CYCLE RIDES ROUND LONDON

[vii]

PREFACE

When that sturdy pioneer, John Mayall junior, first rodehis velocipede from London to Brighton in 1869, in muchphysical discomfort, and left his two would-be companionsbehind him in a crippled condition, no one could haveforeseen the days when many thousands of Londonerswould with little effort explore the Home Counties onSaturdays or week-ends, and ride sixty or seventy miles aday for the mere pleasure of seeking country lanes andhistoric spots.

There are, indeed, no more ardent lovers of the country,of scenery, of ancient halls and churches, of quiet hamletsand historic castles than London cyclists, who are often,in fact, recruited from the ranks of those pedestrians who,finding they could by means of the cycle extend theirexpeditions in search of the venerable and the beautiful,have cast away staff and stout walking-boots, and havelearnt the nice art of balancing astride two wheels.

So much accomplished, the ex-pedestrian has at oncewidened his radius to at least thrice its former extent, andplaces that to him were little known, or merely unmeaningnames, have become suddenly familiar. Even the sea—thatfar cry to the Londoner—is within reach of an easysummer day’s ride.

[viii]

Few have anything like an adequate id

BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!

Sitemize Üyelik ÜCRETSİZDİR!