JULT 4, 1896.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
IS 
ONE WAY OF LEARNING TO RIDE. 
Mdch has been said and written of the difficulties of 
learning to ride a bicycle, and from some standpoints the 
difficulties have been greatly exaggerated. For a man of 
athletic tendencies, who has a clear head and plenty of 
nerve, it is only a matter of an hour or two to learn the 
rudiments of riding, provided he sets about it in the right 
way. 
The difficult thing, of course, to acquire is the art of 
balancing — pedaling and steering come naturally once 
this is learned. The reason that balancing is hard to 
acquire is because one must be in motion while learning. 
If, as the Irishman said, you could learn to ride standing 
still, all the difficulty would disappear. R-^alizing this 
fact, all the learner's efforts should be concentrated on the 
one point of balancing. 
If he intends to learn without assistance, let him select 
some smooth piece of road or street, where he will not be 
interfered with, which has just sufficient slant in one 
direction to make his wheel run ahead of its own accord. 
Preferably he has borrowed an old wheel to learn on, for 
the spokes are sure to suffer even if the machine meets 
with no worse accident. 
When the beginner has his bicycle at the top of 
Jbhe incline, let him straddle the rear wheel and leaning 
forward grasp the handle bars, and then, putting one foot 
on the step, push off down the incline with a series of 
hops. Of course the hill is not supposed to be steep enough 
to give the wheel any dangerous momentum. The grade 
should be just sufficient to keep the wheel moving, no 
more. 
As soon as the rider feels the bicycle well under way, 
he should draw himself up on the step and stand there, 
crouching forward, but not for an instant thinking of get- 
ting into the seat. That will come in good season, but for 
the present it is safer to keep as near the ground as pos- 
sible. 
At the first attempt the learner may go 10 or 15yd8. be- 
fore the wheel "yaws," as yachtsmen say, so violently as 
to throw him off. He does not loose his feet, however, 
and if he keeps tight hold of the bicycle no evil conse- 
quences follow and he is ready to repeat the attempt. 
The longer the learner tries the more his confidence in- 
creases, and he soon finds that the bicycle is perfectly 
willing to stand up while carrying him provided he 
humors it judiciously. He finds that instead of trying to 
hring it into the proper course by jerking the handle bar 
with all his strength in one direction, it is wiser to let the 
front wheel do about as it wants to, and to steer by sway- 
ing his body a trifle to one side or the other. 
In the course of half an hour or so, if he is quick to 
catch on to its eccentricities, he will be able to let the 
bicycle coast a block or two without upsetting or leaving 
the road, and then his victory is assured. Nevertheless 
he should have his confidence well keyed up when he 
attempts mounting to the seat and catching the pedals. 
His victory is finally complete when he can ride to the 
foot of the hill upon which he has previously been coast- 
ing, turn around, and ride back up the grade to the start- 
ing point. Then he is in the position of the swimmer who 
has just acquired the art of keeping himself aflnat. He 
has much still to learn in the way of endurance and skill, 
but he has mastered the rudiments of the thing, and ac- 
complished the step at which so many halt. 
There is nothing inherently difficult in learning to ride 
a bicycle. Children, who have no preconceived ideas as to 
bow it should be done and no exaggerated ideas as to its 
difficulties, frequently learn to ride almost as soon as they 
get on a bicycle. But to learn easily confidence and fear- 
lessness are absolutely necessary. 
SPORTSMEN CYCLISTS. 
Last winter Judge printed a cartoon showing a number 
of sportsmen in pursuit of big game riding over the snow 
on bicycles equipped with tires a foot or more in width. 
An old hunter stands by watching the twentieth century 
crusters with frigid disgust, for the picture explains why 
he has lost his job of teaching them the use of snowshoes. 
While we are not in a position to affirm that bicycles 
will ever become popular as a substitute for snowshoes in 
the pursuit of game, we have abundant evidence to show 
that they are fast becoming an important part of the 
sportsman's equipment. 
Anglers find it profitable to ride to and from fishing 
waters on their wheels, which are more easily cared for 
than the old horae, and less susceptible to black flies when 
left out m the woods. Bird shooters reach the best covers 
quickly by the new method, and when they want to save 
the dog they train him to occupy a baby carrier and ride 
too. In New England where they shoot foxes the cham- 
pion hunters head off their game not on the backs of 
thundering iron-shod horses, but on the silent steed that 
is shod with rubber. 
We could multiply such instances by the score, but 
what is the use of arguing in support of apatent facl? 
Every sportsman can supply similar instances from his 
own experience. 
