Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19

I
SO gracefully cut that at short distance
the costume looks like a dress. She found
this costume much more adapted for road
riding than the ordinary walking dress.
Mrs. Smith rode extremely light ma
chine for road riding. 1t weighing only nine
| teen pounds. while that of her husband
| weighed but nineteen and q half. Mr. and
| MRS smith are members Of the Harlem
| Wneelmen, the Excelsior Cycling Club and
the New York Tourist Wheelmen, while
Mrs. smith is treasurer of the Women 3
| international Cyclists. all Of New York city.
| wheeling Trips for a Vacation.
AT this season, when strawberries are
ripening In this section Of the country, per-
sons who enjoy healthful and pleasure trips
on the wheel are busy arranging pleasant
Trips through the country-some in the near
future and others later in the season. Mem
Ders OF the Capital Ri Club are, perhaps
more accustomed to these delightful coun-
Try Trips than are the riders in any other
OF the local clubs. While the entire MEM
Dership never turns out on one of these
Trips. tnere are enough of the trips during
the season to accommodate every one, both
as 70 the length of the trip and the season.
A wheelman who has enjoyed more than
dozen OF these delightful trips told a Star
reporter the other day that he knew of no
more pleasant way of spending vacation
comfortable wheel, one not SO light that
there is constant dread of breaking down.
ana few dollars, he said. no one who en-
Joys wheel could fail to enjoy such a trip
and be greatly benefited.
In the first place, there is no great ex-
pense of providing new and fashiona BILE
clothing, such as is needed when one makes
| trip to the seashore or some famous
mountain resort although the wheelman is
privileged TO go to either or both of these
places. he is perfectly at home in his out
ing shirt, knickerbockers and short coat
with regular wheel cap, and everywhere
he goes he is received as a wheelman, and
Is really expected to appear In his wheel
costume. The people along the line of the
famous shenandoah Valley road and at the
| numerous resorts in that county are used
to the riders of the silent steed, and have a
hearty welcome for them at all times
On the bundle carrier the wheelman may
carry his change of clothing and what lit
tie else he needs. and not only Is he given
a cordial reception at the different places,
but II he happens to be q member of the
L. A. w. he receives the same accommods-
tons as others, and at many of the most
prominent summer resorts he gets q rate
much cheaper than the citizen who pays
expensive car fare, tips walters and pays
Tor the hauling of his trunk. Then, too,
he has no large trunk to pack and unpack.
and another In his limited time cannot
possibly cover the ground that can be COW
cred by a wheelman.
But the wheelman advises those who have
Fever taken country trips of any length
to be careful and keep on the county or
main roads on extended tours, unless re-
ceiving directions from a reliable source,
for most of the shortcut routes prove the
longest way after ALL And many OF the
Shenandoah valley riders have had ex-
perience in this line.
Two wheelmen last year, who were maxi
Ing tour Of the valley, concluded to leave
| to Luray. The distance by the short route
was less than half that Of the regularly
Travelled road, and 80 they thought they
would save time. And so they started
over the seldom-traveled highway in the
direction of the place where the beautiful
caves are to be seen and where one of
Virginia's finest country resorts Is located
The road for three or four miles was
rassable. to say the most, but the wheel
men soon found what appeared to them to
be worse than the rocky road to Dublin. Z"
They found it necessary to put their wheels
on their backs and climb rocks over which
no pair OF horses could ever draw q light
buggy.
After a while night came on and the
wheelmen came to stream. 1t was not
dark enough to require a light and so the
weary wanderers were able to find a place
where they could wade. But the nearer
they got to the opposite side of the stream
the deeper the water got.
And, said one of them, "if the stream
had been another foot wide there would
have been two wheelmen and their wheels
at the bottom of It,"
The other shore was reached In safety,
however, and at another stream they were
fortunate enough to get a boat. in which to
cross,
| A short ride on their silent steeds brought
them to the foot of a mountain, and exactly
how to get over this mass of stone and
earth was puzzle. 1t was then nearly 10
o'clock. and one OF the riders had a lamp
A search OF their pockets developed the
fact that there was Just one match in the
party. 1t was absolutely necessary for
them to have a light, and after a discussion
OF the matter one Of them proved himself
equal to the emergency and was able to
light the lantern wick before the match
burned out. Then II was a case of push
the wheels up the mountain, and It is I'M
necessary to state that the pedals of the
wheels rendered no assistance. Even when
the top OF the mountain was reached they
were not much better of than they were
when they started to make the ascent for
the road on the other side was just as steep,
and IL was a case of pull back instead Of
push forward, but the pair once more
reached a road that was ridable, and the
wheelmen mounted their iron horses once
more and rode into town, reaching there
about midnight.
Last Sunday the wheel clubs made runs
in different directions. The weather was
little warm for the month Of May. but the
clothes Of the wheelmen were worn to
suit the weather, and there was no
cause for complaint On the Conduit road
there were scores of wheelmen all day,
some going to Cabin John bridge and
others going as far as Great Falls, while
others took the roads east and north
Capitol b Club Run.
Members Of the Capital Bi Club and Vic
tor Cycle Club passed each other a number
of times on the road between this city and
the county seat of Fairfax county. The
wheelmen found the read in much better
condition than usual. and therefore the
trip was much more enjoyable than usual
Crossing the bridge at Georgetown, the
wheelmen were soon out Of sight of the
city, although from a number Of eleva-
lions they were able to see the Washing
ton monument looming up over the tree
tops. On the journey through the country
the wheelmen made stops at springs and
shady hooks. and in this way the clubs
passed each other several times. No scorch-
ing was INDUCED in by either club, and
this was probably the result of having new
riders in the parties, and their friends did
not want to leave them behind, for fear of
burst tire or some other sad mishap.
The country tavern at Faifax Court
House was reached in good time for dinner
and there was a good spread for them as
they had sent word to the proprietor in
advance. and not a single wheelman made
complaint concerning the age of the spring
chicken. The wheelmen spent a short time
and returned home via Alexandria
Potomac Wheelmen's Road Race,
Tuesday afternoon the Hamilton road was