CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 762, 13 October 1904, Page 13

CYCLING.

A postman in England used a Rover machine on his rounds, aggregating 32 miles daily, for a period of six years, and apart from renewals, such as tyres and chains, he spent less than five shillings on actual repairs. He covered 70,000 miles on the one machine.

N. C. Hopper, who won the Sydney Thousand of 1903, has now gone in for paced racing in the States. From the description of his race with Hoffman we gather that, “ Hoffman yelled to Chapman, who was pulling him, for more pace. Chapman turned on more juice, and, the motor began to buck like a broncho spurred in the shoulder. She kept right on, running amuck all over the track, and was entirely beyond Chapman’s control. All the officials took to the fence and the tall grass in a hurry, and but for Chapman’s coolness there might have been a serious accident.” * * * *

Rim brakes should have the brake blocks arranged in such a manner as to allow for a certain amount of lateral movement which will admit of their following any slight irregularities in the rim which may present themselves if the wheel should become out of truth. Several rim brakes at present on the market allow for this lateral movement, but there are some which do not. A fruitful source of a rim developing inequalities is the too sudden application of a back-pedalling brake, which, unless care is exercised, does not admit of such nicety of application as by the handapplied method. Many riders, however, have a preference for the pedalling brake in lieu of the hand-applied levers, because it acts more powerfully. The rim for this reason should be soundly constructed, so that it will retain its rotundity under any breaking stress. In this respect the Dunlop rim is unsurpassed, and, being mathematically true and properly built up, will never develop inequalities. * * * *

A cablegram has been received from London by Mr T. D. Scott, secretary of the Sydney Summer .Nights Amusements, Limited (says the “Town and Country Journal”), announcing that Walter Rutt, the champion cyclist of Germany, had accepted an engagement to race in Australia this season, and would leave Marseilles on the Orizaba, the Orient Company’s steamer, which is bringing Ellegaard, the champion of the world. The Sydney promoters practically given up hope of securing Rutt for their carnivals, as last week a cable was received stating that Rutt would not come without Henri Mayer, the champion of Holland, and that he would not race more than twice a week. Then Mr Scott sent another cable offering Rutt an enhanced figure and liberal expenses, as well as whatever prizes he can win provided he would agree to race when and where required by the promoters. Then just as his acceptance was despaired of, the cable arrived stating that he would leave by the Orizaba. This means that Rutt, who next to Ellegaard is the fastest sprinter in Europe, will be here to race in the Sydney Wheel Race and Orient Plate in November in competition with the champion of the world. He is a great rival of Ellegaard, who is a Dane, and the pair have had many historic battles on European tracks. The presence of Rutt and Ellegaard, together with that of Ivor Lawson and Don W’alker, and a batch of handicap Americans, will make this season’s racing exceedingly interesting.

A couple of world’s records are reported broken in America. Samuelson rode from scratch in a two-miles handicap in 3min 55 4-ssec, and in the 10miles scratch race the same rider covered the distance in 21min 29 3-ssec.

Kramer may be regarded as the champion of America, for he had such a big lead when latest files left that he could not very well be beaten. He was firs'! on nine occasions, was second once, and fourth once. Fenn was running second, and Bedell was third.