BICYCLING. 



TliE FINEST CENTURY IN AMERICA. 

 W. G. IRWIN. 



Wheeling along the great lakes is most 

 delightful, perhaps more so than in any 

 other part of our big country. There the 

 roads are perfect; the weather and climate 

 usually all that could be desired and the 

 cooling breezes from the water constantly 

 blow over the level land to refresh the rider 

 and give him the desire for more of the 

 pleasure. 



Here it is that the wheelman finds his tour 

 all one long sweet song. There is no hill 

 climbing, no scorching heat, no rough 

 roads. The scenery is delightful. On the 

 one hand the great blue waters of the in- 

 land seas rise till they meet the light blue 

 of the sky; while on the other the land 

 rolls in gentle undulations, as it recedes 

 from the lakes, until its lighter blue is 

 mingled with the sky. The cycler is carried 

 among beautiful vineyards, nurseries, fine 

 farms and through many beautiful little 

 towns and hamlets, and the ever changing 

 panorama presents varied and charming 

 scenes. 



While wheeling along the whole of the 

 great chain of our inland seas is most de- 

 lightful, and while there are hundreds of 

 miles of superb roads close to their shores, 

 the finest century run in America, and per- 

 haps in the world, is along the South shore 

 of Lake Erie, between Erie and Buffalo; 

 or, perhaps more properly, between Erie 

 and Niagara Falls. This delightful run is 

 along one of the most beautiful of our great 

 lakes and follows, for some miles, the banks 

 of the most famous river in the world. The 

 entire course is practically level. There are 

 no hills worthy of the name, and the scen- 

 ery along the route is scarcely surpassed 

 anywhere. 



For a number of years past this route has 

 been popular with the wheelmen of Buffalo, 

 Erie, Cleveland and other nearby cities; but 

 it was not until within the last year or so 

 the delights of the run became generally 

 known to the wheelmen of other States. 



Erie is a city of 40,000 people and is lo- 

 cated in the Northwest corner of Pennsyl- 

 vania, nearly midway between the cities of 

 Buffalo and Cleveland. The distance be- 

 tween these 2 latter cities is, in round num- 

 bers, as cyclists go, 200 miles. As the roads 

 between Cleveland and Erie are also excel- 

 lent it affords the enthusiastic rider, who 

 desires to spin off a double century, a fine 

 opportunity. At the same time they may 

 take in some more delightful country. 



Erie is a delightful little city and is a fit- 

 ting place for the inauguration of a century 



run. Its streets are among the best in the 

 land, and all around it are places of inter- 

 est, well worth visiting. It is rich in his- 

 torical memories, and the famous Conneaut 

 lake, and Lake Chautauqua, are within easy 

 reach. A whirl around Erie bay, a distance 

 of some 15 miles, will be greatly enjoyed by 

 all cyclists. 



But it is the fine prospects of the century 

 run that occupy the attention of the enthu- 

 siastic cycler. So, let us start on our jour- 

 ney. 



It is early morning and the faint rays of 

 sunlight are just breaking through the East- 

 ern forests as we leave the queen city of the 

 lake, whose name it bears, and spin out 

 along the blue waters which lay between us 

 and Canada. Directly we are in the vine- 

 yard region and the whole country seems 

 one great garden. Mile after mile we are 

 mixed and mingled with the vines of that 

 beautiful country. Here and there are 

 pleasant little woodlands, with cooling 

 springs, where the weary rider may rest and 

 refresh himself. Then at times the monot- 

 o'ny of the grape farms is broken by 

 stretches of handsome nurseries and thrifty 

 orchards. Ever and anon the great, blue 

 expanse of water is hid from view; and 

 when it appears again it seems more beau- 

 tiful than before. 



The road winds out along the railway 

 lines, through quaint old Wesleyville, on 

 through Moorheads, out to Northeast and 

 before we know it we have completed the 

 first 10 miles of our run. A few miles 

 further on we unconsciously pass the State 

 Line and leave behind the Keystone State. 



Soon we are at Ripley, and the next 7 

 miles, to Westfield, is delightful wheeling. 

 The road is as level as a floor and the 

 breezes seldom cease blowing. Westfield 

 is a delightful town, and is one of the cen- 

 tres of the grape industry. 



A myriad of hamlets and villages are 

 passed in the next 7 miles and then we reach 

 Portland, which is as handsome a little 

 town as could well be built. From Port- 

 land to Brockton is only 2 miles, and from 

 the latter to Dunkirk 9 miles, all of which 

 are pleasant ones for the cyclist, for each 

 of them presents to him new beauties and 

 renews his interest in the charming lake 

 country. 



We have now made a good half day run 

 and so tarry here for dinner. The entire 

 distance from Erie to Dunkirk is 50 miles. 

 We have turned off half a century and feel 

 little if any fatigue. 



Dunkirk is a most interesting old town 

 and is an excellent place for a hungry 

 wheelman, for it has one or 2 famous hos- 



325 



