Evening star., 1898-07-16
TERMS OF THE TRACK

| often puzzled over the terms used. There
! Is distinct class of words connected with
| bicycle racing, and are really one of the
main characteristics of the sport. Some
| of the terms seem to have been coined es-
pecially for the purpose, while others
| practically self-expianatory. AS near as
! can be thought of, the terms used and their
| meanings are as follows:
BunchAAn expression used when all of
| the riders in a race close together.
The term is applied to both open and handi-
| cap events In the latter race the rear
men are generally reported as catching
! the bunch, meaning thereby that all of
| the riders in the race, a majority of
them. are riding close together
| Elbow trick-A term used for a style of
| foul riding. In some races the contestants
| are SO close together that their elbows
| touch, and if a rider wants to keep man
| next to him from passing he works his ell
bow and edges him away. This trick is
| dangerous and apt to cause spill, the
| man "elbowed' is apt to momentariy lose
| control of his wheel. 1t requires a skilled
| rider to work the trick, and an equally
| skilled rider upon whom the game Is work
| ed, to prevent serious results from follow
| ing
! FIat-This word is invariably used in con-
| nection with the time of a race, and is
practically synonymous with even. Thus,
when rider covers a mile in 2:10 fat 1t
| means that he has ridden the distance in
| two minutes and ten seconds even, with no
| fraction of a second added
| Handicap-A style of racing in which all
of the contestants are supposed to have
| equal chances of winning. The fast men
are made to start from the tape, called the
scratch, while the slow men are placed
| SO many yards in front, the distance de-
| pending entirely on the length of the race.
The riders who can be classed as being be-
| tween the fast and slow men, as far as
| time is concerned, are apportioned to the
space between the two, according to riding
| ability. The limit men are supposed to be
| able to cover the distance from a point
| where they start in about the same time
/ as the men starting from the tape, thus
| equaliZing every ones chance of winning.
Homestretch-That portion of the track
between the last turn and the tape.
| lnvitation-Another style of racing in
| which the contestants have been invited to
| ride. The men thus selected are supposed
| to be evenly matched race of this sort
| never starts with less than three men,
| Jumping the sprint-This is an expression
which is applied when some rider in a
bunch suddenly jumps to the lead, and
endeavors to run away from the other
| riders. This is seldom done until on the
| last lap. BY working this game a rider
surprises the other contestants and gains
anywhere from one to four lengths before
| they realize what has occurred.
Lap-The distance of circuit of a
track Thus, three-lap track means three
times around for mile.
| Lapped-Used to denote when one rider
! IN a race mas gained one complete circuit
on his adversary.
Limit-This Is applied to the distance
given the lead men in handicap race, be-
ing the greatest distance from the tape.
Mark-fhis is term in a handicap race
naming the starting point of a rider.
| man on the ten-yard mark starts ten yards
ahead of the scratch man.
Match Notwithstanding a race where
two men ride to determine the best rider.
Never headed-Used generally in a ham
dicap race. where limit man wins with
out any other rider in the event passing
him. 1t Is also used in any other race
where gains the lead and manages
to keep it until the tape is crossed.
Open-A style of racing where any rider
Is permitted to enter after complying with
all qualifications on the entry blank
Pace-The setting of a gait for one rider
by an individual or Individuals in front of
him A man on a single, or men on a null
ticycie, can furnish pace for the man be-
hind. By this style of riding the man i'm
mediately behind the PAGERS can ride faster
and with more ease than could possibly be
the case IL he attempted to do so without
this assistance. 1t is style of riding that
has come into general use of late. Brought
down to a scientific basis the PAGER or the
pacing crew in riding fast cut through the
air, and create a sort of vacuum suction
Immediately behind them, in which the
paced man rides. The rider Immediately
behind the pace gets the benefit of this
while the second or third men behind him.
IL one or two others are following, do not
get the full advantage of the PAGER or
PAGERS, owing to the rush of air caused in
ming the vacuum or suction created.
Pocket-This word expresses a helpless
condition Of rider, signifying his inability
to sprint during the time he remains in the
position. A rider is generally pocketed
when he is surrounded on all sides by other
riders. being unable to forge ahead or turn
to either side. This is a favorite game
where there are three or four men working
together in a race. A fast rider may be
thus caught and held until another man
gets so far in the lead as to be able to win
out at the finish.
Pole-The pole Is generally regarded as
the inside part of the track, the portion
bordering the edge of the infield. It is
really line, or an imaginary line, drawn
all around the track, eighteen inches from
the inside end, which measures the length
Of the lap. the rules of racing stating such.
A rider at the role is supposed to have the
best position OF any, especially when on the
home stretch.
Pot hunting-This Is generally used to
express the workings of a racer who visits
race meets in out-of-the-way localities
where the riders cannot compare with him
in speed. and where he manages to SCOOP
in all o. tn. leading prizes.
Scratch-A term In handicap races which
deSignates the tape or starting point
Sometimes applied to the last man In such
race, no matter whether he starts from
the tape or short distance from it.
When used as a verb the word means to
withdraw the entry of some person from q
race.
SpilEWhen one or more riders in a race
happen TO rail- from their wheels while the
event Is IN progress.
Sprint-A burst Of extra speed. In every
race the sprint generally occurs just before
or when entering upon the home stretch
Races anywhere under two miles are gen-
orally termed sprint races.
Tacktns oh-This expression Is used when
rider in Q. race drops behind another to
take advantage OF the pace afforded. In a
match race the word is used when one of
the contestants loses his own pace and gets
behind his rival and rides.
Taking pace-A rider generally does this
when he allows some other rider to set the
gait for him. So long as he remains in this
position he is accepting pace.
Tape-The line on the track which gem
orally marks the start of races: and in
variably Is the finishing point So termed
because on dirt tracks a piece of tape is
placed across the track to designate the
exact line of finish
Time limi.-A limit Of time sometimes
placed upon race. This Is done to make
the contestants ride fast, and formerly was