Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Cycling has been described as the new golf, with the grey haired brigade taking to their bikes in unprecedented numbers. Sideline Sid threw his leg over the bar again a few years ago and gets out on his bike two or three times a week.

We are extremely lucky in Tauranga to have plenty of off road options, with specially created walkways/cycleways throughout the city. The only walkway not available to bikes is around Mauao, with a myriad of tracks for everyone, from the newbie to the serious bike rider.

The Waikareao Estuary provides a nine kilometer circuit, with plenty of options at the Gordon Carmichael Reserve, Otumoetai Foreshore, Waimapu Estuary, The Lakes and designated tracks at Welcome Bay and Papamoa.

However the recent explosion of growth of recreational cycling, is producing a few problems between the walking and cycling fraternities in Tauranga.

Walkers who travel in the middle of the tracks with headphones on oblivious to anything other than their music can infuriate bike riders - while groups of lycra-clad cyclists often swoop on unsuspecting walkers with little regard for their safety.

The answer is common courtesy, where each group is aware of the other and both walkers and cyclists treat each other with respect.

Cycling was introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century, with the first recorded cycle race in the country held at Oamaru in 1869. Cycle racing quickly became one of the main attractions at the Caledonian Games along with chopping and athletics.

A little research revealed track racing became very popular in the 1890s, with Christchurch's Lancaster Park attracting huge crowds five nights a week, including racing under lights.

The crowds came in their thousands to see local heroes line up against visiting champions.

In the early twentieth century, point-to-point cycle racing grabbed the sporting public's attention, with races such as the Timaru to Christchurch race, which was first held in 1899.

In order to produce tight finishes, handicap races became the norm, with some riders starting up to 30 minutes behind the first off.

In the 1920s, track cycling boomed again with cash prizes attracting plenty of participants.

The introduction of motor bike pacemakers saw unprecedented speeds to thrill the crowds. At Western Springs in Auckland, bike racing used to provide the entrée to the speedway competition later in the evening.

During the 1930s the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association was formed which created an immediate barrier with the cash cycling ranks.

A friend of mine who passed away a couple of years ago in his 90s had to fight to get a dispensation to return to amateur boxing as a coach, after riding for cash in the 1930s.

Track cycle racing continued after WW2, with some 20,000 people packing out English Park in Christchurch in 1956, to see World Professional Champion Reg Harris from England square off against Australian Champion Colin Shaw.

However it was Kiwi rider Owen Duffy who stole the show, leaving the two legendary riders in his dust on the night

The arrival of television in the early 1960s led to a dramatic fall off in attendance at races.

As gate takings plummeted, so did the prize money and the cash ranks dwindled. In 1967 the end of six o'clock closing of public bars led to further decline, with the eventual demise of cash cycle racing.