Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26
SUGGESTIONS FOR TOURING

Now that pleasant weather Is at hand
there are a good many riders in the city
who look forward with much pleasure for
a trip of one, two or more days duration
out on the roads within a radius of several
hundred miles from the city. This is about
the most enjoyable way to spend the time,
and one can pursue his course according to
his own whims. Unlike travelling on
train. he does not have to stop at any set
places. but when riding leisurely along the
country roads he can dismount at any time
or at any place he pleases and enjoy
short rest or enjoy pretty scenery. This is
one of the great advantages of using
wheel.
To begin with when starting out on
long tour say of 200 or 300 miles, the one
main thing to keep in view is pleasure.
There is no pleasure in scorching from one
place to another simply to cover ground.
If the time is limited 1t is better for the
rider to make a trip which can be comfort
ably and easily covered within the allotted
allowance: it is foolish to plan much
longer journey and then be forced to ride
lard to complete it. 1t is much better to
cover forty or fifty miles a day and enjoy
1t than to endeayor to reel off a century
every twelve or fourteen hours and pay up
for It by the tired feeling and depression
which comes from excessive hard work.
This is the proper way to look at 1t.
In making a tour it is not absolutely
heCtSSdty " ne All experienced TlQer. A
novice can take a tour well an ex-
perienced rider, and what is more likely
can get far more pleasure out of the trip
because of the novelty. The mere fact
that the experienced rider can cover more
ground in day does not make it a more
enjoyable trip to him. The novice can ride
about half as much during the course of a
day and enjoy it, and be fresh and willing
morning. OF course, a new rider may take
much longer time in covering a set dis
lance. but what OF that, long as the
trip proves pleasant and enjoyable
Take, for instance, the description of the
three days tour which was published on
this page last week. That is one of the
most pleasant rides imaginable. and ena-
hles one to enjoy the beautiful scenery of
the upper Potomac and Shenandoah valley
II novice would allow himself a week he
could very easily cover the distance with
out any unusual fatigue and see eyerv-
thing that the expert rider does in three
Gays perhaps Swimming across the country
all of the time. That is only one of many
tours that can be taken. If more time can
he spared for the ride the trip can be
heightened all around the Shenandoah
regions. taking in the Natural bridge the
Luray Caverns, and then crossing over
into Maryland go through the historic
places; over Antietam and Gettysburg bat
tlehelds and a number of other places
The trip can easily be made. the whole
thing to be considered being the time ut
the disposal of the rider.
however, in taking a tour of any sort thu
hewness Of things Is apt to be felt by the
rider. The continuous riding and the va
rlety OF roads encountered, together with
all other conditions that beset a bicycle
r,her. are apt to have an effect. and these
should be looked after as much AZ possihIe
before the start. By steady practice rid
ing for week or before going out on a
long ride of the sort the inclination to feel
tne erect OF the steady riding on the road
WIN De overbalanced. and by taking things
easy and keeping a serenity of mind Ri.
various defects in the roads can be over
looked This is the one great secret of an
enjoyable trip. The rider goes out to look
for pleasure, and this is not obtainab Bile by
noticing every little defect in the roads
and grumbins and mumbling over the
same one cannot expect the highways of
the country to be as smooth as the streets
OF the city. If an accident should occur
take the bright side of 1t; do not keen
thinking over it. es this sort of worry viii
sPoii any trip. There may be portions Of
the road encountered which would be
enough 10 make saint say soma bad
words, but that all goes with the trip. and
IN looking back over such ride there is
more or less pleasure in the fact that Won
managed to get over the place at anv rate
another thing Is this: 1t is all good and
risht 10 have certain degree Of fastidious-
ness. but 1t must not be carried to an ex-
treme. At the country hotels and farm
houses where one may be compelled to
stop tie style and elegance of a city ho-
tel canrot be expected. There will be no
courses at the table. possibly no napkins
served, and toilet conveniences very limit
ed. but one should not grumble All this
goes with the trip, aud the novelty will b.
enjoyed afterward, If not at the time It Is
conventionalities of city life and enjoy the
free country life we'll as the free and
prac1ns air OF the country itself
White the bicycle is virtually cure all
Tor good many minor diseases and some
major ones. too, for that matter there are
some riders on tour who are apt to suf-
Ter from their stomachs. through a change
OF water and food which may be suneriu
duced by the change Of air. While this ia
only temporary suffering. yet 1t would
hardly do to have such occur on a Journey
OF two or three days. as It would leave the
rider sick most of the time, spelling the
pleasure of the trip. On this account 1t is
well to be cautious as to the food eaten
and the drink taken by those who are apt
10 suHer In this respect. The stomach is
as much In need of attentin at times as the
bicycle itself, though some riders are not
aware of 1t until too late
The touring rider will find simple pre-
cautions OF the homeopathic school suffl-
cient to get the system into working order.
and then moderation should be the rule In
eating. drinking and exercise. AS the stom-
ach becomes toned up the thirst grows less
frequent and annoying, and In due course
the wind and staying power requisite for
thorough enjoyment ON the wheel will de-
velop The popular habit Of jumping of at
wayside refreshment booths and filling I'M
on ice-cold drinks Is not only dangerous to
the health. but ruinous to the wind while
repeated repasts on questionable pie are
also landmarks on the route to the UNDER
taker. Paradoxical as 1t may sound one of
the most cooling and bracing drinks on a
baking run is hot tea. WHILE II one feels
hungry. the most logical course is to stop
and have genuine meal in a comfortable
and leisurely way. The tourist who pre-
fers to sacrifice his constitution to his
mileage Is liable to lose the benefit of both.
To those OF limited time many good pleas
ure trips can be made on Saturday. and
Sunday. though this fact does not seem to
be recognized. The start can be made some
time during the afternoon of Saturday and
the ride continued to some point where
the night may be spent, and then the NEXT
morning. after a good breakfast, the ride
can be resumed. continued for some miles.
and the turn around made and the TOURNEY
for home started. There are a number o.
places In the vicinity Of Washington that
can be reached in this manner with the
riding which can be done SATURDAY. after
noon. To others who cannot leave their
business until quits late in the afternoon,
ne train can be taken to some point, where
the night can be spent. and the ride made
to the city on the following day. Another
style OF Two days touring Is to ride on
Saturday as far as possible. and continue
the ride the next day until the destination
desired Is reached. when the train for home
"a ha toh