Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-06-27
BICYCLE BELLIES.
T. Sport That is Ripidly Becoming
Very Popular.
Costume Worn BY Women Riders-Ths
Favorits Machines-How They are Mount
cd and Ridden-Tandem Cycles are Be-
coming Very Popular Also.

The growing popularity Of bicycling
among the ladies OF the larger towns
promises to become quite universal in
time. At present the costume adopted
for the purpose is the Jenness Miller
divided skirt; but this is not neces-
sity, as the wheels of the safety"
variety of cyles are so united as to
allow graceful seat even with full
skirts. A paradoxical feature In
cycling is that lady must ride a
bicycle before she can mount one.
The mounting is done as follows.
First, a smooth surface should be
selected. Place the saddle about two
inches lower than for road riding and
as far back as you can bear it and
reach the handle bar. which should be
set rather high. Stand at one side OF
the wheel. If the beginner is on the
left side place the left pedal anywhere
between its highest point and the po-
sition best suited to the height, or il
she is on the right side she should act
accordingly. Then the pupil must
seize the machine firmly by the horns.
leaning ii from her until the pedal
stands nearly over line drawn be-
tween the two wheels or the floor.
The next step is to stand we'll and
firmly on the pedal, being careful not
to push with the foot that is on the
floor. The weight on the pedal will
be the incentive to push the machine
on its course, and will give sufficient
motion. Then the pupil must bend
forward, putting portion of her
weight on the handle bar She must
not jump or try to make too swift
motion. but slip from the floor to the
pedal as she would from one step to
another In going up stairs. The more
weight she rests on the handle ,r the
more graceful and easy will be her
movements and in no haste to get into
the saddle.
In teaching to mount and ride the
bicycle the teaching belt is a great in
strumcnt. This belt is of leather, a
strap OF five inches in width; the clasp
is formed of three buckles and on. one
side is handle covered with leather
This belt the teacher buckles on his
pupil, clasping it about her waist. and
then gives her the initiatory STEP after
she had mounted the wheel. This she
does in manner much similar to that
OF a man.
The pupil directs her attention to
the handle bars and to holding herself
firmly on the wheel, which has been
placed on the center of gravity direct
ly under her weight After the rider
is securely mounted, the teache grasps
the handle OF the leather belt and sup
ports the pupil. guiding her on her
first rounds to prevent her falling, and
helping to steer the wheel in a proper
direction.
Three lessons OF this nature renders
the pupil mistress of the wheel and the
indoor field of action is abandoned by
the scholar for the broader field of out
door. There are a good many crazy
mounts, in the language of the profess
sional, but the only correct method is
the one explained The management
of the machine depends solely on tho
ability of the rider to maintain the
wheel in its proper course and turn the
handle bars in the right direction.
There is simply ease and quiet neces-
sary for the mastering of the wheel by
the feminine rider and little courage is
needed.
As to dismounting, that is in itself
an art. II the rider desires to get off
from the left side the machine must be
brought nearly to a standstill, with the
right pedal just leaving its highest
point Remove botn feet at once.
bringing the right to the left side, and
allowing the machine to fall to the left.
No attempt must be made to leave the
saddle until both feet are ON the ground.
When dismount is desired the speed
of the wheel must be slackened to a
walk. When the left pedal is at the
lowest point the weight must be kept
straight This will take the rider of
the saddle, and, at the same time near
ly stop the machine. Then the right
foot must be removed and the step
through to the ground made on the
left side, with the right foot in front of
the left