Cycling Notes.

White Ribbon, Volume 4, Issue 40, 1 October 1898, Page 10

Cycling Notes.

Specially n ntten for the White Ribbon by “ P'jrowhita." In speaking of the adjustment of the bicycle, I must impress upon my

readers the importance of having what is called the right reach for comfort. By the reach I mean the distance between the saddle and the pedal when the latter is at its lowest point. The proper test for this consists in being able when the pedal is at the lowest to put the foot comfortably underneath it. And I cannot too strongly denounce the practice, common amongst riders, of riding with too long a r ach This is particularly dangerous in young chib dren or in women It will be easily understood that there is more danger in the reach being too long than too short. In the latter instance the rider is only uncomfortable and ungraceful, the knees coming up too close to the handle bar, and will be almost certain to cause cramp, or other discomforts that may not bring any evil effects in their train ; but in the case of too long a reach, it is as I have remarked before not only ungraceful, but positively dangerous for any woman to ride under such conditions. Common sense should tell them that the stretching of the limbs to their full extent, as is the case when the reach is of this nature, puts far too much strain on the internal organs of the body, and is almost certain to lead to mischief if persisted in. The leg of the rider should never be at full stretch when the pedal is at the lowest, for if it is we not only lose power, and look too straight up and down on the machine, but the muscles will become stretched and sore after even a shoit journey, and when the rider comes home tired and worn after a ride, it is a sure sign that something is wrong with the machine-given, of course, all other conditions of ordinary good health. lam not so foolish as to imagine that all women can ride a bicycle, in some cases it would be most unwise for a delicate woman to attempt it, but in the prevailing rush and struggle for existence now-a days, the nerves are most commonly out of order, and for these complaints cycling is almost always beneficial, and in many cases works a perfect cure, but like all other medicines it must be taken in moderation.

In order to know when the cycle is perfectly adjusted for comfort, the rider should be able to sit perfectly erect on the saddle and feel that she requires no support from the handle liars or pedals. The feet should rest in a perfectly easy position on the latter, and the arms should not be stretched in any way, but rest at the side in a natural position No strain of any kind should be felt in any part of the body, in fact, it should be quite possible to ride without touch-

ing the handle bars at all, not that I j advocate any of these foolish tricks in riding ; on the contrary I think they are not only unladylike but dangerous to indulge in ; but at the same time, it is as well for every lady to feel the confidence necessary, not only to ensure her looking her best on a bicycle, but also in case of accident to be able to have perfect command over her iron steed. Regarding the saddles, well, this is also a very vexed question amongst riders, and I can only say that a com. fortable position can only be obtained by trying the saddle in all ways until the right position is reached, and then do not alter the saddle for anything There are many makes of saddles, and good saddles too, but what will suit one lady will not suit another, and therefore it is well to adopt this plan with regard to them If you feel uncomfortable, then try another position, if you feel you are not safe on the saddle and arc in danger of becoming unseated with very little roughness in the road, then see to it at once or a bad fall may be the result. In a hilly country it is well to have the saddle nearer to the handle bars than in a Hat one, for it is easier to get up the hills when you are more over the pedals, but then there is this dfficulty connected with it, that when the saddle is too near the bars, it is not easy to get into it gracefully, and in fact with some new riders, it is never accomplished at all, and they wonder why. When the saddle is too hard, it may easily be softened by taking it off the machine, and greasing the inside of the leather with a tallow candle, then warm it before the fire and rub it well in ami a nice soft saddle will result. When removing the saddle, if you do it yourself, do not take it off the L. or T. pin to which it is attached, for it is sometimes very difficult to get on again, but take the pillar right out of the socket, unscrewing it at the nut where the saddle is raised or lowered, and then there will not be any danger of not getting it back into the right position again. I will deal with right height of wheels and frames, etc , in my next month’s notes.