CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 752, 4 August 1904, Page 13

CYCLING.

R. Walthour, the crack American pace follower, who recently beat all comers in paced events on the Continent, has returned to America- Shortly after reaching Boston, Walthour was matched to meet Peander, Butler and Stinson in a 30 miles paced race, which he won by over three miles in! the new world’s record time of 33min 52 3-ssec, which is 21 2-ssec better than Hafl’s previous best. The fifteenth mile was ridden in the marvellous time of imin 6 i-ssec, world’s record. Out of the 30 miles ridden eight separate miles were reeled off all under 67sec to the mile.

Fine progress is being made with the up-to-date cycling track that is being put down on the Brisbane Cricket Ground. The track is being made at a cost of £l2OO, of which £7OO has been raised, by the members of the League oi Queensland Wheelmen, and Queensland Cycle Union by the issuing of debentures and life-members’ tickets. The work on the track was started last March. The banking has been completed and is now ready for asphalting. When completed the track will be one of the finest in Australia, being built to carry a speed of between forty and fifty miles an hour. The track is about five hundred and thirty yards to the lap, being three laps one hundred and sixty-eight yards to the mile. It is expected that the track will be ready for racing in August, and it is probabfe that a big cycling carnival will be held to celebrate the opening of the new track in September next. Brisbane has always been handicapped as regards a suitable racing track, consequently cycle racing has been poorly catered for and patronised there. This state of affairs beii g remedied, Queensland will no doub't take its proper status amongst the Commonwealth States in respect to cycle racing.

In a 50 kilometres motor-paced race decided in Paris recently, some very fine racing was witnessed. There were only three competitors —Hall, Brecy, and Contenet. Hall jumped and caught his motor first, but Brecy, coming along at a fearful pace, headed him off shortly after. Hall dropped back slightly, but livening up, challenged him, and for lap after lap they raced neck and neck at top speed. Thrice Hall tried to get the lead and failed, but in the fourth attempt Brecy was pressed so hard that he—lost his motor, which, after such a tough struggle, lost him the race. Hall won by five laps.

Tn the matter of cycle exports, Germany heads the list, with a value of £935,750 ; Great Britain! is second, with £849,839 ; United States third, with £420,000 ; while France is fourth, her figures being only £159,000.

A recent American bicycle patent is what is termed a “rowing attachment.’’ The saddle of the bicycle so fitted is mounted on trucks, which are adapted to run on two horizontal bars of the frame. The machine is driven by a reciprocating movement of the handlebar, simulating that of rowing. A cord connects- the handle-bar with the re a r wheel, which is rotated by a pawl and spring mechanism. The handle lever is fulcrumed at its lower end in a universal joint, and on twisting the handlebar in one or the other direction the front forks are, by means of cord and pullev connection, turned in the corresponding direction, thus affording a means for steering the machine. Two foot-rests, to serve the purpose of a stretcher, are provided on the front forks, and are so arranged that pressing down the toes a brake is applied to the rear wheel