BACA Touring

I ran across a story the other day that describes how to go about bicycle touring in the year 1920. It was written by Frank H. Cheley for a series of books titled Father and Son Library. This particular volume is devoted to 'Camping Out.' The story is titled 'Camping With A Bicycle.'

It amazes me how after all these years, the basic concepts haven't changed all that much. See if you agree with me.

Since the advent of the automobile, the bicycle has been steadily declining in favor among adults, but not so with boys. The humble "bike" is still very popular among them, as evidenced by the "miles" of racks provided for them about every school building in the land. The bicycle is the average boy's "Ford," and is an ideal vehicle for certain kinds of camping. It has numerous advantages over "shank's mare," if you are to follow roads, in that it is faster and very convenient for carrying a medium-weight pack. It is also superior to a pack animal for a good road's trip, because it does not have to be fed, watered, or tethered out at night. Of course, it does have to be pumped up, and have its tires repaired now and then; but that is a simple matter, and not to be compared with hunting up grassy meadows after dark for feed, or carefully weighing the pack sacks each morning so they will ride well, to say nothing of all the time or patience necessary to properly throw the elusive diamond hitch.

Pack animals are all right for trips deep into the mountains, where one must go cross-country, or climb over slippery needle-padded trails, but pack animals are fearfully expensive, and extremely difficult to manage, unless you are a "sure enough veteran."

Pack animals for the wilderness places, canoes for the long winding rivers, "shank's mare" for the go-light hiking trips, but for covering the country where you can combine camping with travel, the bicycle is the thing for the average boy.

Of course, it would be very poor policy for a lazy boy to start camping with a bicycle, for it involves many long hours of genuine labor. Perhaps you would as leave stand up and walk, as sit down and walk; if so there is no one to object. Despite the laborious nature of a journey upon a bicycle, such a camping trip has many advantages that cannot be denied. There is something leisurely and intimate about such a trip. You are never in too much of a hurry to stop and enjoy the view or any pretty performance on the part of the numerous wild folk you are bound to meet; and if you are friendly and keep your eyes open, indeed every good view is an excuse to get off and rest. Undoubtedly it is about as convenient and satisfactory a way to spend a few days off in an inexpensive and enjoyable fashion as there is.

The problem of camping out with a bicycle resolves itself into three parts: First, a selection for outfit which shall combine the minimum of weight with the maximum of utility; second, the choice of suitable companions, which probably is the most important consideration of all; and third, the choice of a suitable locality in which to take your journey.

Of your equipment, likely the most important consideration will be your wheel itself. It should be in first-class running order. You will find it worth while to thoroughly clean and oil it before starting. Be sure that the rims are "trued" up, the tires in good shape, and the adjustment of bearings satisfactory. The wheel itself should not exceed twenty-five pounds in weight. It should be equipped with a simple luggage carrier, preferably one that is rigged over the rear wheel. This is a light, steel shelf, bolted to the frame back of the seat, and supported to the rear axle. Any bicycle dealer will have them. There should be a handy tool kit, with all necessary wrenches and tire repairs, pumps, and oil, including a generous roll of new tire tape. The wheel should be equipped with a reliable coaster brake, a good carbide lamp, broad uprising handle bars, and a comfortable spring saddle. The saddle is of great importance, for it is to a bicycle trip what proper fitting and comfortable shoes are to a hiking trip.

Keep your personal kit down to the absolute minimum. The length of your trip, will, of course, have a great deal to do with what you finally include. But, for instance, do not carry with you a lot of extra and unnecessary clothing. If you must have it, ship it by parcel post to some point along the way. At that point, make your change, and send back the discarded clothing. Go light -- buy as much of your food as possible along the way. You will likely be making a town or two a day. This plan is much more satisfactory than lugging grub with you from the start.

Tents are too heavy and bulky for such a trip. Leave them at home, unless you have a small balloon silk shelter, that is light weight and compact. It is much better for each boy in the party to equip himself with a large poncho, at least 66 by 90 inches. Let the party pair off and arrange the ponchos so that two may be quickly tied together into a shelter cloth. This may be easily pitched at a steep angle, and with a fire properly arranged in front, will serve all purposes and give enough protection from the weather, and comfort at night.

Be sure to rig your army blanket with tapes, as described in Figure 41 of the section on "General Party Equipment." Such a blanket carefully rolled inside your poncho will not exceed nine pounds in weight, and can very conveniently be fastened to the luggage carrier. Pack what simple clothing and toilet articalys you may need in a small duffel bag and strap it next to your blanket roll. Tie your woolen sweater over these two bundles, so that you can get at it easily and quickly, for you will want it on likely when you stop for any length of time. Riding will make you very warm, and you will protect yourself from colds by cooling slowly in a sweater or coat. Never throw yourself down on the ground while hot with exertion. If you do, you will soon find yourself weary, stiff, and useless for hard riding. Cool off slowly every time.

