ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

The value of the bicycle was perhaps never more freely admitted than it was during the recent railway strike in Victoria. Every class of machine was seen on the roads from the latest pattern free wheel to the old discarded solid-tyred safety, which had been resurrected from the lumber room or cow-shed. Many city and country wheelmen quickly scented profit in the strike, and set about establishing relays,, for getting newspapers, etc., in the country from the city, andi in most instances big profits accrued.

Lucien Lesna and Alphonse Bauge, two well-known racing cracks, have been engaged by the Moulin Rouge management (Paris) to compete in pursuit races, on a small highly-baniked track suspended in mid-air. Both at Olympia and FoliesBergeres cycling sensations are included in the star turns. Le Cercle de la Mort (ring of death) is the startling title of the turn at Montmartre. Cheering to Lesna and Bauge, eh ! remarks the English “ Cyclist.’"

The French rider, Emile Bouhours, who has been recently racing behind pace iq England established a wonderful performance in the Canning Town track when he met T. Hall in a paced match of 50 miles on Easter Monday. Bouhours broke all English records from 16 miles to 50 milesi, covering 43min 686yds in the hour, and 50 miles in ihr 9min ssec. The wonderful . part of the ride was, that he covered the ‘twentieth mile "n the marvellous time of lmin 14 4-ssec, some 1 2-ssec better than the world’s paced mile flying start record, which stood to the credit of ConContenet (France) at lmin 16 i-ssec. Bouhours was paced by a 14 h.p. motor driven by Deville.

. When one thinks of it, there is far less trouble with the tires of to-day than with the solids of fifteen years ago. Almost any damage likely to occur can easily be repaired at the roadside, but in the case of a solid tyre becoming detached from the rim, there was not only great danger in riding it in that condition, but a permanent repair was almost impossible without the aid of the blow-pipe.

The eighth annual Paris-Roubaix road race, over a distance of 268 kilos miles) attracted seventy-seven entries for the eight cash prizes of £40 f £2O, £l2, £B, and four at £4. The starters number-; ed fifty-one, and out of these Aucouturier readied home in the new single paced re-, cord time of 9hr 12min, averaging over eighteen miles per hour over a hilly course. The surprise of the day was furfurnished by Chapperon, who had an accident which lost him ten minutes in changing mounts. But for this mishap he would have probably won instead of being beaten for first place by a few seconds only.

A letter received in Sydney from America states that Kramer, the crack American rider, will visit Australia during the. jiext racing season. Continental race followers will, no doubt find the appended table of victories and defeats of the eight leading sprinters of last season useful in following the cracks this year. “Le Velo ” classes the first eight riders as follows : —Major Taylor, Ellegaard, Meyers, Rutt, Grogna, Arend, Jacquelin, and Bald Major Taylor. Against Ellegaard, 9 victories, 1 defeat. ~ Meyers 5 victories, 5 defeats ~ Rutt 6 victories, 3 defeats ~ Grogna 8 victories, 1 defeat „ Arend 5 victories, 2 defeats Thorwald Ellegaard. Against Myers, 6 victories, 4 defeats ~ Rutt 11 victories, 8 defeats ~ Grogna 5 victories, 0 defeats ~ Arend 11 victories, 1 defeat ~ Jacquelin 7 victories, 3 defeats ~ Bald 3 victories, 3 defeats / Harrie Meyers. Against Rutt 2 victories, 4 defeats ~ Grogna 10 victories, 6 defeats „ Arend 2 victories, 1 defeat Walter Rutt. ~ Arend 11 victories, 1 defeat Against Grogna 6 victories, 4 defeats ~ Jacquelin 1 victory, 1. defeat Eddie Bald. Against Jacquelin 3 victories, o defeats . Jacquelin and “ Mayor ” Taylor did not meet each other. No matter how good a thing may he, if taken up as a fad, it is bound to be harmed by the senselessness o f its adoption, in the reaction (says the well-knbwn writer “Fortis”). This is particularly true of cycling. It is a great pity that such a good thing was made a ci’azc of. Its really useful qualities count for nothing in the subsequent neglect v.hen the inflated enthusiasm has spent itself. The harm its abuse has done is reckoned as an indictment against its use, and the good it could do is lost in the. havoc wrought by its immoderate pursuit. In itself cycling is a healthy exercise and sport. It included in its use so much that was desirable; it took its votaries into the country, where green fields and fresh air gladdened the eye and inspired the lungs ; it steadied nerves and regulated digestion, and conferred pleasure in doing all these admirable services. It is a. pity that the spirit of inordinate pursuit has done so much to interfere with such health-giving recreation. It was e; peoted that when the craze had spent itself, cycling would settle down into a reasonable amusement, rid of the faddists, and proving of ut lity to the multitude. Ku., due to the violence of the craze, it must struggle back painfully step by step’ until it regains a place in public favour and use of whi'ctl it should never have been deprived. Moderation only can give to any sport or any amusement a lasting vailue. The course of the Gordon-Bennett motor race in Ireland will describe the figure 8 and the order of running will be three times round this course and once round the larger loop. It would seem that an element of danger is introduced, provided that the cars actually cross where the two loops meet; but we take it for granted that the managing committee of the race has thought this matter out, and every precaution will have been taken to prevent accidents.