Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-12
Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)

Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)
MINNEAPOLIS, December 81 am al
ways i'm condition for riding long-distancc
trips for the reason that l am In the
saddle daily for hours in connection with
my business as collector for a local firm.
/ do all my travelling awheel when on
my collecting trips, SO that riding has
become second nature A century run
IS no more TO me now than score oil
miles was a few months ago. My eNpe-
rience with the long-distance rides has
been that so long as q rider does not put
whip and spur to his strength he can go
almost any distance with little training
and be fresh at the finish.
But no century rider reaches an ad-
vanced position among wheelmen without
experiences that would take the heart out
Of an unambitious man. On May 18TH
and 10Th last / made the first quintupls
century ever ridden west OF Chicago, ana
which at that time was the third ever
made in America The extraordinary cir
cumstances under which | made this ride
are unique in the annals Of wheelmen.
Instead of being accompanied by corps
Of pacemakers and trainers, l set out
alone. riding night and day. dismounting
from my wheel and going ito my room
when | could find one open TO me, ana
there rubbing myself down, kneading the
tired muscles with my own hands. ana
frequently, when / could not find nos
telry. getting myself an impromptu meal
and then lying down for a short sleep
with an alarm-clook at my ear to awaken
me TO my self-imposed task when the
time was up. There was no money prize
in store for me. No vision OF stake ana
gate money shone ahead Of my handle
bars. drawing me on by Its magnetic IN
nuence; no encouraging words or goiden
promise In the shape Of crisp greenDacKs
in comfortable quantities We're waited
to me on the winds that sang through the
trees as l pursued my way through the
dark roads alone at night; no siren voice
from the lake bade me speed for the prize
OF wealth or affection. All had to cheer
me on was the thought that j would do
what no other western rider had accom-
plished, and this was amply sufficient 10
stay me during my rough experiences.
II was q terribly lonesome ride. AT
times 1t required all my courage to Keep
going. and the absence of the trainer or
pacemaker to urge one on when tired ma
ture cried quit would probably have made
most riders give up. The distance RIDDEN
was checked off every twenty miles, and
I finished the ride on Sunday morning at
s:21. and on Monday morning was at work
as though nothing had happened. They
say | looked somewhat drawn and thin,
and | know that lost nearly five pounds
I'm weight. but / felt none the worse Tor
it.
I had laid down rules for dieting during
the ride, and ! adhered TO these strictly
| treated myself TO lunch every fly
miles of the ride, eating only eggs, pota-
toes. and bread and butter. ! drank
coffee lemonade, and little water TIE
gear / rode was 70. but l usually rue
with a II or 81. The course on which
| rode was the famous Fort Smelling
Minnetonka road, the lake end OF which
is very billy. / walked some Of the hins
and found that the change rested me so
that I was able to do better work When
/ remounted the wheel.
Since January !, 1893, have ridden
total distance of 22.On miles, incluoins
los centuries. In the West mere, OF
course. we encounter greater difhculties
In the way OF continual riding than they
do in the East Thus l nave ridden vniie
the thermometer has registered 70 below
zero. and the snow has been foot ana
2 half deep beside the car tracks. nay q
had TO rnishaps OF any Importance. 90
NOT dr. nix. but am a moderate smoH.r'
the time lOI INC SOP"i
as folio NJ:
FIRST century, hours % minutes.
Second century, IL hours % minutes
Third century, 8 hours ID minutes.
Fourth century, 10 hours % minutes
Fifth century. hours minutes.
Actual lapse of time, 10 hours ana 81
rotrutcs Actual riding time. 10 houi
and 81 minutes, the dinerence-hihe
hours-being the time taken for sleeping
and eating. HERBERT c. GURNhE.