From: tim@fgh.fgh.oz.au (Tim Chambers)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.misc
Subject: Another piece of history
Date: 26 Jan 93 23:10:31 GMT
Organization: FGH Decision Support Systems Pty Ltd, N. Sydney, NSW, Aus.


  Here is the third and final section of the introduction to
_Cyclists'_Touring_Guide_of_New_South_Wales_ by Joseph Pearson (1896).

I should point out that these are opinions from the turn of the century,
and are not my opinions (specifically, some of the ideas in the Touring for
Ladies section are somewhat outdated to say the least :-)).  I do, however,
find them interesting historically.

Extract begins:

                         TOURISTS' ROAD MAPS.

  At some trouble and expense, I have  had  prepared for the "Guide" a
road map  of  the  colony,  and  several  district  road   maps.   The
ordinary maps are quite useless to the  cyclists, for  what  few roads
are  given  are  so  hidden in  a confused  mass of names    of towns,
mountains, railway   stations, creeks, &c., as to be quite useless.  I
 have often felt  the need of  a  map that would  give the roads freed
from all this superfluous matter.


                         TOURING FOR LADIES.

  Any book dealing with cycling at the present day would be incomplete
without some reference to lady  riders,  for ladies  are taking to the
bicycle in such  numbers, and  with  such  eagerness,  that  they  are
forming an  important body, with needs  and interests quite their own.
Of course, I cannot pretend to give  much information that will  be of
service exclusively   to  ladies.   However,  on  the authority  of  a
well-known lady tourist, I  can say that  wool is the best material to
 use  for  outer  as  well  as  for  under  wear.   The   skirt is  an
important part of  the ladies' costume,   and this should  be a  clear
4 inches  from the  ground,  and  about 3   yards  in width;   but the
important  part  is  the  cut, to  have  what  the  tailors call   the
"spring".  Short elastic bands passing around the ankles, and sewn  to
the skirts,  are  of  service.   A  straw hat,  and  blouse with  soft
collar, complete an  effective toilet.   Shoes should always  be worn.
It will be  found  refreshing  to wash  the hands   and face  with hot
water at the close  of a  ride.   Have the water  as  hot as possible,
and put  into it  about  a tablespoonful   of  brown  Fuller's  earth.
This removes   the immediate  sting of  sunburn.  A  lady  will always
welcome  a change of garments at the end  of a day's ride.  As a rule,
a change  can  be  sent on  by  coach  or by  train,  and  thus be  in
readiness.  This will be  found a better  plan than carrying  a lot of
luggage on  the  machine,  for any   additional weight   of this  kind
interferes greatly with  the rider's  comfort.   In conclusion, ladies
are recommended not to tax themselves with  trying to ride too  long a
distance per day.  For them, some of the tours in this book would have
to be modified, but  as all the  towns of importance  along each route
are mentioned  and the distances given, this is easily done.


                            FINAL HINTS.

  Always carry sufficient money  to enable you to  reach home from any
place, in case of  breakdown.  Drink as  little  as  possible till the
day is over.  Keep  your mouth  closed  while    riding,  and  breathe
through   the  nostrils;  by  attending to this matter  you  will have
less inclination  to drink.   Smoke as little as  possible, and  never
while riding, as  tobacco depresses the heart's action.
  Saddle soreness  is a  most  troublesome complaint.   This,  as also
pains in the knees, may often be  prevented  by placing the saddle  in
a different position; shifting it a  little forward  or backward  will
effect the  purpose.  Another  matter to which I   would like to refer
is in descending  some  of the mountain ranges.   Always carry a stout
piece of line with you,  and by  attatching this to a piece of sapling
and connecting it  with the saddle,  it acts  as a splendid  brake.  I
have  found this  often  very  effectual.  Finally,  wherever  you go,
behave as a gentleman and keep up the prestige of cycling.

--
Well, that's it for the introduction.  There is a bit more in the appendix
which I will post if there is demand for it.

And again, I'm still not a spokesperson for FGH.
-- 
Tim     __o
        \<,         "The more you drive, the less intelligent you are."
     ( )/ ( )                     - Miller in _Repo_Man_
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~