1941: Cycling

In 1941, for the third consecutive year, bicycling again proved its popularity to exceed that of the previous year. In the racing field the United States continued to be a popular center for this sport. On account of the European situation, nothing was done abroad.

The Amateur Bicycle League of America held their National Championships in 1941 at Pasadena, Calif., on Aug. 23-24. Marion Thompson of Chicago, Ill., won the Senior Road Championship. Andrew Bernadsky of San Francisco, Calif., won the Junior Road Championship.

The National Track Championships of the Amateur Bicycle League of America were held at San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 26-27. The Senior Track Championship was won by Robert Stuffacher of San Mateo, Calif.; the Junior Track Championship by Chuck Edwards of Chicago, Ill.

In the Professional field, under the auspices of the National Cycling Association, Tom Saetta of Brooklyn, N. Y., won the Sprint Championship and Mike De Fillipo of Newark, N. J., the Motor-paced Championship. William 'Torchy' Peden of Victoria, bc, won the World's Six Day Championship.

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.

1939: Cycling

Bicycling continues to hold the interest that has been created in the last few years, 1939 almost reaching the highest point in matter of sales in the history of the industry, and being about 40 per cent ahead of 1938.

The young and older adult are becoming devotees of this sport for they find it provides them with fun-giving exercise, and at the same time is an economical form of transportation.

Bicycle Racing.

During 1939 Amateur Bicycle Racing enjoyed one of its greatest years, the high spot of the year being the Amateur Bicycle League of America National Amateur Championships at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 1, 2 and 3. Champions from 28 states were on hand to compete for the titles, which were won by the following:

Senior Championship: Martin Deras, Bakersfield, Calif.

Junior Championship: Frank Paul, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Girls Championship: Gladys Ruth Owen, New York.

N. C. A. PROFESSIONAL TRACK CHAMPIONS. The professional track champions were as follows:

Pro Sprint: George Shipman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Pro Motor Paced: Tino Reboh, Newark, N. J.

WORLD'S TITLES. Due to the outbreak of the war, the World's Championships at Milan, Italy, were not completed, except for the Amateur Sprint Title, which was won by Jan Derkens, of Holland. For the other events the 1938 Champions retained their titles:

Pro Sprint: Arie Van Fliet, Holland

Pro Road: Mercel Kent, Belgium

Pro Motor Paced: Eric Metz, Germany

Amateur Road: H. Knecht, Switzerland

TOUR OF FRANCE. The 1939 Tour of France which finished on July 30 was run at a distance of 2,650 miles and was won by Sylvaere Maes, Belgium in 132 hrs. 10 min. 24 sec.

SIX-DAY RACES. The three American six-day bicycle races resulted as follows:

Chicago, Nov. 5-11: Doug and Torchy Peden, Canadian.

New York, Nov. 20-26: Yates and Moretti, Italian-American.

Cleveland, Dec. 24-30: Bergna-Boellart, American.

The World's six-day champion is William 'Torchy' Peden, Victoria, B.C., Canada.

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.