New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
TO THE SOUTH ON BICYCLES
A TOUR THROUGH THE FAMOUS sHEN-
ANDOAH VALLEY.
THE VALLEY PIKE NOT so GOOD AS WAS Ex
PEcTED-MANY POOR ROADS ENCOUNTERED
THE GETTYSBURG AND ANTIErAM
BATTLEFIELps vIsITED-A DEToUR

PECTED-MANY POOR ROADS ENCOUNTERED
THE GETTYSBURG AND ANTIETAM
BATTLEFIELDs vIsITED-A DEToUR
TO VALLEY FORGE.
The bicyclst intent on a tour who has twelve or
fourteen days at his disposal will make no mistake
II he turns his eyes In the direction Of the Shenan-
doah Valley. The fame OF the Valley Pike has gone
far and wide among the devotees OF the whiring
wheel. and the roadbooks. with perhaps more zeal
than knowledge describe It. without quaica ton. as
the finest In the East The pike lies in the States
of West Virginia and Virginia and extends from
the Potomac River. which is crossed at Williams
port. to Stanton a distance OF nearly one hundred
and forty mics. Where II Is in its best condition
the riding Is fine enough to satisfy the most ex-
acting taste: but unhappily the pike is in many
places allowed TO fall below It's high possibilities.
There Is more than one way Of reaching the
Shenandoah Valley. The best is to go on bicycle
all the way. That, at least, was the opinion OF two
riders who started tour southwark one fine
morning in June The route by Staten Island was
chosen.
The ride across Staten Island is too familiar to
New Workers. to call for description The ferry to
Perth Amboy affords a pleasant break in the first
days Journey. From Amboy 10 Metuchen. eight
miles there is good. rdable sidepath most OF tho
way. and the remainder OF the road Is fair Al
Metuchen a splendid macadam road leads TO New
Brunswick. beyond which the red roads that prevail
In New jersey come into evidence
TRENTON REACHED BY A sIDEPATH.
TIL. last three miles before reaching Princeton.
where the first days Journey ended. with record
OF fifty miles was over fair macadam, and this Is
10 be carried through TO Lawrencevie. On the out
skirts OF Trenton the tourists were surprised 10 mo
an end Of the good road and but for the sidepatn
would be out OF the question ride into the capital
OF New-Jersey.
Leaving Trenton and crossing the Delaware not
far from the place where Washington made the
passage under such different circumstances the
wheelmen surprised to find that sldepaths
were 10 be their chief dependence most oil the way
to Philadelphia Some has commented on the
lucky circumstance that rivers run by large cities
The sapient observer would be impressed by
the fact that In most places where road Is sandy
nature other bengnant influence mas
kindly provided a sidepath for the beneht or the
bcyc.er. The greater part Of the path between
Trenton or rather its small Pennsylvania neghoor,
and the environs Philadelphia is OF the kind that
compels the rider TO keep close eye on his road.
but before reaching Bristol there is snort as
lance O, charming riding along the bank OF the
Delaware
SOME PHILADELPHIA ATTRACTIONS
Tn. entrance into Philadelphia. II one endeavors
TO ge- a glimpse OF the beauties OF Germantown on
the way. is no, inviting and many inquiries are
necessary despite the first information received
which is that a turn to the right Of about three
miles will bring YOU 10 this delightful suburb The
stranger becomes entanged in maze OF shabby
streets bearing such names as Niceto~n Lane and
Rising Sun Lane. and finds that he has Iengthehed
his Journey by nearly ten miles. II Is great de-
light though. 10 strike Broadst. al the point De-
yond which the asphalt does not reach. and to go
bowling down It's splendid surface toward the giant
statue OF William Penn the huge City Hall, four
or five miles away.
One can go anywhere in Philadelphia on
wheel The wheeimsn passing through the city VIII
fhA a
Drive which winds through romantic glen along
the banks OF the Wissahickon Creek for seven or
eight miles All this beauty Is In the vast faAr-
mount Park. and is included In the city limits.
Can any Of our other cities boast OF sucn drive!
Philadelphia riders who 20 up the WissancKoh-
and {, is needless to say that II Is popular run -
usually return by the same course. as there is no
other good road back to the city. The travellers
whose adventures are being recorded however mad
determined 70 make a detour 10 valley Forge, ahu
without being able TO obtain any definite intorma-
tin on the subject set out across country from the
upp-r end of the Wissahickon Drive. They found
the roads fair the last part between Bridgeport
and Valley Forge being exceedingly good, albeit
VISIT TO VALLEY FORGE.
tn. usual course out Of Philadelphia Is by the
Lancaster Pike. from which turn is made at Ber-
wyn by those wishing to see Valley Forge Another
route is by King OF Prussia. survival or reminis-
cencc OF one Of the taverns OF pre-Revolutionary
times However reached. Valley Forge Is well
worth a visit, Some indications Of the earthworks
thrown up by the Continental Army are still visible
and the house which Washingtons headquar-
ters Is IN a good OF preservation. The place is
beautifully situated among the hills. but all traces
OF the forge OF rolling mill from which II derives
its name have long since DISAPPEARED. ~, u.,oA
The Lancaster pike reached at PaoH. which.
by-the-way is the furtherest point on this road that
M fnsa d butt 5ita rer on 'h does no
maintain the reputation II mas won. IN ldrt sne
ther BY fair county roads Coatesvllle reached
The Pennsylvo MIA roadbock and Other descriptions
o ne rSu 10 and taking the byroads by wagon
town oI compa-svia White Horse Intercourse ana
right so FAR as dry weather is concerned, but after
heavy rain the pike is be preferred to the mud
roads in the Pequea Valley. Between Lancaster
and Columbia the riding Is pretty good; After cross
nf the bti sqs The sasqa H IS splendid
here but little Of H. beauty can be seen IN crossing
York and Brooklyn Bridge.
It is thirty miles or te bitter h Ioa from YORK sod 70
condition A good part Of THE pike, however, is
5ogT a9a One is that 1 peo Using the road
ar. willing 10 pay toll when it Is not kept in better
condition No toll. by-he-Vay. is imposed on bicy-
cles.
SEEING GETTYSBURG on A WHEEL.
The man or woman who visits Gettysburg
wheel is in luck There are miles OF the finest
macadan on the roads laid out along Cemetery /
Ridge and there be no better way OF going
over the Janus battlefield than on a wheel. To be /
sure many stops necessary II one wishes TO
read the inscriptions on the numerous monuments
that have been set up in all parts OF IT. In fact a
walk OF three or four miles through the cemetery |
and as far the Bloody Angie" and the High /
Water Mark Monument Is TO be commended 10
those who wish get a clear idea OF the move /
ments OF the armies without the aid Of guide. No
guide IS necessary for 0ne who has famiarZed +
Himself in some degree with the story OF the battle
To reach the Peach Orchard. the Devils Den. /
Culp's Hill Little Round Top and the path leading
to Round Top. there IS no better means OF CON
vevance than the bicycle. one ride all the way
70 the TOD OF Cups Hill the observatory on which (
affords fine view; and no visitor should omit the
essy climb 10 the summit OF Round Top and its
obseryatlon tower commanding the entire scene on
which the stirring events OF the second and third
DAYS Of the Gettysburg fight took place
L 81 M one be deferred from wheeling from Get