1940: Cycling

Bicycling continues to show increased popularity each year and 1940 will go ahead of 1939 in the matter of retail sales. Many people are finding the bicycle a beneficial and economical way of taking their vacations, and coast to coast trips are not at all uncommon. Over 85 per cent of the American Youth Hostelers use bicycles as their method of transportation, and hostels are located over nearly all the country.

Because of the European situation the two biggest cycling classics were cancelled — the World's Championships and the Tour de France. In the United States bicycle racing enjoyed continued popularity with the National Amateur Championships, sanctioned by the Amateur Bicycle League of America, at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, being the outstanding event. Here state champions competed for the National titles, which were won by the following:

Senior — Furman Kugler — Somerville, N. J.

Junior — Harry Naismyth — Somerville, N. J.

Women's — Mildred Kugler — Somerville, N. J.

In board track racing, under the sanction of the National Cycling Association, the following titles were won:

Professional Sprint — Mickey Franicosi — Montclair, N. J.

Professional Motor Paced — Gustav Killian — Germany.

Amateur Spring — Buster Logan — Newark, N. J.

Because of the lack of foreign talent, six-day racing has been curtailed, the only major six-day race being in Chicago Nov. 10 to 16. This was won by the team of Torchy Peden of Victoria, B.C., and Cecil Yates of Chicago, Ill. Torchy Peden retains the title of World's six-day champion.