Cycling Notes.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 31, 1 January 1898, Page 4

Cycling Notes.

Specially Written for the 44 White KI HBOS' " BY PotOWHITA.

The question of suitable dress for cycling is stiil m dispute, and, as fat as ! can see, will always remain so. It is a matter that concerns each individual rider, and although no advocate for the so-called rational dress, 1 think, if a woman likes to make herself conspicuous, she ought to be allowed to do so, but 1 hold the old-fashioned opinion that it is every woman’s duty to make herself look as nice as she can, and 1 have not yet come across a becoming rational dress costume; when I do I may even l>e prevailed to adopt it, but will not promise to do so. I have ridden in skirts always, in the early days of cycling when things were not so easy for us as they are now, and over some of the worst roads in Otago, and never once did I find my ski-t any inconvenience excepting when caught by the tide returning from the Nuggets lighthouse at Port Molyr* ux, anti even then had I l*een fortunate enough to have on the same kind of costume 1 now wear, I might have escaped much of the wetting 1 received on that occasion. One afternoon, when staying in the coentry with some friends, word came that some cyclists were riding past the house, and of course out we aP rushed to see them pass. The back view of their knickerbockered legs struck me as particumrly comical, and 1 at once

asked my friends if we should look like that if we adopted it. The idea had never entered their heads before, and wv all unanimously agreed that we would stick to skirts at all costs. Women cannot afford to sacrifice everything to so-called comfort, and 1 think all right thinking people will allow that the skirt adds much to woman s dignity, also that the ladies always look more graceful on their machines than the gentlemen do 1 ake away the skirt and you certainly take away this grace. 1 am speaking new of town riding. When in the country we all find it a relief to do as we like free from restraint, and so with cycling, we can certainly wear something less conventional if we choose when 44 f.*r from the 111 a hi inf crowd,” but !>eware lest any of the sterner sex view us from l>ehind a hedge 44 unlieknownst,” as Pal would say, if we make guvs of ourselves. In the first place 1 must impress upon all cyclists the importance of wearing woollen under garments. Lven though you have never worn them before it is absolutely necessary that you should do so when cycling, and for tins reason, that you get warm, and then, very likely, when you stop riding, catch a chill, and so lay the foundation of serious lung trouble or something else. It is not of the smallest use to wear cotton next the skin, and tl innel over it; that is worse than wearing none at all. Next we come to the question of corsets, and 1 should like to impress on our readers that “ the woman who wears tight clothing when cycling, is courting certain death.” These are not my own words, though I am quite of thcopiniou of the celebrated doctor who uttered them in the columns of one of our leading cycling publications, and when I hear of some of our women having to give up cycling, I say to myself, 44 No wonder, with such a wasp-like waist.” The act of cycling quickens the respiration, expands the lungs, etc., and how is this possible when the organs of the body are so confined in a tight corset that breathing with comfort, even when not riding, is an impossibility ? If possible, leave them off altogether, many substitutes can lie found for them even for somewhat stout figures, and after a while the muscles in the back | will l»e found to have grown so strong, that they are well able to support the figure in a perfectly upright position without any difficulty at all, and with

no inconvenience to the happy woman who can thus breathe so easily and well. Another reason is that the corsets retain the heat, and it will be found impossible to get cool after a long ride with them on, and last, but almost most important of all, they often givt a chill to the body round the waist, and are the cause of many illnesses. Of course it is understood that knickerbockers under the skirt are worn. They can be procured in many materials and makes, but (or comfort I pr< . fir the knitted ones. They can be made of finer wool for summer wear, and never ruck up uncomfortably under you on the saddle. Son.e ladies have a fancy for the tweed or serge, but to my fancy they are not so pleasant ta wear for long distance riding. We are getting gradually to the outside clothing of the cyclist, but I find my space getting smaller and l>eautifully less, and so w ith many good wishes to my sister cyclists for a 44 Very Happy New Year,” I will leave off for this month.