Annual Wellesley Bike Race Starts Sunday at 10 a.m., Prizes Offered

Three classes of racing bicycles--and a high wheeler--will begin pumping southward when the Harvard-Wellesley Bike Race opens here Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

John L. Sloanaker '53, president of the Outing Club, which is sponsoring the race, announced last night that he expects 25 or 30 cyclists to enter one of the three classes, known as the American, touring, and racing classes.

The American class has no hand brakes and no gears, and thus earns a six minute handicap. Touring, which has hand-brakes and up to three gears, is allowed a lesser handicap or two and a half minites. Racing class bicycles are any other kind.

Several unusual bikes, including the high wheeler and a French racing tandem, a bicycle built for two, will be entered. Unlike most previous races, there are no favorites this year.

In past years the winning cyclists have usually covered the 14 mile course in 40 minutes or less. Average time for the competitors is about 50 minutes.

The grand prize winner will receive a $130 Dawes Racer, donated by the Bicycle Exchange. There will be other prizes in each class.

Cyclists will settle down to a picnic at Wellesley following the race. The perennial custom of a kiss for the winner from the president of the Wellesley Outing Club has been discontinued.