Bicycling for Women.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5427, 30 November 1895, Page 7

Bicycling for Women.

Some excellent hints for taking care of bicycles are given by *' Ariel " in a recent number of the Gentlewoman.

To anyone, Bhe says, who tells me in rapturous tones, "Oh, I adore my bicycle!" I quietly reply, point blank, "Do you clean it yourself?" It is by the answer whioh I receive to this query that I judge whether the "adoration" is a real one or only part of tbe " fashionable craze." Although I cannot say that I worship my machine, still I know that I love it dearly ; and that I keep it scrupulously olean— which is more than many can say. The true cyclist at heart can always be recognised by the inspection of her iron steed. Let me add quickly that bicycles— like babies— are cleverer than we think. They soon make- us find out whether we have been careful of them or not, •

Occasionally some among us have a kind husband or a willing lover who will undertake the what somo people call (I do not) "weary job of cleaning." This is a piece of luck whioh doea not fall to the lot of everybody. Again, some others have a conscientious groom ; on the whole a most fortunate state of affairs. But the average woman who possesses a safety has to clean it herself. It is from this woman that I can gather beßt her love for the hygienic sport, and it is for her that these words are written.

To clean up a machine is not so troublesome aa come people may imagine. A bicycle that ia properly looked after rarely requires an entire overhauling. The bright parts will keep so, if, every day from the outstart. a leather is passed over them. The first thing that I do after a ride is to clip on my big apron (also my gloves, when I recollect thorn), and then I wipe the tyres with a rag. This ia an excellent habit. Thia rule of wiping the tyrea on reaching homo should be strictly adhered to, even if one has no time to do more, and is obliged to put off tho cleaning of the umcbiuo to the next day.

Here are a fsw of the lines which I follow in tbe grooming of my thoroughbred of steal. I spread tbree or four newspapers on the floor. Then I stand my machine on them and give it a general i dusting. After that I turn the bicycle right over, resting it ou the handlebar and on the saddle. With my cloths and • brushes I proceed to clean out gently j -very hltle nook and corner of tbe j mechanism, leaving no speck of duafc to I nestle in any recess. Once tho actual "-process of cleaning is over I look into ovory ecrew, and having satisfied myself that nothing is oub of order I take a chamois leather, with which I rub the nickolled parts. A good way of giving a polish to the spokes, which when tangent are apt to accumulate dust, is to pet the - leather between the forks and the flanges, • fihen to keep ib firm with one hand and > with the other to set the wheel spinning.

Whenever I think tbat my machine needs oiling I do bo at thia point of my work, turning first the bicycle over again to stand on its wheels, after which I get a soft cloth, which haß previously been dipped in paraffin, and I paoß it over the onnmel of the frame. This is a good thing to do. Not only does it give farther lustre to the machine, but it also protects tho onamel from being scratched by grit, and renders the cleaning easier. Oae thing should be borne in mind. The paraffin rag should never touch the tyres, it ruina them.