1938: Cycling

The interest that has been created in bicycling in the last few years is far greater than is apparent when production and sales are taken into consideration. Clubs with club runs have been formed—touring during one's vacation by bicycle is again not uncommon—trips have been made from coast to coast for fun. Cycle trains where riders are taken out of the large cities into the country are quite popular. Cycle paths are being provided in many of the national parks, while in New York City alone the Park Board has laid out some 60 miles of such paths.

Cycle Races.

Six Day races are held in the major cities of the world during the winter season. While there are slight variations, the following conditions usually prevail: The race is over a tenth-mile board track banked to forty-five degrees on the turns. Fifteen two-man teams start and ride one hundred and forty-six hours. The rules stipulate each team must be represented on the track at all times but partners relieve each other as they please; several series of sprints for points are held each day and these points decide all ties in mileage, otherwise the team traveling the most miles wins; the riders can get three to four hours sleep each day and average a good-sized meal every two or three hours.

The records of the International Six-Day races are as follows:

Cleveland, Ohio—Jan. 10-16

1. Killian and Vopel—Germany

2. Walthour and Crosley—U. S.

3. Obrien and Ottevaire—U. S.

Ghent, Belgium—Jan. 12-18

1. Slaats and Pellenaers—Holland and Belgium

2. Buysse and Billet—Belgium

3. Van Schundel and Van Debroeck—Belgium

San Francisco, Calij.—Feb. 6-12

1. Torchy Peden and Doug. Peden—Canada

2. Debeates and Rodman—Belgium and U. S.

3. Allen and Obrien—U. S. A.

Milwaukee, Wis.—Feb. 25-March 1

1. Walthour and Crosley—U.S.

2. Vopel and Korsmeier—Germany

3. Yates and Ottevaire—U. S.

Chicago, Ill.—March 13-19

1. Letourner and DeBruycker—France and Belgium

2. Peden and Peden—Canada

3. DeBeates and Reboldi—Italy and Belgium

Paris, France—March 21-27

1. Kaers and Billiet—Belgium

2. Ignat and Diot—France

3. Wals and Pynenberg—Holland

Indianapolis, Ind.—April 3-9

1. Lepage and Wambst—Canada and France

2. Audy and Buhler—Canada and Switzerland

3. Van Kempen and Zach—Holland and Switzerland

Pittsburgh, Pa.—April 17-23

1. Walthour and Crosley—U. S.

2. Yates and Ottevaire—U. S.

3. Audy and Buhler—Canada and Switzerland

New York, N. Y.—Sept. 18-24

1. Killian and Vopel—Germany

2. Peden and Peden—Canada

3. Walthour and Crosley—U. S.

Chicago, Ill.—Nov. 6-12

1. Killian and Vopel—Germany

2. Peden and Peden—Canada

3. DcBeates and Gumbiture—Belgium and France

One of the largest professional sports events in the world is the Tour of France, with hundreds of entries from all nations competing for a fortune in prizes. Over a million spectators witness the race, which is run in 21 stages and as they circle France the contestants ride in every climatic condition from sea level to over 7,750 feet above. The Italian, Gino Bartelli, won the 1938 annual 'Tour' with a riding time of 148 hrs., 20 min. for the 2,946 miles.

The World's 1938 Championships are:

Professional Sprint—Arie Van Vliet. Holland

Professional Road—Marcel Kent. Belgium

Professional Motor Paced—Eric Metz. Germany

Amateur Sprint—Jan Van Der Vyner. Holland

Amateur Road—H. Knecht, Switzerland

The United States 1938 Championships are:

Professional Sprint—Albert Sellinger, Newark, N. J.

Professional All-Around—George Shipman, Brooklyn. N. Y.

Professional Motor Paced—Tino Reboh, Newark, N.J.

Amateur Sprint—Mickey Franciose, Montclair, N. J.

Amateur Athletic Union National Road Championship—Albin Jurca. Kenosha. Wis.

National Cycling Ass'n Dirt Track Championship—Lloyd Thomas, Newark, N.J.