Last summer, while going through a good deer coun- 
try, some one cried out, "Look at the deer!" For an in- 
stant the illusion was perfect, but a moment later the 
vision resolved itself into a white shirted cyclist flying 
along a road that was none the best past the runway 
where not so long ago seven deer were killed in a single 
day 
Mountains and sandy roads do not keep the sportsmen 
cyclists back. We find them on old tote roads far back 
in the big woods of the North declaring that the riding 
is better than on many of the rutty and travel-worn 
highways of civilization. And we find them skirting 
the cotton fields of the South raising more coveys than 
they ever dreamed of before, 
Tne fact of the matter seems to be that the wheel is a 
pretty good thing after all, and that its possibilities have 
not by any means as yet been exhausted, A wheelman 
is a firm believer in the merits of his mount, and if he 
happens to be a sportsman too he will manage to go 
about anywhere that anybody else can go, and cover the 
ground several times as fast. And where he does strike 
a good piece of wheeling it is a pleasure to see him "let it 
out," so swiftly he flies and with so little effort. 
TOWPATHS AS CYCLE PATHS. 
Superintendent of Public Works George W. Aldrich 
has issued orders to the superintendents of repairs of all 
the canals in New York State to do what they can to place 
the banks in condition for wheeling purposes without inter- 
fering with their regular duties. This order is designed 
not only for the benefit of the wheelmen, but also for the 
regular patrons of the ca.nal8, who will likewise profit by 
a smoother roadway for their hauling teams. 
In making the extensive improvements authorizad by 
the $9,000,000 bill recently passed by the Legislature, Mr, 
Aldrich believes that the wheelmen should be taken into 
consideration. The towpaths in many parts of the State 
offer the only level riding to be had, and in some cases 
the only feasible route for bicycle riders through the most 
picturesque sections. 
By a little additional care in construction the towpaths 
can be made extremely good cycle paths, and they have 
an advantage over all other roads in their perfect grade. 
Heretofore wheelmen uaing the towpaths have been 
looked upon as trespassers. The superintendent's order 
to his subordinates puts things in a different light, for it 
gives them rights along with the mules and the boatmen. 
The mules and the boatmen, however, will not give up 
their monopoly without a struggle, and the immediate 
effect of Mr. Aldrioh's order seems likely to be an in- 
creased hostility to the wheelmen. 
There are 623 miles of towpaths in New York State. 
New Worlds to Conquer. 
Everything is coming the way of the bicycle. Within 
the last few months the railroads pretty generally have 
come to regard it as baggage. The city car lines and 
elevated roads are beginning to make provision for its 
carriage. And now the circus people acknowledge its 
influence, News comes that the Barnum & Bailey show 
has introduced a perfect system for checking bicycles on 
the show grounds. It looks very much as if transporta- 
tion not only by horseflesh, but also by trollfy and rail, 
in all but the largest cities will suffer as a result of the in- 
troduction of the improved method of hun»an locomotion 
afforded by the bicycle. 
FIXTUf?ES. 
S indicates races sailed by the Yacht Racing Uuion of L. I. Sound. 
M indicates races sailed by the YacUt Riciog Aa'a of Maaaachusetts, 
JULY. 
Atlantic Y. C. cruise — 
3. Rendezvous, Larchmont. 
5. Sail to Black Rock. 
6. Ist run, to Morris Cove. 
7. 2d run, to New London. 
8. 3d run, ra^e to Shelter Island. 
9. Shelter Island, rowing races, etc. 
10. 4th run, to Morris Jove. 
11, 5th run, to Oyster Bay. 
la. Disband at 10 A. M. 
4. Larchmont, An., Larchmont, L. I. Sound. 
4. Cor. San Francisco, San Francisco Bay. 
4. Roy. St. Lawrence, 25 and 20ft., Montreal, St. Lawrence River. 
• 4. Wymouih, outside race, Plymouth Harbor. 
4 Pavonia, special, Atlantic Uigblands, New York Bay. 
M 4. Boston City, open, Boston, Boston Harbor, 
4. Fox Lake, club. Fox Latee, IlL 
4. Beverly, 2d open sweeps. Buzzard's Bay. 
4. Toledo, open. Toledo, Lake Erie. 
4. Milwaukee, club, Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, 
M 4. Plymouth, Duxbury and Kingston, union race, Plymouth Harbor. 
4. Rochester, review and sail, Lake Ontario. 
6. Winthrop, evening race. Great Head, Boston Harbor, 
6. Cor. Atlantic City, ocean race, Atlantic City. 
S 6. American, An., Milton Point, L. I, Sound. 
