A GREAT CYCLIST

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1932, Page 8

A GREAT CYCLIST

OPPERMAN’S RECORD RIDE. Hubert Opperman, Australia’s great cyclist, by his astounding ride recently of 860 miles 347 yards in twentyfour hours, and 1,000 miles in 28h 55m in 38sec, behind motor pace at the Melbourne Motordrome, has established himself as the greatest endurance cyclist in the world (says the ‘Sporting Globe’). Opperman’s epic rides in. the Tour de France, his twenty-four hours’ record on the road from Mt. Gambier to Melbourne,' his brilliant victory in the Boi d’Or in 1928, and his triumph in the Paris-Brast-Paris race of 750 miles on the road, last year in France magnificent though they .. were —are eclipsed by his uncanny ride under conditions which, at times, would have broken the heart of most men. Opperman shines in adversity. In lus sleepless rides twice round the clock Opperman displayed those rare qualities that have made him illustrious. His magnificent performances was due to his undoubted -ability and temperament, wonderful organisation, and team work.

. j In the early stages Opperman set a , | furious pace of more than fifty-five j mdes an hour until lie had smashed , the world’s two-hours record, when he changed his -rear from 165 to 150. He | then settled down to a good speed, .j which was interfered with when the , 1 drizzling rain set in early on Tuesday , morning. It was an orgy of record ; breaking, and the big crowd which had . j gathered each night—hundreds re- ! mained until dawn—were not slow to ' recognise the feat of Opperman, and 1 1 cheered him lustily. When lie set out a few minutes after 9 p.m. on Monday his main objective was to better the 1 record of 634 miles 774 yards done in . ' twenty-four hours by the English crack, A. E. Wallace, who thirty years t ago was just as much an idol with j cycling enthusiasts in Great Britain Jand on the Continent as Opperman is here to-day. « , i r .... 1. J

When Opperman’s twenty-four hours’ record was announced there was a demonstration the like- of which lias .never been seen on the„grqund before. Opperman had a brief rest, and then continued on to wrestle with the clock, and having completed 1,000 mi'es achieved tile feat of being the first man ever to cover this journey behind pace. All manner of world’s records has been established.

Oprerman, weary of limb, but alertin mind, was whisked off home, nod after twelve hours’ sleep wa.s just as fresh as when he began. Opperman i,s capable of achieving feats that would make the average cyclist shudder to think of. On his epic recordbreaking ride lie used his Malvern Star machine, specially shod with Dunlop tyres." and Was not unmindful of the great part played by his colleagues, Bruce Small and Finlay.

Endowing are Opperman’s 100-mile times: —lO9 miles at lb 52min 46 t ec; 200 miles in 4h lomin 9sec; 300 miles in Oh 51 min Bsec; 400 miles in lOh smin 36sec; 500 miles in 12h 54min oOsec*; 600 ,miles in 101 l 50min 32w, 700 miles in ISh 50 min 50 sec; 800 mites in 22h 13min llsec.