The times., 1898-04-03
CYCLING IN EUROPE.
The Interesting Advice of MIR. Joseph
PcnneIf:
From Scribner's Magazine J

From Scribner's Magazine
If any one wishes to cycle tndepend-
emily and at the same time pleasantly.
profitably, and l may say economically,
in Europe there are certain rules to be
remembered. First owing to the pres
ent state of the tariff law. which pre-
vents the free importation OF foreign cy-
cles into the United States, it is better
to ride an American wheel This. of
course, does not apply 90 the English
man. But the American wheel. as /
have seen it in Europe, is unadapted to
the purpose. 1t is furnished with neith-
er mud-guard nor a gear-case.
and both are absolutely indispensable to
ones comfort, owing to the dampnesS of
the climate and the muddiness or dusti-
ness of the roads while the wood rims
and single-tire tubes if a smash occurs,
cannot be repaired in any but the largest
cities, and this means unnecessary delay
and expense The brakes, as a rule,
are not half as powerful as they should
be- Altogether American machines. if L
can judge by those brought over, are
really fair-weater wheels, scarcely
practical touring carriages. Bnt no
matter what wheel you ride. do not fail
to fit it with good brakeS-if YOU are go
ing TO Switzerland the pneumatic tube
gear-case, which should be made, not
of celluloid, rubber or leather. but of
metal; if weight is increased, so is your
comfort. Every machine must be fur
nlShed by law with a lamp and bell.
The lamp must be lighted a short time
after sunset; otherwise one subjects ones
self to fine. Every machine must also
have makers number stamped on some
understandable part of the frame, for iden-
bNvc * al
a good thing to have a plate bearing your
name and address affixed to it. This is
compulsory for the natives of most Euro
pean countries and foreigners touring
without it may md themselves exposed
to annoying inquiries by the police.
rubber coat or cape or macintosh of
some sort should invariably be carried
Wear what you like: the foreigner in
knickerbockers has ceased TO be a source
of delight to the native. AS to ordina-
ry baggage, my experience is that IL is
very much better TO bring your every
day clothes, if you do bring them, in
trunk or a bag with lock to it, and if
you mean to return from the same port
at which you land you can leave it
there. 1t can only be forwarded across
frontiers by sending the key with 1t. that
custom officers may open it; and on
the Continent. If you are dependent on
baggage sent in this way, your time will
| be devoted to looking after it. The
chances are 1t will not arrive when you
expect it, though it usually turns up
eventually. The plan adopted by my
wife and myself is to carry everything
we want for a trip of from three TO five
weeks on our machines. Extra shirts
and blouses, fiannelS, handkerchiefS, etc,
can be washed over night. and in the
Summer time one suit of under clothes,
pajamas and toilet articles are all that
are needed. If you travel in thfs way
! you are independent of everybody and
everything and in my opinion it is the
! only way to travel. All the necessary
articles for two people will weigh not
more than twenty-five pounds. and can
| easily be carried on two machines. With
( our bicycles thus loaded, we can make
4 from ten TO 100 miles in day. pace
dependent upon nothing but our feel
ings, the roads and the weather.
/ Some months before you start. join
both the Cyclists Touring Club and the
Touring Club de France. | regret that
/ up to the present, membership in the
J League of American Wheeimen strong
and powerful as the organization Is at
, home. is of no use in Europe. But we
. hope to change this before long. BY
joining the two great European touring
clubs the tourist secures a free entry
for his machine into most of the Cont
I mental countries. on the presentation OF
his card of membership.
Cycling has thus done more to bring
/ about the universal brotherhood of man
and the elimination of frontiers, and the
abolition of silly customs restrictions
than all the peace congresses, social man.
ifestations. and anarchist bombs put to-
gether The tourist through these asso-
Citations, also secured reduced rates al
hotels. though he is not labeled and stuck
away anywhere like a Cookte. He may
purchase their road books maps, anC
guides-and they are the best that are
published-at small cost. In fact, mem.
bership in both organizations cannot bt
too strongly recommended to anyone who
proposes to cycle in Europe. Americans
I should Join the Cyclists Touring Club
by applying to Mr. f. w. Weston Savr
Hill. Boston, Mass. and the French Tour.
ing Club, by addressing Colonel Heseltine
10 fremont Street, Boston, The fee il
each case is about 81. But applications
should be sent in at least a month in ad
vance, as they have to be forwarded t.
Europe. Americans who are abroad
should address themselves to the heaC
offices in London and Paris. Englishmer
who wish TO join the French Tourint
Club should apply to Mr.. c. F. Just, /
Victoria Street. London. S. w.
On leaving France, if you expect t
return again with your cycle ask at tn,
either for a paper called a passaVant de
scriptif, which enables you, upon it's pre-
sentatiOn. to re-enteT without any for
malities or else have your machin
plombe-stamped-tha is have a Iitu
} I lead seal attached. which answers tn
same purpose as long as you do no
lose it. You must follow, virtually, tn
same course in Switzerland and in Italy
If you are so ignorant or careless as no
to have joined one of the touring clubs
demand your money back at the las
( custom house as YOU leave the country
or it will not be refunded. In any cas-
you will be subjected to more or les
} annoyance and delay, which can all b
avoided by joining a touring club. An,
If you do not understand the languag
: and think the delays specially veXatious
do not lose your temper, for the fault |
probably all your own Near any front
ier, but especially in France and Italy
| never make photographs or sketches
There are the strictest laws against il
and ignorance of them is no excuse; yo
render yourself liable to arrest and i'm
prsonment. and your ambassador O
minister is quite powerless to help you
There are no restrictions of any sor
that / know of in Holland. You ma,
ride anywhere you want, on the tow
= path, the dikes, or the brick streets
+ You can see more of the country from
I cycle than in any other way as tn
f roads are invariably higher than the ca
5 nails or the railways and you can rid
f from one end to the other of The mos
e interesting part in a day In riding o.
tow-paths. however. il is well to look ou
for tow and other ropes, if you do no
want 10 be suddenly swept into a cana
= From Rotterdam a most interesting ton
I can be made to the Hague. Haarlem tn
e dead cities of the Zuyder Zee, back dow
t the great dixie to Amsterdam thence t