9. Rochester, ladies' day. Lake Ontario. 
11. Beverly, 8d cham.. Buzzard's Bay. 
S 11. Riverside, An., Riverside, L. I. Sound, 
11. Hempstead, ladies' day. 
11. Hull, club, Hull, Boston Harbor. 
11. Winthrop, club. Great Head, Boston Harbor. 
12. Winthrop, sail, Great Head, Boston Harbor. 
13-17. Seawanhaka-Cor. international races, Oyster Bay, L. 1. Sound. 
18, 20, 23-25. Larchmont race week, Larchmont, L. I. Sound, 
M18. Quincy, opsn Qiiincy. Boston Harbor. 
18. Cor. San Francisco, Ist cham., San Francisco Bay. 
18. Squantum, ladies' day, Squantum, Mass. 
18. Cnicago, dinghy race, Chicago, Lake Michigan. 
18. Rochester, club. Lake Ontario. 
20. Cor, Atlantic City, mosquito class, Atlantic City. 
20. Winthrop, evening race. Great Head, Boston Harbor, 
20. Eastern, knockaoout class, Marblehead. 
21. Fox Lake, club. Fox Lake, 111. 
23. Beverly, 3d open sleeps. West Falmouth. 
8 25. Sea Cliff, An.. Sea .liff, L, I Sound. 
M 25. Hull, open, Hull, Boston Harbor. 
25. Plymouth, insifle race, Plymouth Harbor. 
25. Winthrop, ladies' day, Great Head, Boston Harbor. 
25. Squantum, moonlight sail, Squantum, Mass. 
25. Cuicago, club regatta, Chicago, Lake Michigan. 
28. Ogdensburgh, 15ft. cup, Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence River, 
M 29-31 Qaincy, summer cruise, Qaincy, Hull Bay. 
30, Rochester, club. Lake Ontario. 
Tacoma and Satanic. 
Next week promises some Interesting racing in the Satanic-Tacoma 
matches of July 6, July 8 and if necessary July 10. The boats are 
matched for best two In three races for $150 a side, and the money 
has been put up and the courses, judges, etc., agreed upon. 
The first race will be sailed over the South Boston Y.C.'s second 
class course, from judges' boat off Marine Park Buoy to Cow Pasture 
Buoy, to Buoy 7 off Kort Independence, to S. B. Y. C. barrel oflf Long 
Island Wharf, to S. B. Y. C. barrel o£C Moon Head, to Buoy 7, to fin- 
ish ; 9 miles. The second race will be sailed over the Massachusetts 
Y. C.'s triangular course from Winthrop Bar Buoy, around a mark at 
Nahant and the Graves Whistling Buoy ; 10 miles. The course for 
the third race will be decided by lot. Y. R. A. rules will govern. 
Both boats have a fine record as prize winners, and both are types 
of the racer, pure and simple, in which light construction plays an 
important part. Tacoma is the beamier boat of the two and carries 
the larger sail plan. Her chances are believed to be best in a breeze, 
though Satanic is not to be counted out in that sort of work and is 
certainly a flyer in light weather. The chances seem to be about even 
between the boats and betting on the result is likely to go on favorit- 
ism more than definite data. It is hard to pick the winner. 
The race is a friendly one, and the main object is to settle the ques- 
tion of the better boat. Both sides have entered into the match with 
the best of feeling, but just the same there will be no throwing away 
of points. Tacoma is backed by J. T. Bache, of Harbinger, and will 
be sailed by Capt. Joe Turner, Capt. Daly backs his own boat, and 
will probably sail her himself, with Mel Wood for one of his crew 
Satanic was built in the sprhig of 1895 by Sheldon from a design by 
Mel Wood, of the Fore River Works, designer of Gleaner, and was 
presumably an improvement on the letter's model. She ia 31ft. over 
all, 30ft. ein.waterline, 8ft. beam and lOin. draft. She Is very lightly 
built and carries a SOOlbs. weighted centerboard. Her sail area is a 
little over 600sq. ft. Her red hull has made her unmistakable among 
the boats of the racing fleet. ° 
Tacoma was built last year at Calais, Ma., by Henry A. Davidson 
and is of light construction, though not of quite so fine finish as her 
Boston-buiit compstitor. She is 29ft. over all, 19ft. 6in. wateriine, 10ft 
beam and 9in. draft. She has a metal centerboard 6ft. long and 
weighing 625lb8. Her main boom is 23ft. long and her bowsprit 10ft 
outboard. She carries about OOOsq. ft. of sail. 
The racers vyill be started at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the 
time limit will be four hours. Additional interest is given them by 
the offer of a cup or piece of plate to the winner by Frank P. Norton 
—Boston Olobe. 
