The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-09


and reveling in new sights as we'll as
enjoying to the utmost the delights Of q
never failing thirst and an cmniverous
appetite. As to just how many wheel
men and wheelwomen viii take their
summer outings in this way during ths
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 VIII give as
some big, round figures to talk about
There is no doubt, though, that the
number CT touring bicyclists this year
viii run up into the hundred thousands.
They viii penetrate to every out of the
way corner of the land. Wherever there
is anything Of interest to be seen they
VIII swarm. At the big seashore resorts
OH the Atlantic coast they viii be large
" IN evidence. They viii skirt the
shores Of the great lakes. They viii
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 i. OOO,-
600 more wheelmen this year than there
were last, and the bicyclist who took his
first ride in 1895 viii, ten chances to
one, take his first tour in 1896 The in
crease has been wonderful / remember,
if you viii allow me to quote from q
somewhat limited experience, that on
my first bicycle trip, which was taken
ten years ago, I met not q single tourist
with whom to exchange greetings or
yarns in the course Of a 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 I was
eating dinner at some little village no
tel, perhaps miles away from a railroad
station, I would be joined at the table
by another wheelman, fresh from the
road and bound IN a 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 in
droves.
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 yvheelroom, and in it
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 Is
hotel He is a sort of combined hostler
and boots now, without any title to
designate his Office. But the name viii
come in time. Perhaps it may be
wheels y
People who do not ride, and even
wheelmen who have never done any
touring. are generally surprised at the
length of a trip which Q cFcllst Of or
binary ability can take in the coarse Of
a two weeks outing. Of course every
one Is familiar with the records of the
seoraheFa vino ride 100 miles in a day,
but the tourist belongs to a distinct
class. lie regards the scorcher with
scorn "A COED rider viii easily cover
500 miles during 8 fOrtnisat's trip and
have time enough to ace the country rs
he goes along. Allowing two whole
days faR bad weather and other delays