WITH THE WHEELMEN

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 4

WITH THE WHEELMEN

CYCLING NEWS AND NOTES Dunedin riders are likely to be held up temporarily in their training on the Caledonian Ground owing to the track being under repair. Position is everything, said Bill Bailey, ex-world’s champion, years ago, and he has many times stressed its importance since then. This is the first of a series of articles in which cycling problems will be discussed from A to Z. The schoolboy with his first cycle cares but little as to the tilt of his saddle or the shape of his handlebars, and those, especially adults, who take up cycling are apt to resent suggestions from old hands at the game. This is to be regretted, as position can make or mar cycling pleasure as nothing else can. To the novice any style or shape of cycle “ does.” He fits himself to the cycle, instead of making the cycle fit him by careful experiment. Later on, unless rescued from his initial mistakes, the learner either gives up in disgust or continues to punish him or herself by neckache backache, or undue strain on leg, arm. or stomach muscles as a result of incorrect position strain. HANDLEBARS. Nowadays there is no excuse for discomfort from unsuitable handlebars, as there is an almost unlimited range of bars procurable. It is a common mistake among learners that deep bars are speedy,, but if the cycle is to be used for types of riding—business, touring, plain pleasure, or club runs—a “ deep ” or low position is to be deplored. For racing—track racing—a low position may have its advantages, but it is of advantage only to those who are much practised and who are fortunate enough to own more than one machine. Let moderation be the watchword. A bar with a moderate curve giving two easy positions is what the beginner should obtain, and such a fitment will quickly ensure confidence in the steering. Choose a wide rather than a narrow bar, as such will simplify steering and add to safety, too. Careful experiment as to angle of bare will be found ultimately to have been time well spent, as strain on wrists and shoulders, not to say anything of the discomfort of an ache in the back of the neck, are the result more often than not of incorrect “bar” angle. If this angle is correct then the muscles of the arms and shoulders act as shock-absorbers and take up road bumps. BALANCE. Balance against a wall or get a friend to hold you up, test for correct height by seeing that you can pedal bacTnvards with yqur heels, with the legs still not quite fully extended. Having tightened the seat at this for. height, then pay attention to rake or dip of saddle. For ordinary riding, if the peak of the saddle is level with the top of the handles, then comfort will follow. Remember that for cycling to be a happv pastime the weight of the body should be evenly distributed over handles, pedals, and saddle. Almost all learners are troubled with some amount of saddle soreness. A small amount of olive oil well rubbed into the sore pn and careful adjustment of saddle will quickly remedy this trouble. TRACK SAFETY. A point worth noticing is the fact, that crash helmets of the leather bar tvpe are invariable used in other parts of the world, and as a precautionary measure local riders would do well to procure.a helmet for all track training and riding. Any riders who are interested in a northern tour at Christmas, involving amateur track meets in and around Christchurch, are invited to commum cate with the secretary of the centre as early as possible.