Morrisania C. First Annual Regatta. 
The new Morrisania Y. C. sailed its first race on June 31, the courses 
being from oS. the club house, around the Gangway Buoy and Step- 
ping Stones. The wind was strong from S.W. and several yachts 
came to grief. H. 0. Miner lost her mast and others met with' minor 
mishaps. The times were: 
SLOOPS— 6PKCIAL CLASS AA, SOpT. AND OVER. 
Start. Finish. Elapsed. Corrected. 
Ralianes. 10 48 00 Did not flaiati. 
Leontine. 10 48 30 5 36 00 5 19 00 
CLASS A— SLOOPS, 20 TO 25FT, 
Nettie B 1 1 00 00 3 24 00 4 31 00 4 24 00 
Dawn . 1102 00 Did not finish. 
Leila. 10 59 00 Did not fi ji^^h. 
OJive L 10 58 00 3 43 00 4 45 00 4 37 00 
CLASS B -CABIN, .JIB AND MAINSAIL, 30 TO 3."FT. 
lola ,,,,11 00 20 . Did not tloish. 
Fakir..,. 10 58 00 Did nut flaish. 
Emma......... 11 01 00 Did not fiaish. 
CLA^B O-JIB AND MAINSAIL, Ol'KN, 20 TO 25VT. 
Zetes 11 07 00 3 16 00 3 16 00 3 16 00 
Maybe , . , Did not flaish, 
OLA.SS D-CABIN CATS, 20 TO 25B'T. 
Pride .11 10 aO 2 36 30 3 26 00 3 24 00 
Alices 11 10 00 2 89 00 3 29 00 3 26 00 
Frank 11 12 00 2 28 00 3 16 00 3 16 00 
~ CLASS OPfSN CATS, 20 TO 2"Fr. 
Bum Did not fl iish. 
Ethel C Did not flaish. 
W. H. Gill 11 18 00 2 OB 00 2 54 00 2 51 00 
CLASS F— OPEN OATS, 17 TO 30Fr. 
Bismarck 11 30 00 Did not flnish. 
Arrow 11 21 30 Did not finish. 
H. C. Miner 11 iiS 00 Did not flaiah, dismasted. 
Willie B 11 5;3 80 2 41 00 3 18 00 3 17 30 
Twinkle 11 25 OO 3 .39 00 4 17 00 4 13 30 
CLA.SS Q -OPEN CATS, 14 TO 17FT. 
Cricket ll 29 00 Did not flaish. 
Success 11 29 00 Did not finish. 
Tramp . . Did not start. 
Little Dean 11 00 3 08 00 3 38 00 3 37 00 
Aurora.. 11 2S HO Did not flaish. 
Dolphm 11 !:9 00 Did not finish 
ByB-Bye....>.,^,...,,« 11 29 .30 3 23 00 3 59 00 
AnnaL,,,.....a.ii.....ll 30 00 D'd not finish. 
.Tosie 11 a9 30 3 20 30 3 50 00 
The winners are: Leontine, Nettie B., Zetes, Pride, W. H. Gill, Willie 
B. and ijittle Dean. Nettie B won the Commodore's prize for bast 
elapsed time. Prank fouled Pride and was oisqualifled. 
Columbia "Y, C. 
MICHIGAN CITV RACE— LAKB MICHIGAN. 
Saturday, June so. 
Thk annual regatta of the Columbia Y. C, of Chicago, from that 
port to Michigan City, established as a club event in 1893, was this 
year thrown open to all clubs of the Lake Michigan Y. A.— a wise and 
liberal policy on the part of the club. The race was sailed on June 20, 
starting from the Van Buren street gap, the wind being then light 
from the west. During the race of thirty-six miles It shifted to all 
points of the compass, at one time falling to a flat calm and again 
bringing a heavy squall. The chief interest in the case centered in the 
two new fln-keels. Siren and Vansnna, the latter just completed In 
time for the race. The prizes were in all classes for elapsed time, 
the Peck cup to be won In two consecutive races ; in the schooner class 
the Stefifens cup, won last year by Mistral, with club prizes of barom- 
eters, yacht guns, etc., in each class. The squally weather took the 
topmasts out of Siren, Druid and Vanenna, and the jib boom out of 
Toxteth, while Genevieve parted her throat halyards. In trying to 
squeeze by the mark at the line to save tacking In a very close finish 
with Hawthorne, Mistral fouled the mark and was disqualified. The 
times were: 
SCHOONBBS. 
Mistral.,,, 
Start. 
Finish. 
Elapsed . 
Corrected. 
