WHEELING
(a new and exciting game for cyclists)
J. Jacques & Son, London, 1896

One of the old all-time classic English games. The date of the game (1896) comes from Dan Gindling's "Bicycle Collectibles", though Caroline Goodfellow vaguely adscribes it to the first decade of the XXth century. (see bibliography here)

 

The game represents a race from London to the Anchor's pub at Ripley.

In case you did not know, "Ripley is a village in Surrey, which grew on the main A3 road from London to Portsmouth. [...] In the 1870s cycling also became a popular activity in the South of England and Ripley was a convenient distance from London so that many cyclists would stop there for a break at the Anchor Inn. Sisters Annie and Harriet Dibble encouraged the cyclists so much that, in some years in the following decade, their visitors book was signed with over 7000 names - all arriving on penny-farthings or boneshakers." (That was from the Wikipedia)

Or else, "Ripley was once a mecca for cyclists long before the motorist took over.  It was far enough down the old Portsmouth Road for Londoners to be able to ride out, have tea and then return home.  The 'Dibble' sisters dispensed tea for the cyclists and became so popular in their lifetime that when they died cyclists clubbed together and paid for a stained glass window in their memory to be placed in the parish church.   Annie and Harriet Dibble were kindly churchgoing souls who ran the Anchor Inn.  It was twenty five miles from the centre of London and the sisters knew exactly how to cater for ravenous cyclists.  Annie died in July 1956 and Harriet fifteen months later..... with them so did an era." (I found it here)

Ok, I just have the game board:

What I don't have looks like this:

Though I could probably play the game with J.W.S&S' Cycling cards and riders. Just compare!

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