BICYCLING. 



73 



with blanched faces surveyed the wreck of 

 our pets. We cared little for our own cuts 

 and bruises, and neither spoke a word, for 

 some seconds. Then my friend broke the 

 silence by remarking that " that was a 

 corker " ; in which opinion I fully con- 

 curred. 



After picking up our hats, tools and other 

 debris and repairing our machines so we 

 could trundle them — we limped down to 

 Laceyville, about 3 miles distant, where we 

 crated our wheels and shipped them to the 

 makers. Hereafter, when tempted to 

 scorch down a mountain road we will get 

 off and walk. 



THE RACER'S PRAYER. 



I. N. GREENE. 



Forward, roll forward, oh wheel in your 



flight, 

 Make me a scorcher, please, just out of 



sight; 

 Faster than " Zimmy " who's speed I adore, 

 Swifter than all who win races galore. 

 Smooth from my pathway each puncturous 



snare, 

 So that the wind will stay safely in there, 

 And tho' my path be both rugged and steep, 

 Help me, oh wheel, to keep, help me to 



keep, 

 Help me to come out ahead of the heap. 



NEW ENGLAND NOTES. 



Even in this changeable climate of New 

 England there are many days, and even 

 weeks, during winter, when cycle rides are 

 not only possible but pleasureable, if the 

 rider be properly clad and mounted. 



By the latter I mean that you should be 

 on a wheel whose maker has a conscience; 

 so that your life may be reasonably safe; 

 that the tires should be of first class make, 

 and not inflated too hard; for hard tires, on 

 frozen and rutty roads, make a terrible 

 combination against the nerves. 



For winter riding I cannot get too much 

 spring under my saddle. For this reason 

 I continue the use of the old Kirkpatrick 

 hammock that was, I think, made by Gar- 

 ford, many years ago. The average mod- 

 ern saddle bangs and kicks the rider, on a 

 rough road, so that there is no comfort in 

 riding; and produces more " frenzied ex- 

 pressions " than are pleasant to see. 



The several wheels used at " Brook- 

 house " never know what it means to be 

 laid up for the winter. They are always 

 ready for the daily run to town, to the stu- 

 dio, or, the drop-frame ones, on shopping 

 and calling trips. When warmly clad some 

 of our most delightful rides have been 

 taken on a hard, frozen road, during the 

 winter months; for it is then we most need 

 out-door exercise. The rider not only feels 



better for the ride, but he saves time and 

 car fare, and breathes no coal gas, with 

 which the average railway car seems heated. 



As you, dear Novice, acquire experience 

 and age you will incline toward lower gears, 

 having learned that high speed is not all 

 the pleasure or profit there is in cycling, 

 and that " the boiled-lobster face and 

 petered-out condition " at the end of a ride, 

 do not conduce to long life and happiness. 



My friend J. P. Tafft, of Stamford, Ct., 

 in speaking of Recreation, commended 

 the Editor's scorching of game swine, and 

 expressed great satisfaction with the maga- 

 zine, as a whole. 



Several of our sportsmen go in strong 

 for Ice Yachting, on the Cove, near Stam- 

 ford. Among the leaders in this sport is 

 Harry Webb. 



It is a dashing pastime, that attracts great 

 crowds, and calls for a lot of nerve — and 

 photographs. 



Stam. 



A-WHEELING. 



ALMA PENDEXTER HAYDENT. 



When days are cool and fields are sweet, 

 The dearest girl I often meet; 

 The charm of youth beams from her face, 

 And on the bike she's full of grace, 

 As a-wheeling, off we go. 



This dainty girl is rather shy, 

 In vain I try to keep close by; 

 Swift as a bird she darts ahead, 

 Or lags behind my pace instead, 

 As a-wheeling, off we go. 



Returning when the sun is low, 

 And western hills are all a-glow, 

 One glance from out her love-lit eyes — 

 The road leads on to Paradise! 

 As a-wheeling, home we go. 



So hard to take her back to town! 

 My Spanish castles tumble down — 

 I wonder shall I ever dare 

 Ask her my road of life to share, 

 As a-wheeling, home we go? 



Boston Transcript. 



Editor Recreation: The L. A. W. Bul- 

 letin, of October 22d, has several formulas 

 for ascertaining the gear and speed of bi- 

 cycles. 



Numbers II., III. and IV. are interest- 

 ing, but are not so accurate as they might 

 be. I wish to refer particularly to IV., as 

 December Recreation has a similar one. 

 The Recreation formula is very nearly 

 right, but a slight change should be made. 

 My correction is based on an average that 

 the Veeder M'f'g Co. has found to give the 

 best results. 



