The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-06-25
IDEAS Of A CRACKAJACK
RACER CHARLES S. WELLS WRITES
ON FAST RIDING.
How to Get Up Finish Speed-His Ex-
periences With Team-Some
Sound Advice Given.

/ have often been asked by racing
men as to the difference between actu-
II competition and following pacing |
at high rate of speed in
trial against time.
There are many points of difference,
both in the actual riding and in the
for the two kinds of
work, which vary according to the re-
suits desired.
When 1 first went to Coronado in
quest of records my trainer, 5. q.
Shafer, at once changed the gear on
my wheel to much lower one than
had been using. This was done in
order to give me a quicker action in
pedaling, the good results not being
apparent at first, however, but grad
ually taking shape as my condition inn
proved. The immediate result of the
change was to permit the sprinters on
the team to get clear away from me
in fast work, and | would find myself
completely pumped out after each
sharp burst of speed. This effect was
apparent for the first few days of
my training for record work, but
gradually disappeared as 1 became ac-
customed to the quicker action re-
quired. The gear, that all important
factor in cycle riding, whether it is
for pleasure or speed, was then grad
ually increased on my wheel, and
found but little difficulty in adapting
myself to the changed conditions.
The quicker action required in the use
of the low gear developed the muscles
which furnish the driving power, so
that they were all the time prepared
for the extra work required of them.
When 1 went for some of the records
behind the six-seated pacing machine
the gear of my own machine was
nety-eight inches, which is probably
as high as most record breakers would
care to go. Once the gear is decided
upon-and that is a most important
detail in the arrangements-the rider
should practice riding steadily and
crouching as low upon his bicycle as
possible.
The steady action means the least
possible. waste of power, and at the
present low point at which the records
stand every particle of energy saveo
means corresponding gain in speed
The rider who cannot sit down on hi
wheel and at the same time direct j
around the edge of the track making
the shortest possible distance of thu
journey should not essay record
breaking.
The art of sitting low is soon &C
quired, one unconsciously adoptin.
that form of riding after practice be
hind a racing machine. The lowe
YOU crouch the less surface yo offe
for wind resistance, and l believe thi
partly accounts for the success o
Michael, the diminutive Welchma
now riding in France. From the az
counts | have read of his riding | bt
lieve he is completely hidden fror
view by the rider in the last seat c
\ the pacing machine, and the wind ha
| no opportunity to retard his progress
] which is often very rapid. l find n
i difficulty in following the rear whe'
of a pacing machine within an inc
4 or two and often touch it lightly wit
4 the tire of my wheel. One who ht
Y had any practice at the game will fir
Y it comparatively easy to hold close
u to the pole. would suggest cour'
]| of practice of this character to IL
ll rider who spread disaster broadcast
4 San Jose in the professional race.
My training for competition and fl
V record trials varies greatly, as III Il
II former | do considerable sprintin
l| well within my limit of speed, hoy
n ever, while the latter is chiefly stead
II riding without pacing in order to d
Y velop strength for long continue
U struggle. The chief mistake of IL
u new rider is his tendency to do tt
n much work, which results in his b
II coming overturned, condition whi'
n reduces his effectiveness very much.
\ The racing men are using somewh
u lower gears this season, the favori
Nj one just now being seventy-tw
NJ This will be increased to seventy-s
as the season advances and the co
, dition of the riders improves. La
, wear on the circuit we were usir
gears of eighty and over right aloI
and thought them just right. ~
racing man who would succeed mu
compete as often as possible and
{ cept defeat when it is his lot, grac