ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 515, 1 November 1900, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

Cyclos.

Joe Megson, who is something of an evergreen athlete, was undoubtedly the hero of the League (Carnival, which finished on Saturday last, as be followed up the champion honors of the day by beating Ben Goodson, the amateur champion, pointless in a mile special match; winning the mile and a-half First-class Handicap, which is like a weight-for-age event on the Turf, and much coveted by the scratch men. and joining with Walne in securing the Tandem Championship. In commenting upon the trade of the past year, the leading English cycle trade paper says:—“We think that it is now generally agreed that 1900 has not been a good season, also that, but for the war, it would have been very much better, and that, but for the free-wheel, it would have been infinitely worse.” After some further comment, in which it states that the trade would be wise to seek a new attraction worthy of following on the free-wheel, it makes this sugg< stion:— “The most suitable would, in our opinion, be the two-speed gear; that a practicable varying gear can be made we have no doubt, and if the problem receives the attention of the entire trade, as the free-wheel has done, it is probable that many simple and efficacious gears would be devised. Two-speed gears would then be very soon appreciated by the public at their proper value.” In endorsing the above, I must say that nothing since the introduction of the pneumatic tyre has afforded me so much comfort, and rendered the cycle more effective as a method of locomotion, than the interchangeable gear. But it must be tried to be appreciated.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club hold their annual run to Ellerslie .Racecourse on Saturday afternoon. Given fine weather the function gives promise of being a very interesting and enjoyable one. The cyclists will assemble at the Caledonian Hotel, Symonds Street, at 2 p m., and proceed out to the racecourse, where Mrs J. Cowen will dispense afternoon tea. The Auckland Cycling Club held their Spring Carnival in the Domain Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon. The attendance was very fair, but not as large as one generally expects to see at such gatherings. The Club’s finances will, I understand, not benefit much by the day. The. racing started with-the One Mile Maiden Bicycle Handicap for amateur riders, which was won by A. J. Bond from the ten yards mark, A. Green being second and L. Hanham third. The Mafeking Plate, half-mile (cash riders) was won by D. J. Plunkett, scratch, with Tressider second, and R. Hendry, 25yds, third. Time, Imin 9 3 sth sec. The hailway Workshops Bicycle Handicap, one mile, brought out a good field, but R. Lendrum from the 100 yards mark made himself prominent from the start, and won by several yards in 2min 44 3-sth sec. C. Hughes, 40yds, being second, and H. Benn, 220yds, third. The Half-mile Bicycle Handicap (amateur riders) proved to be a good thing for W. Reynolds, who won the final in Imin 11 sec, A. J. Bond being second, and E. A. Thomas third. The

Auckland Wheel Eace, two miles (cash riders) furnished a good race, D. J. Plunkett, the scratch man, winning by several yards from T. Beaver, 130yds, and R BE. Davis, 30yds, in smm 11 4-sth sec. The Old Buffers’ Bicycle Handicap, half-a-mile, was won by J. Doherty from the scratch mark. E. A. Thomas, from the 210yds mark, easily annexed the Baden-Powell Wheel Race, two miles, beating A. Green, 240sds, and P. R. Allen, 240yds, in smi« 7 4.5 th sec. The Kitchener Bicycle Handicap, one mile, was won by Plunkett, who had also on his heat, A. W. Humphries, 20yds, being second, and B. H. Davis, 20yds, third. Time, 2mm 33 2-sth sec. The One Mile Bicycle Handicap fell to F. G. Haywood, 100yds, E. A. Thomas, 120yds, being second, and B. Campbell, 60yds, third. Time, 2mm 31 sec. W. Reynolds annexed the One Mile Scratch Race for amateurs m the easiest possible manner in 4min 41 sec. B. Campbell was second 150yds away, and J. Giles third. Wellington cyclists are experiencing bad luck in regard to the weather. On two Saturdays they have had to postpone their opening run on account of bad weather.

Sam Draffin returned from Paris via Sydney by the Mararoa last week. Tn the course of a race the well-known pace follower, Jas Michael, caused the staid old-timers, the cynical critics, and the careless public alike to make exclamations of astonishment. Michael was actually resting his head against the back of ti e rear pacemaker, and keeping it there for mile after mile while registering Imin 45secfor each ! Such a thing seems almost impossible. The racer, however, was enabled to get very close up to the motor without touching the framework or wheels by reason of the rear rider being seated very far back, and to the 24in front wheel and perfectly straight forks into which it was • fitted in the machine that Michael was riding. The arrangements for last Saturday s Carnival were well carried out by Mr J. Knott, the secretary, and the members of the committee, and other officials of the Club. One thing noticable were the handsome badges and hat-bands worn by tho various officials, which displayed credit on Mr J. Clarkson, the athlete’s tailor and mercer, of Karangahape Road, by whom they were supplied.