Do not carry a load on your handle bars, unless absolutely necessary. It makes guiding difficult. Leave your steerage as free as possible. Carry a small, comfortable knapsack. It may be either the pack variety, or the sort that slips over the shoulder. In your knapsack place your simple cooking kit, and such food as you are to carry with you. Always keep an emergency ration with you, for you may not get to the next town when you expect to, and pedaling up hill and down dale on an empty stomach, perhaps in a storm, is far from satisfactory.

A bit of sliced bacon, sugar, pepper, salt, coffee, cocoa, or tea, and a small can of milk, one of beans, along with a piece of rye bread, should always be in the pack. Even a potato or two does not come in amiss, or an extra cake of sweet chocolate, for that matter. Add to these a regular hiking bill of fare which can be procured at almost any cross-roads grocery store, and you have a sufficient commissary. If stores are few and far between, buy from farmers, ranchers, or settlers, and be prepared to pay for such accommodation in the coin of the realm.

Never go without a bit of fishing tackle tucked away in a convenient corner. Many a tiny brook will yield up a fish or two for the evening meal that will help the commissary immensely.

If drinking-water is scarce, you must, of course, carry a canteen. Fill it at every chance, and in case you find yourself drinking too much water, use lemonade tablets, which may be secured at any drugstore. Keep you eyes open along the way for vegetables, fruit, and berries.

Take time to eat and sleep. What is the hurry? It isn't likely that you are out to break any speed records; so enjoy yourself on the way. Take a whole day or two to camp and loaf when you find the right spot. These are the times to use your kodak to best advantage. You will more than make up for lost time in the long run. Bathe, eat, sleep, sit by the fire and ready big dreams. Explore many inviting, shade-cooled dells. Associate with the birds and flowers -- that is the way to go camping with a bicycle. Lie often under the trees, and look into the sky above; absorb a bit of the peace and quiet of the out-of-doors. Every long, hard pull up a steep hill will be rewarded by a wonderful coast down the other side, drawn by the good steed, Gravity. Oh, what a delicious experience it is to slip, down, down a ribbon of road in the first blush of a new day, or while nature is painting her evening sunsets! The coast down makes every pull up eminently worth while. The high points have their magnificent views, but the valleys have their bubbling streams, and cool, shady resting-places.

Be certain you have a workable ax, plenty of matches, and a few simple remedies for sunburn, snake bites and the like, and your note-book. You will need most of them every day, probably many times a day, and there is nothing like being prepared, even on a bicycle camp.

Don't be fooled into believing that you can go on a bicycle camping trip successfully with just anyone though, for it "can't be did." The choice of your companion is only of second importance to your choice of a wheel. He must be tried true -- a real fellow. Everybody knows what sort of a boy that is. The kind that can smile when he gets a flat tire. The kind that can tow a fellow camper in distress, ten miles if necessary, and call it fun, even when his own legs ache and his had throbs. The kind that is willing to fish a while, if fishing is the common choice, or swim, or pick berries. A fellow whose motto is always "the other fellow first." Choose a comrade who will enjoy getting into camp late so that everything must be done by the flickering flare of the bicycle lamps, or a fellow who will think it's great sport to rise at 3 A.M. in order to get up the long hill for a glorious sunrise. Choose him carefully, I say, with all these things in mind. You want a happy, resourceful, unselfish, chummy sort of a "pardner." Any other sort predestines your trip to failure. When companions are well chosen, it is doubtful if there is any other way in the world whereby two congenial boys can have a better time than by camping together with their bicycles. Incidentally, bicycle camping is a great stunt for a father and son. If you don't believe it, try it this summer.

Now, having gotten your equipment and your "pardner" settled, the next thing is to determine where to go. Lay out a definite route on a map. select country that has passable roads, for pushing a loaded bicycle up long rough hills, or through miles after mile of soft sand, is slavish labor. It would be far easier to carry all the pack on your back. With the tremendous increase of good roads and with every road, good, bad, and indifferent, properly mapped out, with a little care and inquiry a wise selection may be made. Avoid going in the wet season and also avoid the hot, dry days of mid-summer. Late spring or fall is the best season for most sections.

Choose a route that has supply depots at reasonable distances. If you want to really get out into the wilds, ride to the nearest point and pack into the wilderness as far as you care to go. Some such little side trips add greatly to the journey always.

In any event, having chosen your route, supply yourself with adequate maps of the country. The regular automobile maps are excellent, but the topographical sheets published by the Geological Survey at Washington are far better. Each of these sheets covers an area of approximately thirteen by nineteen miles, and may be bought for a few cents. They show all the roads, streams, towns, and so forth, and also -- a matter of decided interest to the rider -- the location and heights of all hills and mountains. The sheets are marked off into nine rectangular parts, and by cutting these parts on these lines and pasting them carefully on a piece of muslin, leaving a small space between all edges, you have a desirable map that will fold up and fit easily into your pocket.

Get an early start -- take it easy -- camp two hours before dark. Make a good bed. Enjoy every meal, and enjoy the friendly road. Such a trip will cost you little more than it would to stay at home; and like any other camping trip, will pay large dividends on the capital invested.

Clearly, this fellow has been bicycle touring!