Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
A NEW THING IN AIR SHIP BICYCLES.

and miles over laughing hills and wales while
che Nebraska breezes raise In their souls an
ecstacy that Is such a hymn or praise anu
thankfulness to Him above as they never
felt within cathedral walls.
only comparatively few Of the city's wheel
. ing population have discovered the beauties
that are to be seen in the vicinity ABOUT
Omaha. To the others the hills have peen
q source of dread. There are hills, many OF
them. and some OF them are steep and hard
to climb, but then there are the down grades
and the level stretches between them. Ihere
are bad roads and sandy roads and dusty
roads, but then again there are roads as
level and hard and smooth as floors. These
objections will be found on any run OF con-
siderable length from Omaha. but they are
fully counterhalanced by the thousands OF
beauties that abound.
DELIGHTS OF THE BICYCLISTS.
There are few runs that extend hardly
outside the city limits, one might say, which
have probably been ridden by every wheel
man and w~heelwoman in the city. One OF
these is the run to Florence, a distance or
about seven miles. This would probably be
dubbed the most popular, II put to a vote.
The road is practically level all the way.
The same is true of the trip to Council
Bluffs along the roadway south of Broadway.
In good weather the run to Lake Manawa,
a distance of eight miles, is over a smooth
floor. Another popular short run is to- go
ont Center street. west Of Hanscom park, to
the macadam and along that to Ruser's
park, a trip or some four miles. Then
to the south Is the ride to South Omaha, a
little longer distance. This will probably
become popular when the asphalt is laid on
South sixteenth street. Another short and
level ride is to MINISTER springs on the Iowa
side. a nice little trip north along the North
western tracks to a pretty little village. The
distance is about nine miles.
There are a bunch of other runs, a little
longer. which are familiar to many of the
wheelmen Of the city. One Of these is to
Mort rrnpE n 1tctanaa IF ohnnt lava iIa
This is practically level all the way. One
rides through South Omaha to Albright and
then southwest to the fort. The Bellevue
run Is in the same direction and is also an
enjoyable one. A turn Is made toward the
southeast after leaving Albright and the road
runs In almost a semi-clrcIe into the pretty
little college town. There are only two
hills to be climbed. The distance is about a
dozen miles. Another of the runs popular
to the riders who do not mind a few hills
As the Dodge street course to the end or to
Krues' mills, a distance OF about ten miles.
The hills are steep and many, but they can
be enjoyed, because the macadam is so
smooth. Probably the course contains the
hardest hills CT any on this side of the river
about Omaha.
The run to Prizes lake is about a mile
shorter and makes another very nice ride.
After reaching Florence one turns to the
east and north. past the pumping station
along the river bank to the sheet OF water.
Another run OF moderate length, about thlr-
teen miles, is to Willard. That is out on the
Center street road. After leaving Ruser's
the road becomes hilly and continues so to
the termination OF the run. The ride is to
the end OF the maeadam and a little further
west. Then a shoot Is made to the south into
the town. To the northwest is the nine-mlle
run to Irylngton. The ride is through Ben
son, along the Military road and then north
west. past the cemetery to Irvington.
POPULAR CENTURY RUNS.
or the longer runs, which are known only
TO the more enthusiastic wheelmen, the one
to Calhoun is considered the prettiest and
the most enjoyable. The distance is about
seventeen miles. The ride Is to Florence
and then west about half a mile up the steep
est hill on the road. This hill used to be a
terror, but II has been cut down. From
there on to Conman station the road Is very
pretty and has some goodish hills, but none
OF them are OF great size. II Is rolling the
remainder of the way to Calhoun. This is
the starter OF the most popular century run
about these parts, From Calhoun to De-
Soto the road is quite level, after which ii
becomes rolling again and continues SO on to
Blair. 1t is the same through Herman to
Tekamah, which is very nearly forty-hye
miles from Omaha. The remainder OF the
road to the century post. four and three
hfths miles further north. is almost level.
The run to Glenwood, Ia, yies In popular
ity with the Calhoun run. The distance
Is somewhat greater, twenty-four miles In
all. The start is made by going over to
Council BLUFFS and turning to the south. past
the Deaf and Dumb institute. From this
point two ways are offered as q choice.