The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-29
BICYCLING DOWN A MOUNTAIN.
A wheeiman's Exciting Ride and a
WheeIwoman's Placid Journey.
Portland Daily Press.

Portland Daily Press.
one of Portland,s well-known wheelmen.
Mr.. Perez T. Griffin, has just had an eN-
perience on Mount Washington that viii
afford a lesson and warning TO others who
North Conway on the train and then
wheeled TO Fabyans at the foot OF Mount
Washington. There he put his wheel onto
rode TO the Tip Top House. From the
summit a carriage road leads down the
mountain eight miles toward the site where
once was the Glen House.
Before the burning Of that hotel this car
riage. road was kept in good condition, and
the old-fashioned high wheels. Mr.. Griffin
was told at the summit that the road was
in bad condition, washed out and gullic1
hills, and can stop his machine half way
down Grove-street hill, locally famous
be safe, Mr.. Griffin started
Those who have ridden down
this road will remember its steep desserts
and sharp turns, with rocky wall on the
upper side and the rock-clad abyss on the
other. AS he had been told that he was
unlikely 20 meet any team, Mr.. Griffin pro-
ceeded with greater assurance, although his
speed soon became such as TO give him con-
siderable alarm. Holding his brake so hard
that his hand ana arm were numb, ana
back-pedaling with all his might, he Yet
sped downward at a speed that began TO
alarm him. But the assurance received ar
the Tip Top House that no teams were like
IL TO be met was comforting the flying
wheelman.
Suddenly. rounding a sharp curve sbouS a
third of the way down, a team appeared
coming up. Several alternatives presented
themselves TO Mr.. Griffin. AID each Of them
was fun of peril To pass the team was
edge of the road and fall on 10 the rocks
below. or dash himself against the rocks
OF the inner edge. or run into the team, or
make a flying leap of his machine. To sop
was impossible, for he was straining every
muscle at brake and pedal without lessen
ing the speed az all.
Mr.. Griffin decided TO leap. at the same
time keeping hold of the machine If posi-
BILE. IL is not a difficult matter for a hi
cyclist TO leap from his machine while rid
ing at speed and land on his feet. But to
keep the feet on a steep down grade under
such circumstances is very hard. In this
case. when the riders feet struck the
earth they bounded of again, and he few
several feet beside his machine. only 10
bound again as his feet touched the earth
But he managed to keep both himself and
his machine from falling off the road. and
at the very nose of the approaching horse
managed to stop. 1t was an exceedingly
narrow escape and only a perfectly trained
rider could have accomplished IL.
At the Halfway House Mr. Griffin took
the advice of the keeper and dashed his
brake until he could scarcely turn the
wheel. With the aid of this and by back
pedaling he managed TO make the rest OF
the way with much trouble and danger.
the road being very bad. His tire was
nearly torn 10 pieces, the outer tube being
almost skinned off. leaving the inner tube
AT the foot Of the mountain Mr.. Griffin
was told that a few days before a young
lady had coasted down on her bicycle safe
~ by means OF a novel device. Securing
a log of wood six or eight feet long. she
attached it 10 her bicycle by means OF a
rope: This served as a drag. Then. bear
ing hard on the brake and back pedaling.
she managed to reduce her speed TO the
limit of safety. But there are dangers to
such a device. since if the log should catch
behind a rock or i'm a gully in the road the
rider might be thrown