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.