The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
ANEW FAD FOR WHEELMEN.
HOW 10 MAKE YOUR OWN ROAD
MAPS WHILE RIDING.


Really n Very simple Matter in Practice.
| Attached to the majority Of bicycles in use to-
day ia an instrument the resources Of which for
pleasure and profit have not been fully developed
4 The cycomctcr has been wrought TO a remark
ably high degree Of efficiency during the past few
years and it has attained such popularity that
few cyclists who arc steady riders without
! one For the most part the instrument is en-
ployed in order that the rider may know the total
number of miles ridden during the season, the
distance travelled during the day, and how far
Z IL is to certain places From the services on
the Part Of the little distance mchsurer much
satisfaction is derived, but these do not represent
the best purposes that the cyclomcter can serve
BY systematic use Of the cyclomctcr q wheel
man may become quite typographical Surveyor
he can lay out charts and directions for not only
his guidance but for others This can be done
without interfering with the speed of journey
and its accomplishment will be found such
source OF pleasure to rapidly develop into
hobby Only few riders attempt TO use their
cycometers in such mcthodical way to make
them truly valuable and these few ore far from
thorough
One man who makes hobby OF this kind OF
surveying is n lawyer, past 40 years OF age,
who rides at speed of from twelve to eighteen
miles an hour, and wherever he goes makes series
Of notes pad Of paper that he carries fastened
TO his handcbars From these notes he has
furnished Of the best routes in the possession
Of the L. a W. Whether alone or in company,
he makes a record Of the country travcrscd and he
says he would lose much OF the pleasure oil riding
II he did not do so, although his primary object
in riding is the alienation OF physical ailmcnt
All persons know the uncertainty OF an estimate
Of distance travelled. As for relying on local
infpr in thp all
the old story OF the farmer who when asked the dis
tance to a certain place took his qucstioncr to ono
side pointed out hilltop several miles away ana
said: "Wa'al where you wantcr go, Is about tew
looks beyond that" as being but slightly eXag-
Ecratcd Characterization Of the average rustic
guidance BY taking reading Of the cyclometer
at each turn made, it becomes pos iJle TO give
such direction Ride four and three tcnths miles
and then turn TO the right" Instructions like
these can be followed by any rider even through
towns and cities gridironcd with intcrsecllng
highways The iotting down OF distances alone is
not, however. the only thing necessary for such
a chart as will serve to guide one over the same
route. A decription of typographical features
is Indispensable and this is where comes in the
, fascination that breeds the hobby.
Tourists know how easily they become con-
fused and uncertain whether they are on the
correct road or not even though they have been
over ii before. Therefore the bridges and rail-
roads crossed the streams that run beside the road
the several roads besides the ono to be followed
when fork is reached and various landmarks
by the way should be noted This be done
in many ways and all without diSmountng OF
slackenng speed.
1t would be well, however, il all riders who
mako such charts Of their ride followed some
system Of marking more or less uniform, for in
tho course Of the interchange OF information there
would then be established kind of bicycle tour
lists shorthand that would be plain TO all riders
as to the ono who made the notes If this was
done charts could be reproduced and exchanged
through such mediums club secretaries
the L. A. w. touring department In further
ance OF such uniformity simple system, pro-
posed by Louis Allen Osbournc in a recent issue Of
the Mechanics Arts Magazine is here outlined:
Besides cyclometer a compass and watch
fastened TO the handlcbars are useful but not
necessary. A pad Of ruled paper, or a few sheets
with cardboard beneath, should be fixed on the
bars with elasucs and the rider is ready. Two
lines drawn vertically. half an inch apart down the
centre of the sheet form the spaces TO be used
throughout for the marks indicating the direction
of the road and the turns The margins outside
the ccn,ro space are for notes Before starting
write on the bottom line of the pad at the extreme
outside of tn, right hand margin the reading Of
the Cyclomcter. Suppose this to be L. 6325 After
this it will not, of course be necessary TO record
the thousands or hundreds, but only the tens
and fractions until the larger figures change.
The point OF departure and the time can be noted
in tho other margin. In lttls less than half
mile. railroad tracks are crossed and a straight
line cross patched by several small lines is made
in the centre section at about the angle to the
road at which It is crossed. At the same time
the cyclometcr is read and found to be 1859 o.
so $40 Is written at the right hand side of the
sheet on the same horizOnal line that has been
marked for the railroad The space between
tho vertical lines in the middle indicates the road
being followed and every one OF the Horizontal
lines should be used for a note of some kind
Roads or streets branching from the one being
followed, can be indicated by two short parallel
lines drawn Just outside the vertical lines on the
proper side and or about the angle taken by the
roads. Turns in the road followed arc denoted
in the centre space by a short vertical line and a
dash Joined to in the direction OF the turn At $40
fork is reached. This is indicated by a and
two short dashes on the end lone OF the prongs
of the character quickly convert it into an arrow
head that indicates the direction taken A cross
roads Is indicated by Il with one arm or the other
made into an arrow head to show the way. Sup
pose at the roads there is hotel the cyclom-
while square is drawn on the left hand TO indicate
the hotel. For n church a triangle on the left
margin can be used and for a railroad station a
circle. Just beyond the cross roads, at 81
steep down grade is encountered and this is in
dicated in the left margin by short santing line
II tho grade IS so steep as TO be dangerous this
line might be drawn extra heavy TO signify the
fact For an up grade line made by an upstroke
slanting from left to right, like tho right hand
side OF the letter V. should be used.
A stream Is crossed wavy limo is drawn
across the road 10 show il II Is then found III at
the road and the stream are continued side by
side, so that frequent glimpses Of tho water were
obtained This is denoted by continuing the wavy
line drawn the road along side Of the centre
space on the outside OF the ruled lines and carving
ii along upward and from The left to right across
the road ii II happens to wind that way. With n
stream like this as guide, il Is hardly necessary
to indicate the various turns Of the road but cyclic
meter readings should be taken at every bridge
Squashvllle Is reached at say 80. ., and The name
OF the town Is written in the left hand margin on
the same line that contains the cycOmetcr figures
In passing through the town n reading should be
taken al every turn in the road and all landmarks
iOtcd down. Using squares for hotels circles for
IL nd