Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-19
Effect of Bicycling on Health.


the bicycle has received little pub.
lie mention from the medical pro-
fession in this country as yet,
though the increasing prevalence of
their use both as recreation snd q
means of conveyance, entities them
to some consideration. In our prin-
cipal cities and their suburban
towns, The number ef bicyclers is
already large, and at our colleges it
is rapidly being taken up. at Har-
ward, for instance, there are more
than ninety young men devoted to
this practice and the indications
observable are that it may become
as nearly universal among our
young men as it is in Great Britain.
The relations of this vehicular cpl.
demic, if we may so call it, to ply
steal health is therefore OF some
importance.
To the questioning lay mind there
is probably some apparent answer
in the fact that many physicians
ride the wheel, and thus by exam.
pie, at least, encourage bicy cling.
We know of several instances, and
in others it has been recommended
to patients bv medical advisers, as
horse back riding ofiea is. And, OF
course, so far as it induces the cen
valescent or the we'll to seek The
open air or sunshine, and adds a
stimulus Of interest, it must be bene-
ficlsl.
Passing tor moment the matter
OF accidents, what is the character
of the exercise upon which the BIZ
cycler enters !? Handling the ma
chine when off it. is evidently the
lifting of from 40 to so lbs, or a
gentle pushing of the Same weigh.
on sensitive pair of wheels, com.
bined with direction and resist
anos to any tendency of the ma.
to fall over. All this involves gentle
and varied muscular action. Now
see him mount. Standing back of
the machine and extending both
hands to their utmost, he takes 40
and of the har die bar in each hand,
places the left toe upon q step son,e
twenty-five inches high, takes Two
or three pushing skips on his right
toe, half spring. and half raises
himself till his limbs are straight,
and then glides to hia eaddle and
takes the pedals With his feet, while
he has preserved the balances of the
vehicle which is still in motion.
The greater part Of this effort has,
of course, como upon tho muscles Of
the toe and legs; while those Of the
pelvis, the trunk and the srms,
have all contributed. AS he rides
the motion of bis legs is very much
like that of walking Q gentle incline,
with the difference that the weight
of the body is more or less trans.
formed from tho soles to the saddle;
the feet moving through circles, and
thus there is 8 wider action Of both
fexor and extensor muscles, and
there is a constant variety of action
and an elasticity arising from the
fact that the piece de resistance is
always at the ball of the foot and
never at the heel. The arms are
busy at the same time, guiding and
aiding to preserve the equilibrium,
as are nearly all the muscles OF tho
neck and trunk, not only from pos
tive action, but also from the infin.
tie varying position of the rider.
Dismounting is either the reverse
of mounting, or gentle vault from
the pedal while Swinging one leg
over the machine, and resting psrL
of the weight on the hands.
In ascending a grade, or riding a
rough road, or against head wind
there is some lifting on the handles
which increases the intensity of the
action of tho muscles, not only of the
arms and legs, but also of the chest,
back aud abdomen, and this may be
increased at will; while in descend.
ing grades or going with the wind
there is less or no action of the mus.
cles, except in preserving eqnilihri.
um. 10 this AZ in in any muscular
efforts, the heart and lungs are nec-
essarily urged to better work; the
vital processes are quickened end
what may be called bodily combus
ton of fuel ia promoted. Hence
the proverbial appetite of bicyclers.
Either intense, rapid or long con.
tioued exercise, however varied and
well distributed, ipduces perspira-
ton, and, in tlme, greater or less
exhaustion. This will follow bicy-
cling under sufficiently arduoas or
continuous effort.
Il is singulsrly free, however,
from special discomforts, such al
foot-soreness, saddle chatting or lame.
ness. La fact is less wesrisome than
walking, less violent than horse back
riding, more varied than either, and
has all the good qualities of both.
The effect on the kidneys and liver,
for instance, is of the came charac-
ter as horseback riding, bu. milder.
On careful examination of the
subject there do not appear to be
any special dangers upon this active
form of exercise. Prudence is re
quired as to over.exertion, riding on
an empty stomach, and taking cold
after psrspirstion, just as in the case
of any other positive recreation. A
few years since there was considera-
! bly, said and also written about .
liability to hernia from the use OF
the old two-wheeled velocipsde-au
instrument which was considerably
different in principle as we'll SIS in
position and muscular moLica OF the
rider; but the cases were rare, and
not an instance of this arising from