The Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.
Continuing the suggestion begun last week regarding bicycling in Europe during the summer, a word should be said about France. By all means the cheapest route, considering the comfort, to Paris from New York is by the smaller boats of the Hamburg line, which take nine or ten days to reach Havre. It is possible, however, to get a round-trip ticket from New York to Paris and return, including the ride from Havre to and from Paris by train, first-class, for a little under $100.
The roads of France—that is, the parts which are usually ridden—are in the main superior to any roads in the world for bicycling purposes. The many government military roads are kept in remarkably good condition, and while they are perhaps not as interesting as the English roads, which wind about through the country, they are nevertheless better made in the main, though they go along straight lines. On the whole, for a first trip it would be better to take the train from Havre to Paris, and to start from Paris itself. Bicycling in the city itself is very common, and most of the roads are either macadamized or asphalted. In the vicinity of the city there are some beautiful roads, such as the run out to St. Germain, a somewhat shorter one to St. Denis, and, at the other end of the city, to Versailles. These roads, of course, would be taken first by any tourist.
It then becomes a question whether the wheelman will take the trip through Normandy, or will ride or take the train into the middle of France and wheel through Touraine. Perhaps the pleasantest trip for the summer would be to ride through Normandy. In that case leave Paris, passing through St. Germain, following the Seine through a remarkably beautiful country. The run would carry you through Nantes, Vernon, Louviers, and Elbeuf, whence you may either turn northward to Rouen, to see the city and cathedral, or, keeping on, pass through Pont-l'Evêque, and thence to Trouville. This Normandy coast is covered with summer resorts that are peculiarly French, and very attractive, therefore, to the foreigner seeking new sights. Houlgate, Dieppe, and Honfleur are such places, and will well repay a visit. The trip can then be extended through Caen, across the peninsula to Coutances, to Granville, or it may extend out on the peninsula to Cherbourg, and the return to Paris may be either along the southern edge of Normandy through Alençon, taking in Chartres and Etampes, or the return journey may be made by train if there is not sufficient time to ride it both ways on a bicycle.
It is, of course, impossible in this very limited space to give any idea of the possibilities of France for bicycling, but this trip through Normandy, including the short one-day runs in the vicinity of Paris, will make a three or four or five weeks' bicycling tour that will repay any one for whatever expense he may incur. The southern trip through Touraine will be best made, unless considerable time is at your disposal, by taking the train from Paris for Tours. Starting from there, you should run over different parts of Touraine, visiting the famous castles of that country, such as Blois and Amboise. All this country, like Normandy and the vicinity of Paris, is full of good roads, and a month can be easily spent in riding over Touraine alone. These two districts of France are perhaps the best suited for bicycling, and should be recommended to the wheelman as suitable for his first foreign tour.
H. Bert Blackwell.—To train for a half-mile bicycle race, ride on a track, if possible, or on a good road, ten miles at a reasonably good rate every day in the week except Sunday. Practise starts Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday for about twenty minutes, and Tuesday and Friday ride a half-mile against time, with a pace-maker, if possible. Two weeks before the race takes place practise starts for twenty minutes each day, and ride a half-mile against time four times a week. For diet avoid liquids as much as possible, except water; eat beef and chops which are moderately rare, boiled potatoes, and plain vegetables; avoid sweets in the main, and eat nothing fried. Aside from this, the food question is not so important as the time of eating, which should be absolutely regular: breakfast between seven and eight, the same time every day; a hearty lunch, which should be practically a dinner, at from half past twelve to one; and a dinner or supper at between six and half past. Go to bed at ten, and get up at seven. This may well be considered a severe course of training, and is only for a seasoned rider.
B. M. Warren.—Bicycle maps running along the coast of Connecticut have already been published in the Round Table. We hope, some time this summer or in the early fall, to give some of the best routes through central Connecticut.
E. W. Davies.—The best route from Woodstown, New Jersey, to Trenton, through Philadelphia, is as follows: Leave Woodstown and proceed to Swedesborough (seven miles), thence to Clarksborough (six miles), Woodbury (five miles), and Gloucester to the ferry (four miles), crossing thence to Philadelphia. Leaving Philadelphia, proceed to Frankfort (seven miles), thence to Bristol (fifteen miles), and thence to Trenton (nine miles). The road is moderately good all the way.