ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 499, 15 February 1900, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

I BY

CYCLOS.

Reports received from Durban (Natal) states that more than one of the runners who are carrying despatches from war correspondents shut up in Ladysmith are using bicycles in getting across country. With bicycles painted kharki color, these runners creep out of the camp during the night, and, knowing every inch of ground to be traversed, cover many miles before daybreak. Then they crawl into a gully or a watercourse, dragging their machines after them, and lie concealed during the time the light lasts. Once free of the hilly country that surrounds Sir George White’s force, they are enabled to make rapid progress. The cycle has lessened the time from town to coast from a week to three days, a by no means small item when the rage for latest news is considered.

Jack Parsons, according to a recent decision of the League executive, is entitled to receive second prize of the One Milo International Race, run at the recent Austral meeting. It will be remembered Parsons was subsequently disqualified, and the question involved was whether he forfeited the money previously won. 11 A remarkable coincidence” (says the Daily Mail,' England) occured at the battle of Elands Laagte. A nephew of Dr E. B. Turner, the well-known English cycling authority, came across a wounded Boer, who, while lying in agony and parched with thirst, pleaded for water. Dr. Turner’s nephew took his flask, and promptly complied with the disabled Boer’s request. Then came the mutual recognition. The “ nephew ” referred to was a well-known English athlete, who had competed on the cycle track with P J. Blignaut, and that identical P. J. Blignaut was the wounded Boer. At the Mildura race meeting on January 24th, Massey - H iris riders scored a clean sweep, winning every event on the. programme. Young Goods was particularly successful, winning a triple during the afternoon by securing both the One and Two Miles Handicaps and the Three Miles Scratch Championship. A speed of a mile in two 'minutes oh the track means the rider travels 14yds 24in every second. At a gait of Imi j 50 sec to the mile he travels 19 yds per second.

Opinions in the free wheel trade is much divided in England. The Irish Cyclist commenting on the subj ect, says: —“The free wheel has come to stay; but when things have settled down we do not believe that, anything like 75 per cent of male cyclists will go in for it, but that among ladies snch an estimate will not prove over the mark. The free wheel does not at all appeal to the scorcher. As regards absolute pace it does not compensate for the extra weight carried, and if brought into operation consistently it absolutely slows one’s speed, though of course, with a corresponding saving labour- Others, too, derive no pleasure from the sensation, or are frightened off in the initial stage through the strangeness of action. It appeals to all ladies, however. The sensation is delightful to most men and to every lady. The position when running free is graceful and becoming, and in striking contrast to the flopping of the skirt caused by rapid pedalling. It enables a lower gear to be used, for seeing that the rider coasts down hill the disadvantage of rapid pedalling is got rid of. Last, but most important, it minimises the risk of the pastime. Heretofore, fast travelling down hill, whether pedalling or coasting, has proved most dangerous owing to the possiblity of the skirt catching in the revolvic g pedals. The free wheel makes coasting quite safe. A very foolish fashion has lately sprung up among girls who bicycle and like to look smart on their machines. It is to tilt their saddles forward in such a manner that the principal weight of the body is thrown on to the wrists. It is impossible to ride very far in this way, for the strain on the wrists becomes unbearable. The so-called smartness comes in because in this way the rider appears to be standing on her machine rather than sitting, and her figure is consequently straighter and more upright. But it is a very foolish practice indeed, and one which we should advise none of our readers to take up. It may look nice, but it is next to impossible to go ten miles in this way without stopping and resting. The A.N. A. Committee have decided to recognise betting at the annual fete, and have decided to charge a fee of ten shillings to all registered bookmakers on condition that their betting books shall be open to league officials who may want to investigate any cases of stiff riding and backing the other man. Thus the Australian Cyclist on League matters :—Some years ago the racing rules were taken in hand. Alas I the constitution, the poor constitution. They were “ postponed,” to admit of twaddle and straw-splitting tactics by men who wished to be reported for their much speaking. Where are those men now ? Where are the rules ? Will the officers claim that the racing rules are complete up to date ? Has the safety of the Exhibition track, years under consideration, been settled once and for all, in the interests of life and limb ? Is it not a most grotesque farce that every year since the League has existed, the importance of amending the racing rules and constitution has serenely bobbed up right in the middle of the busy season, then, like a jumping jack, pressed down again—till next year ? The man who wanted half an hour to sharpen his bayonet when ordered to charge, was no worse than the business (?) chiefs of the League of Victorian Wheelmen. But for a moment we postpone further castigation. There is not the slightest wish on the part of any sensible man to have the League wiped off the sDte of remembrance. It is the League that is committing this very act for itself. The League is as essential to cycling, all round, as Parliament is to the people. It will be a sorry day. for cycling when it wakens to find the obituary of the League. . Cycling in its. own province has got much less from the League than the people from ; Parliament. Why ? The answer is easy. Parliament is controlled by officers who carry out the duties entrusted to them. The League certainly arranges, decides on details, but owing to some reason that has its

abode in the regions of masterly inactivity, never troubles whether the work is carried out or not. If trouble ever worries, or protests are raised, the results are the same.