Owing to the accumulation of queries, the Department this week will be devoted to replies.
J. L. E. asks how to fix the proper handicaps in a bicycle-race which he is getting up—what plan he is to go on, what the system is, and where he can find a book on the subject. Handicapping in bicycling is the same in principle as all other handicaps, and there are the same reasons, and only the same reasons, for giving handicaps that there are in other contests. As a rule, handicapping is best left alone. It should only be resorted to when the differences in speed of competitors are so great that no one could get up a race and induce men to enter unless a handicap were resorted to. In long distances, in road races of 25 miles or more, time handicaps are usually given. The time of each contestant—that is, his best time for a mile, or for 35 miles—is ascertained, and a table made of all these. Each man, then, shows a certain rate per mile for 25 miles, or whatever the distance may be. According to this record, one man does 10, 20, or 25 miles at the rate of a minute a mile faster than another. In a 25-mile race, therefore, he should give the other about 25 minutes' start. This is, of course, a large handicap, but it illustrates the point. If A does 20 miles in 60 minutes and B's record is 15 miles in 60 minutes, then, to make the race even, B should start on his run at 2 p.m., for example, while A has to wait at the scratch 15 minutes. When he finally starts at 2.15 p.m., B is 3¾ miles ahead of him. Supposing the road race was on a stretch of road five miles long and the course was to make it down and back four times—that is, twice each way. The distance handicap could be made by starting both A and B at the same time, with B at a position 1¼ miles from the first turn and A at the scratch; but such long-distance handicaps are difficult things to take care of, since it is practically impossible to start both men at the same moment. It is for this reason that time handicaps have been taken up. On short distances of a mile or two the difficulty is, of course, avoided, and distances can be arranged with simultaneous starts. A bicycle-race under 25 miles is, however, a dangerous and not particularly exerting affair, though there are many still. Ascertain, therefore, each man's record for the same distance, and then arrange the time handicaps, so as to give all, according to their records, the chance of coming in at the same moment.
"Wheelman" asks what are the laws regarding riding on sidewalks, coasting, and so on, and whether these laws are the kind that are enforced, or if they are, like many other city and town ordinances, only for use in emergency, and not otherwise observed. In the first place, the laws, ordinances, or regulations regarding riding on sidewalks, scorching, coasting, and so on, are different in every city or township—that is, each township has its regulations concerning these matters, and they have been adopted to protect other people. There is a movement on foot to make bicycles come under the head of carriages, and subject to the same laws; but in the mean time several things ought to be borne in mind by wheelmen. Most ordinances agree in stating that in city or town no bicyclist shall ride on sidewalks; that too great speed is dangerous; that coasting, where cross-streets are common, is dangerous; and that anything likely to endanger foot-passengers or be dangerous to the wheelman must be avoided. The regulations are made to cover these matters. It therefore behooves the wheelman to guard against any of these matters; for if we all thought of the possible danger and inconvenience to other citizens, there would be no occasion for stricter regulations than there have been for carriages. Hence, if you coast in a city or town, you are helping the movement which will cause aldermen and selectmen to pass more severe laws. If you ride on sidewalks, you are in just so far stimulating the popular prejudice against wheels, raising the fines, and causing a general feeling that bicyclists must be legislated against. When you are on country roads, where not one person an hour passes, choose the side path, since it may be the only good bit of road; but when you come to civilization, remember that no matter how bad the road, and no matter how many other wheelmen may be riding on sidewalks, and coasting and scorching, the law asks you to keep to your proper place, and you are helping the cause of bicycling, to say the least, if you do so.
Note.—Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No. 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—First Stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843. Philadelphia to Washington—First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856; Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870.
["IT."]
BY EMMA J. GRAY.
Many of the games with which we are familiar in the United States are well known throughout Great Britain and on the Continent. But among the most amusing and most popular of English games is one of which we know little or nothing. It is dignified by the two-lettered name, "It."
This is altogether suitable for the parlor, and may be played by everybody if we will except the very young people. It creates roars of laughter, on account of the funny mistakes made by the questioners. "It" is a great mystery, and the longer it is played the greater mystery often it becomes. Only those understanding this game may remain in the room. All others must leave; there is no alternative. One of the party, unfamiliar with the game, is then selected to return, and must, by questioning those in the parlor, learn what "it" is. When he knows "it," he too must remain behind, and some one else is selected to fill his place. In this way the game is carried on, until each one in turn comes in and finds out the secret.
"It" is really the person who sits at your left, but, before this is discovered, usually much amusement is made. The game is played in the following way: