National Republican., 1882-09-14
OUR BICYCLE TOURISTS.
Their Ride 10 Lurny Cave and the Natural
RrLdgr-IIome Round.

Special Correspondence 1.-THE REPUBLICAN,.
STAUN1oN. VA, Sept. 1O.-Probably but few of
the people who see the bicycle running swiftly
and silently through the smooth streets of Wash
ington suppose it is suitable fortraveling long dis
tances through the country. The trip now being
successfully made by three members of the Capt.
tai Club--Clarcnce G. Allen, NJ AK Hansmann, and
Warren seely-will show that the bicycle is capa-
Bile of rendering good service for touring. These
young men left Washington little less than two
weeks ago, and at Harper's Ferry mounted their
machines. When only twenty miles from the
starting point Hansmann's chopper broke its
neck. owing to a flaw in the metal, and delay of
three days IN Winchester was the result while the
broken part was repaired IN Washington The
party went to Valley View Springs, on the road
from New Market to Luray, and day was pleas
antly spent among grand mountain views.
THE RUN FROM VALLEY VIEW
across the Massanutten Mountain to Luray was of
special interest, as the grades were such as
bicyclers seldom have TO contend with. The as
cent necessitated walk Of three miles, but the
descent was safely ridden with the brakes jammed
down hard. The people living along this road
said that only one other party of bicyclers had
ever crossed the mountain, and they went over In
tain was recrossed, and thirty miles for the
days run brought the party TO Harrisonburg.
After morning run of twenty six miles Staunton
was reached on Thursday, September T. The
"Yalley pike" as the road from Winchester is
called, ends at stauuton. and many persons pre-
tural Bridge, as the fifty miles from here is very
rough. But the bicycers were not TO be bafiled in
that way, and notwithstanding that recent rain
had made the clay road very "ehucky," Lex
ington, thrty-sx miles from Stauntou, was
reached the first day, and the Natural Bridge at
dinner time the following day,
HAVING RIDDEN IN ALL 2Oi MILES.
These are the first bicyclers to reach the bridge
on their machines A Philadelphian claims to
have ridden there but the hotel people deny that
his bicycle came with him, and II was ascertained
later that he left his bicycle at Lexington, fifteen
miles distant. While at the bridge the climax
was capped by taking the machines across it..
Owing to another rain damaging the, road. the
party returned to staunton by rail and expect to
start down the valley in the morning on their
bicycles, visiting Winchester. Martinsburg,
next Sunday night. The beautiful scenery ofthe
Shenandoah Valley and Its many points of inter-
est has made the trip profitable one, and the
universal kindness of the people has made every
day delightful. THE REPUBLICAN, which clrcu-
lates largely in this region, together with notices
in the local papers, have informed the people of
the journey Of the bicyclers, and at nearly every
town visited some one has remarked, "We read
novelty in this part of the country, and of course
attract q great deal of attention and bring forth
NO END OF QUESTIONS FROM THE NATIVES,
In many places visiting Washingtonians were
found, who added much to the, pleasure of the
tourists, and at every place the treatment by
hospitality Especially pleasant for this reason
were the stops in Winchester, Valley View and
the Natural Bridge. The. miniature photo.
graphing apparatus carried by the tourists has
been frequently used and many beautiful views
have been taken. The machines, MS well as the
riders. are In good condition, and the home
ward trip will no doubt be made with the same
success that has so far characterized the tour,
and as much of the road is now familiar to them,
the boys intend to make some good records on the
return. O. G.