The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-08-19


and reveling in new sights as well as
enjoying to the utmost the delights of a
never failing thirst and an omniverous
appetite. AS to just how many wheel
men and wheelwomen will take their
summer outings in this way during the
coming season it would be useless to
speculate. We do not even know how
many riders there are. Some day in the
future we shall have a bicycle census,
and then the statistician will give us
some big, round figures to talk about.
There is no doubt, though, that the
number Of touring bicyclists this year
will run up into the hundred thousands.
They will penetrate to every out of the
way corner of the land. Wherever there
is anything of interest to be seen they
will swarm AT the big seashore resorts
on the Atlantic coast they will be large
ly in evidence. They will skirt the
shores of the great lakes They will
pedal along the highways that parallel
the big rivers They will ride boldly
up to the Rocky range, push their way
into the very center Of the Adirondacks
and the White mountains, and make
glad the heart of the isolated innkeeper
from Skowhegan to San Jose.
This is going to be the greatest sum-
mer for wheel touring that the country
has even seen, for there are nearly 1, OOO,
900 more wheelmen this year than there
were last, and the bicyclist who took his
first ride in 1896 will, ten chances to
one, take his first tour in 1896. The in
crease has been wonderful. remember,
if you will allow me to quote from
somewhat limited experience, that on
my first bicycle trip, which was taken
ten years ago, met not a single tourist
with whom to exchange greetings or
yarns in the course of two weeks ride
that took me through all the principal
seashore resorts on the New England
coast That ride was taken ON high
wheel, and all my luggage was strapped
ON the handle bars, a most uncomfort-
able way of carrying baggage, by the
way.
Much I marveled at the difference
last summer. My route took me some
what away from the well beaten and
much frequented paths of the touring
wheelmen, yet they were met by twos
and threes and dozens almost every day.
Very often it happened that as / was
eating dinner at some little village no
tel, perhaps miles away from railroad
station, would be Joined at the table
by another wheelman, fresh from the
road and bound in similar or opposite
direction. Even in that wilderness that
lies south of Montreal, between the st.
Lawrence and the head of Lake Cham
plain, / met tourist, and a jolly good
fellow he was too In the Green noun
tains the tourist awheel was met less
often, but at Saratoga he was present III
droyes.
Most of the hotel keepers in the cities
have recognized that the touring cyclist
needs attention, and they see that he re-
ceives it. A room ON the first floor is gen
orally reserved for a wheelroom, and III 1t
is often found an attendant who Is ready
to pump up tires, clean and oil wheels
and make himself generally useful.
This Individual is gradually becoming
an important adjunct to the wheelman s
hotel. He is a sort of combined hostler
and boots now, without any title to
designate his office. But the name will
come in time. Perhaps it may be
wheels. +"
People who do not ride, and even
wheelmen who have never done any
touring, are generally surprised at the
length of a trip which cyclist OF or
binary ability can take in the course of
two weeks outing. OF course every
one is familiar with the records Of the
scorchers who ride 100 miles in day,
but the tourist belongs to distinct
class. He regards the scorcher with
scorn- A good rider will easily cover
900 miles during fortnight's trip and
have time enough TO see the country as
he goes along. Allowing two whole
days for bad weather and other delays