CYCLING FOR WOMEN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XII, 21 March 1896, Page 319

CYCLING FOR WOMEN.

Mr E. B. Turner, in the Humanitarian for January, discusses cycling for women. He deals both with cycling riding and racing. He hold very strong views adverse to cycle racing. Women, he thinks, by their sex, are disqualified from keeping up the continuous training which is absolutely necessary for success. He sums up what be has to say to wheel women as follows :— ‘ That the rational use of the cycle is one of the verybest forms of exercise which can be obtained ; that for many functional ailments it is a cure, for some organic a palliative ; that if abused when the rider is in an unfit state, it can do as much harm as over-walking, overriding, over-climbing ; that over-fatigue is always bad, but much worse when the rider is out of condition ; that girls and women unaccustomed to bodily exertion require a longer time to become habituated to it than a young man or boy of the same age. That condition will come by constant practice, and cannot be hurried or forced by overwork. That as condition improves, so longer distances and a greater speed may be safely- attempted. That it is not worth while to strain up a verysteep hill. That for women racing cannot be good, and the feminine motto should be moderation —and yet again moderation, and loose clothing.'