Cyclist Goes Well Against Stiff Wind

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 643, 20 April 1929, Page 1

Cyclist Goes Well Against Stiff Wind

RIDE TO WELLINGTON WRIGHT’S FIGHT FOR RECORD (Special to THE SUN) HAWERA, Friday. Ninety-six miles covered and another 86 in view before bedtime was the day’s programme of Stan Wright, the Wellington cyclist, who rode through here this afternoon, during the course of his effort to establish an official cycle record between Auckland and Wellington. Leaving Auckland at 8 a.m. on Thursday, he stopped at 5.45 for one and a-quarter hours’ spell at Te Kuiti, 130 miles south. Continuing his ride through the niglit he reached Awakino at 12.40 on Friday morning, having then done .182 miles on the first relay. Seven hours was allowed for sleep, the journey being resumed at 8 o’clock. At 3.40 p.m. Wright drew up to the Hawera Post Office, 277 miles from Auckland and 96 miles from Awakino. Approaching Hawera he was doing a good 25 miles an hour, and did not appear the least distressed, despite a stiff southerly headwind into which he had battled for over seven hours. ‘‘Mount Messenger, which we thought would be a problem, proved easy and not nearly so tough as Paekakariki Hill,” said Wright to a Sun man. “The hardest part so far has been the atrocious stretches, with road boulders to hurdle, between Te Kuiti and Awakino, making it impossible to do more than 10 miles an hour.” After a bath, massage and light refreshment, he left Hawera at 4.15 p.m., stating that he would endeavour to make Bulls, 86 miles south, before taking his second sleep of the journey. Wellington, it was anticipated, would be reached between noon and 1 p.m. on Saturday. The gross time for the total 476 miles would thus be something under 53 hours, compared with 65 hours at present claimed by J. H. Brewin, Auckland, as the record. The party following Mr. Wright by car includes Mrs. Wright and Mr. H. D. London, official recorder.