I was sent this. I've seen car ones from the thirties but this is a cycling one from 1901.
The author seems pretty grumpy but then he had a lot to put up with on roads that seem everywhere to be stony and "soft". It's mostly cross-sections but there are also descriptions.
Some highlights:
Edinburgh to Lanark - This is a most trying and monotonous journey. Dreary moorland road.
Gifford to Duns - This is a fearful road with one hill 1 in 6 but it is tolerable after Longformacus.
Edinburgh to Berwick - The old-fashioned paving in Haddington is simply execrable.
Hawick to St Mary's Loch - A very hilly, soft and bad road . . . winds among the hills and is rather monotonous.
Langholm to Eskdalemuir - Rather uninteresting beyond Eskdalemuir.
Glencoe - The cyclist's "bete noir" the road being in a very bad state . . . in parts (the road is) more like a river bed.
Struan to Dalwhinnie - Best done by train.
"Travelling in the Coal and Iron district of which Airdrie is the centre is is not pleasant owing to the smoke-laden atmosphere."
"Cyclists should note that on most steamers scarcely any care or protection is given to their machines notwithstanding the high rates charged. In time this may be remedied, but the matter is notorious."
posts
