The times., 1898-07-20
WITH THE WHEELMEN.

race last Saturday at the Manhattan
Beach track, New York city, between
Jimmie Michael and Tom Linton, the
latter winning. movement has been
started to adopt a style of racing THAI
is claimed by many authorities to be In
vogue on the continent. According to
the American style of riding, the race
continues whether one or more riders in
a race become mixed up in cycle. In
an open race, where there are four or
five, or perhaps more riders, the con-
tinuance of a race Is not so bad, but in
a match race, where one rider becomes
unable to compete, owing TO an accident,
either to himself or his wheel, the event
assumes the nature of a farce. In the
Linton-Michael race the little midget
was obliged TO quit at the end of the
fourth mile, because of a punctured tire
Although the change was made as quick
ly as possible, Linton was going at such
gait that he gained a lead of nearly
mile by the occurrence. The lead he
held, Michael being unable to cut it down
TO any appreciable extent, so evenly were
the two men matched. 1t was hardly the
kind of race the spectators expected to
see. They attended in hopes of seing some
close and exciting riding in the race.
and this feature was conspicuous by It's
absence AS il was, Michael made
game uphill fight. but 10 no avail. Had
Linton been anyways anxious TO race
Michael on even terms he would have
held back somewhat. AS it was he
made an attempt TO show the spectators
that he could have defeated Michael
had no. the accident occurred but in
this he failed, as his lead at the finish
was less than that he secured during the
time his adversary was unable to ride.
To overcome this Objectionable feature
of a match race and to have an event in
| which the relative merits of the contest
| ants can be determined by an even riding
| contest, a movement is on foot to estab-
lish a set of rules providing for the stop
| ping of the contestant or contestants
! whenever in a match or open event ole
| rider is thrown out, either through an
/ accident 20 himself or through an acci-
dent TO his machine If II Is not possible
! to establish rules to this effect, an effort
| will be made to have an understanding
! between the riders TO observe such con-
| ditions or requirements. especially in a
match race. The adoption of such a sys-
| TEN, which is said to be in successful
| operation in England. France and other
| countries on the continent, would meet
! with more or less oposition. A poll of
| some of the racing men of this country
has been made regarding the matter, and
while some are in favor of the change,
! others are opposed TO 1t. claiming that
| any accident to a rider or his wheel while
| in a race can be clearly classed as for
tunes of war. Eddie McDuffie. the speedy
! Boston rider, who defeated Michael a
! short time ago, seems to be in favor of
! the change. He has run six match races
| this year, in the middle distance class,
and has not sustained a single defeat
| He says that he has made arrangements
in three OF his coming match races to
| make a new start IN case any accident
! befalls him or his opponent while riding.
He is announced as having stated that
! he would be glad to arrange all of his
other races upon such terms.
Tom Linton who defeated Michael.
seems to be in favor of the plan. He says:
Il believe that there should be a limited
distance named within which pure acci-
dents disabling the PAGERS and riders fol-
| lowing should call for a fresh start. The
limit, 10 my mind, should not exceed five
! miles Otherwise it might 50 happen that
| a man would have TO ride sixty miles TO
| win race of twenty miles. There are no
! rules in England or France, but II is now
| generally accepted that ~-louId an acci-
dent occur in the first lap a fresh start
be made. Another thing that l would
| suggest, and that is IL a fall happened
fresh start should be made quite different
TO the regulation standing start Both
men, each with multicycte equally man.
ned, TO cross the tape at slow gait the
race to then go on. Starting from
| standing start Is a heavy strain upon the
man. Conditions might be named provid-
ing that the race start where it left off
| rwould arrange race in that manner"
Speaking of the same thing Michael
partly agrees with Linton. Il don't be-
lieve that a race should be stopped when
an accident occurs said he, but I am
of the opinion that as soon as one rider
sees that the other is disabled, he should
sit up and ride slowly until his opponent
is mounted again and gains the position
that he attained when the mishap took
place. This is the custom in France and
would I believe become popular here. A
man should not stop altogether and dis
mount, for the reason tina: 1t is a most
difficult matter to get riding after one
gets off the wheel. | have been particu-
larly unfortunate this year in my two
races, and it is with some hesitation that
I advocate the idea suggested. but for
the good of the sport and for the benefit
of the patrons of cycling who pay money
/ l.
against time. as a race develops into when
an accident occurs, l think change
should be adopted. There is no credit in
winning from a man who is handicapped
by a broken chain. a punctured tire or
any other mishap that makes defeat cer-
tain. | don't want any such glory, and
have reason to believe that Linton. who
is a good rider and a true sportsman. is
of the same opinion as l. Regarding Sat
urday's race I was in the lead and main
tanned an advantage after riding four
miles with punctured tire With condi-
tions equal Linton would have been COM
PEELED to ride many seconds faster than
he did to win. This l will prove in my
coming contest Saturday"
Edouard Taylore, the Frenchman who
will come to this city on the night of
the 9th with Michael who succeeded
| in establishing a new hour record for
the world at Philadelphia, a few weeks
ago. seems to be against the adoptionAoi
the proposed new system. He says: 81
think race should continue after being
once started. The man meeting with al
accident is unfortunate and If he Loses
the race the other man deserves TO win
Every competitor should see that hi:
tires are put on right, and his machines
properly adjusted. Failing to do this
he deserves to be beaten, if anything
happens to his machine OF course
man might meet with hard luck by un
foreseen accidents, but these are the for
tunes of war 1t is probable were
race arranged for me on the lines sug
, gested. should do ii. The people would
undoubtedly get more spors out of suci
a contest. More people would probably 81
to see the races. as they would be sur,
of seeing a race"