pace fast enough to take him a mile in Imin 30sec, could, no doubt, stick behind for that distance. But where is the motor in England to do it ? An amusing story bearing on the great rational dress question comes from Nebraska. It is said that a class of two hundred young women of the physical culture department of the State University were to give an exhibition drill in bloomer costume. The young men students had flaming posters issued, advertising the appearance of the “finest troupe of trained calves in the State.” Further, the poster announced that “calves of all ages and sizes would go through startling evolutions.” In conclusion, it was asserted that it would be the most surprising live stock display of the season. The poster was illustrated by a sketch of a well-turned leg an ankle of a bloomer girl. Needless to say, the governors of the university were extremely irate, and sent men round to destroy the posters ; and if they can discover the authors of the joke the latter will have a warm time. Meanwhile the gaiety of the State has been much increased. Three of the fastest men in the world at their respective distances are, without doubt, Bourillion (sprinter), Taylor (middle distance), and Huret (long distance). At the present time they hold the best records, and although all of French nationality, they, like the pick of the fastest English cracks, have accomplished their best performances on Dunlop tyres. Notwithstanding the present popularity of short-pitch roller chains, it is noticeable that the racing brigade, at least on the London district, are rapidly

returning to the well-tried inch-pitch block chain. This change has been mentioned to us by more than one cycle maker we have lately called upon. The explanation advanced is that in sprinting the roller chain has not been so quick to answer the call as a block chain.

It is not generally known that the steadiness and easy running of a tandem i bicycle is greatly increased by having the heavier of the two riders on the front seat. When the reverse is the case too much of the weight is on the back part of the machine, and the front is thus readily susceptible to any grease, and slips at the slightest provocation. With the heavier rider in front the weight is more equally distributed between the two wheels. It is this which causes the the tandem with the lady behind to be in greater favor, as, other things being equal, it is a steadier and easier running pattern than that with the open front. Some considerable difficulty was experienced by the cycle band division of the Salvation Army in New York over the fixing of the big drum. All the musicians, except the drummer, were easily provided for, but he., with his little lot, gave any amount of trouble. The drum to the Salvation Army cause, carries more weight than all the oratory powers of the dear brothers and sisters, and even the great General himself, so it was clear that some contrivance had to be devised. At last by means of wires, the drum was suspended in front of the handle-bars, and the rider was thus able to steer with one hand, while with the other he sent forth captivating tones. Mr Tames, the New Zealand Manager of the Dunlop Tyre Coy., has been in Auckland lately in connection with the formation of the Australasian Dunlop Coy.

A Melbourne correspondent of the Adelaide Critic writes thus of “Plugger Bill” : —“Those who have met Bilmartin in his tame clothes think him one of the best kind of Americans. He is quiet, and never by any chance will talk cycling if he can help it. His fad is photographing. Some of his snapshots are good enough for a professional. When he forms one of a cycling party in which there are skirt riders, he walks up hills with the worst wheeler, and lets the amateur scorcher do all the monkey tricks and pacing for the crowd. Bilmartin is a musical enthusiast, and is as fond of harmony as a snake.”

It is stated that Bob Walne and his trainer, Billy Williams, meditate a trip to Paris next year. Negotiations have been opened to get Walne mounted by the celebrated Gladiator Company, of Paris, in order to give him an opportunity of competing against the old world champions under the best and most favorable circumstances. That Walne ,

would make a good race against any of the European cycling celebrities is the devout belief of every Australian, and if the matter can only be satisfactorily settled, the keenest interest would be

taken in any races arranged. Charles M. Murphy, the American rider who recently rode a mile in 57 4-5

sec, paced by a locomotive, at Long Island, used a twenty and a half pounds weight racing machine geared to 120 inches. Murphy pedalled at the rate of three revolutions a second, so that a fair

idea of the speed at which, he moved his legs may be gained. We are extremely glad to note (says the Australian Cyclist}, that the racing organisations, particularly the League of Wheelmen, are taking a firm attitude

in the matter of costume and conduct of

the racing men, and the result is that

there are now a less number of offences

against good taste and manners which at

one time were so prevalent. In amateur quarters, the Sydney Bicycle Club are determined to enforce among their members the adoption of the recognised University costume, with its less scanty leg covering and attenuated jersey. It is high time that the shrinkage of the racing costume was stopped, and it is to be hoped that those in authority will see

to it that this is done forthwith. .At present the Cyclists’ Union—a body which is supposed to set the good example — seem to have no recognised costume, since competitors are allowed to start in Union races in any dress they choose to adopt; a,nd a very disorderly and assorted lot they look when lined up together at the mark, with their abbreviated lower covering and short sweater. Now that we are to have a surfeit of amateur racing—both road and path—during the month of September, it will be interesting to watch whether any action will be taken in regard to those competitors who, having little respect for themselves, cannot be expected to respect the tastes of the general public, unless they are taught to do so.

Says the New York correspondent of the London Sporting Life : “The cycle war is over, and the League of American Wheelmen has lost the entire control of racing. Hardly a professional and only a section of the amateurs are faithful to the L.A.W., though, judging by the attitude of the officials, they are not aware that they have no army to command that amounts to anything. They had Eddie M'Duffie, Murphy, and one of the Butlers as their corporal’s guard of professionals, but M'Duffie has. left for the N.C.U., saying that he wanted to get some races on, and there was no one left that he could tackle. Butler has also left, or has announced his intention to do so, and the chairman of the racing board has now to suspend Taylor because he failed to attend a meeting away out at Indianopolis at which he said he would ride, but there was but one race provided for him, and it would have cost him the purse to pay his fare from Boston and back, so he stayed at home. Poor old L.A.W.” Forbes, the New Zealand cyclist, has been laid up in Melbourne having his varicose veins attended to.