Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-09-11
TILT IN THE BICYCLE GYMKHANA.


TILT IN THE BICYCLE GYMKHANA.
then in fours, then eight in a row, and
lastly 16 straight across. When the
lines are kept true the effect is delight
ful. Then they wind like the letter S
in single file from the top of the hall
down and back, then the ladies start
from one corner, the gentlemen from
the opposite, and they cross each other,
one at time, near the center, forming
Il letter y. They end by forming n
ring in the center and winding in and
out until the leader has been to the
center and out again. Then they ride
out to the dressing-rooms and that
completes the musical ride.
Next may come a potato race. The
leader comes out and places at inter-
walls down the hall three potatoes on
the right and three potatoes on the
left, the same distance apart. When
the signal is given a girl on a bicycle
starts down the right side, man rides
down the left side, until they reach
the potato which is farthest down the
lire. They dismount, pick up the pc
tato and carry it on their wheel back
to the leader, dropping 1t at his feet.
They turn, ride back, dismount for the
second potato, ride with 1t back to the
leader, and so on, until they have each
gathered up their row. Usually girl
will mount more quickly thar a man,
and is, therefore, more apt to win in a
potato race. Two more couples try
their skill in this direction, and then
there is final heat for the winners.
Next comes an overture by the band,
when fancy riding may be introduced,
and clown and possibly stuffed fig
ure tied on to his bicycle will make
little extra fun.
The fifth feat might DO the winding
of May pole by IL little girls in white
dresses and garlands on their heads,
and their bicycles also bedecked with
paper roses. Then follows an obstacle
race. Two long benches are placed
across the hall, another at the extreme
end of the hall, on which rests box
of soda crackers, and at the upper end
of the hall n table containing several
glasses of lemonade. When all is ready
signal is given and four young men
oI NhCClS Ilut uONn lHc
lift their bicycles over the intervening
benches, mount again, ride up to the
cracker box, dismount, eat one cracker
and return as them came, pausing at
the table to drink glass of lemonade,s
after which they make a complete cir.
cult of the hall before the race is ended.
Next the lancer is danced" if ono
may be allowed that word, by 16 men
and maidens on their wheels. They
form in two sets ard go through the
figures of the lancers, circling around
each other instead of turning part
ners," and ending with the grand chain,
making one of the prettiest items of
the evening.
The thread and needle race consists
of four young ladies riding down the
hall and each presenting young man
with a spool of thread and needle. He
must thread the needle while she waits
On her wheel. When it is returned to
her she rides back with it to the leader.
Tilting at the ring is the most diff
cult feat for the amateur bicyclist to
attempt. 1t means being able to carry
long spear while riding at full speed
and putting this through a series of
rings, which are suspended from glib
betlike arrangement, over the riders
head. This can be arranged in three
heats, with prize for the winner.
If one has tried to see how slowly
one can go on wheel without actually
falling off one will know how difficult
it is to win in a tortoise race, where the
victor is he who comes in last.