, 1 03 08 
6 16 44 
5 13 36 
5 13 36 
6 19 35 
5 14 40 
5 13 34 
G m 15 
5 20 35 
5 23 45 
7 37 56 
6 37 50 
6 07 20 
FIRST 
Ci.ASS SLOOPS. 
1 14 36 
6 39 30 
5 24 34 
5 ;,'4 34 
SECOND 
CLASS SLOOPS. 
1 Vi 00 
6 or 40 
4 55 40 
1 14 3J 
6 :j3 10 
5 18 40 
1 13 52 
7 09 41 
5 55 49 
1 14 41 
7 15 55 
6 01 14 
1 17 40 
THIRD CLASS SLOOPS. 
1 13 00 
7 06 43 
5 55 43 
1 14 14 
7 30 20 
6 16 06 
6 09 58 
1 15 00 
7 45 31 
6 30 31 
6 18 01 
: 12 52 
1 13 09 
7 58 66 
6 45 5i 
6 si 06 
1 15 21 
7 47 18 
6 31 57 
6 16 42 
1 13 07 
7 44 30 
6 31 23 
6 14 48 
'1 14 14 
FOURTH 
CLASS SLOOPS. 
1 13 27 
6 37 35 
,.1 12 25 
7 46 66 
6 is 48 
Siren . 
Peri, , 
AUie 1 
Pinta, 
Hawthorne wins, Mistral being difqualifled; Yanenna wins the 
principal prize. The other winners were: Druid, Valiant and Wizard. 
Niagara's Water Tanks. 
The gallant Admiral Montague writes as follows to the Meld: 
"There must be others besides myself who have read with amaze- 
ment the report that the Y. R. A. thought it necessary to send repre- 
sentatives post haste to board the Niagara to learn something as to her 
water tanks. They even did not wait to see the owner of Niagara, 
but surveyed the vessel in his absence. This reads very serious. We 
now hear these tanks were only intended to support the crew, but 
that the officials deputed to go on board thought it necessary to order 
the said tanks to have a certain pipe disconnected, that comd be used 
to run water from one tank to another. I do not think this a satisfac- 
tory ending to arrive at. Either the tanks should not be where they 
are placed, as tending to cast suspicion as to their being used for pe- 
culiar purposes, or else the pipe should he left for the purpose it is 
supposed to meet, namely, to run a stream of fresh water from one 
tank to the other as they are filled. Severing some metal connection 
is of no use; any pipmg other than metal would have the desired effect. 
It seems to be "straining at a gnat in order to swallow a camel," and 
1 think it would have been far better to have left the connection as It 
was, and accepted the woi-d of honor, than to order the severing of a 
metal connection which could be reinstated by any other mode to an- 
swer the purpose equally well. The Americans seem to build fast 
boats; the Defender was a fast boat, the Niagara is another. Why 
don't our designers take the hint and place our water tanks in the 
bilges; and as regards Defender, whether she carried water tanks in 
excess of what the requirements of the crew demanded or not, she 
had the peculiar gift ^which none of our boats have) of being able to 
practice optical delusion on thirty-two pairs of eyes with a vengeance. 
Perhaps American crews suffer more from thirst than English crews, 
and tanks have to be carried In extra proportions. Empty tanks 
must be a deal of useless weight. I do not think, if I built a 20-rater to 
race in English waters, I should care to carry empty copper tanks, es- 
pecially when I find my crew landing feather pillows, nail and tooth 
Drushes, etc., the morning of a race. The proverbial jar of beer and 
a couple of breakers would have to do for my 20-rater when racing, 
and if I were owner of Niagara to-morrow out would come my copper 
tanks, and in would go two or three cloths to my topsail." 
Half-Raters to the Rescue. 
The fact must not be overlooked that there is to be an international 
yacht race this summer, and stiU more important is a due apprecia- 
tion of the energy and patriotism of the thirty gentlemen who have 
built boats to maintain the J^-rater championship of the world. 
True, these odd little stiips are as gnats to the eagle when com- 
pared with Defender and Valkyrie III., but an immense amount of 
sport and good seamanship can he shown with these midgets, and the 
spirit which animates their owners is as truly American as that of the 
famous V. I. M. ttio wliich built Defender. 
I |As the New York Y. 0. has undertaken to defend the America's 
Cup— and the way it has done so is the world's admiration— so the 
Sea wannaka Corinthian Y. C. is pledged to guard the tiny craft trophy 
won from the Canadians last year. 
Judging from the trial races now in progress off Oyster Bay and the 
marvelous speed and skill shown by competitors, tnls new interna- 
tional prize is apt to stick at home as hard and fast as the America's 
Cup,— iVisw York Herald. 
