The Red Cloud chief., 1891-10-02

-itv. Everywhere roads are beginning
D. to- improved. thanks ~ the efforts uf
the wheeling fraternity, and soon II
VIII IT, /. great saving 81 tune Ia reach
places distant ten or fifteen miles from
ones home 10y means Of a bicycle in
stead of the electric cars or the dunn
my" railway train
Poor roads nave cost the farmers Of
the United States millions OF dollars
A highway which il unfit for bicycle
travel il certainly unfit for heavier and
more clumsy vehicles Whenever,
therefore. the wheelmcu uccccd in per
suadlng county boards To- make roads
passablc and durable. they render a
service To- the farming communities
which. unfortunately, IL not always APP
preciatcd by thOSc most benefited. In
many counties "f the west II costs the
farmers five cents Ia haul a hushcl Of
wheat eight miles, and then II can he
hauled only at the most favorable sea
son of the year. II they had good
roads, suitable for use At any time of
the wear. this cost IF transportation
could easily be reduced to one cent per
bushcl. besides affording the women
and children an opportunity {" take an
occasional pleasure drive. Economy in
road building is nothing less than CriIni-
nal negligence. and the snnner faSsners
learn u understand this, the better for
their own welfare and the enjoyment of
city people who would spend much of
their time in the country II they could
reach il without risk IL their vehicles.
The popularity Of the bicycle is prob
ably due 10 the fact that anybody can
learn To ride il. The balancing Of the
wheel is the hard thing To master, bu,
after one has invested in a machine he
will be enthusiastic enough 10 tame II.
To the beginner il will seem that his
bicycle i an animated thing dominated
by a desire To dump him whenever he
mounts il. This stage Of bicycling il un-
qu~cstionably the most di~ssgrecahle and
calculated to cool the neophvte'> vault
ing ambition. Instead of anuihilating
distances he i Of the earth most earthly.
His first trip usually consists IF limited
Journeys from the ground - the wheel,
consuming about five minutes, ans
from the wheel To- the ground, requiring
the fraction of "A second.
Sometime these little trips terminate
with a heavy fall and a clamorous de
mand for raw alcohol or some other
Iinlment.
The second lesson usually tinds the
rider able to balance his wheel. ON the
third day he wall learn Ia mount. and
IN the fourth he is ready To take his
first road ride.
In a large city the latter venture j.
something very serious. Hundreds of
vehicles drawn 10y horses have Ia IT, en-
,ountered before a quiet and suitahl,
spot for practice i reached. Nounr
riders-hnth men and womcn-arc. a. a
rule. extremely nervous and whenever
they See a team approaching or hear a
horse coming behind them they lose
their presence If mind and run into TN,
curb or take an ~ungraccful fall Some
times il happens that the run into
horses and pedestrians, a proceeding
which. while not very graceful. i.
watched with considerable interest Nv
scores Of young living on the
boulcvardS.
The second stage Of uncertain riding
* called the webbing neripi After a
beginner has overcome his fear Of
horses. hut before he ha~ mastered M.
nervousness, he - apt II allow his
wheel Ia "a from one side ~ a street T.
the other when meeting an obstruction.
He seems I" know that he should Dc
something. but does not knoy how g
do it The result of hesitation l. a fall
which. however, can 10 managed with
out sustaining an injury or even q
brulse. for one of the first things
learned by every incipicnt wheeiman Is
to fall a. easily - possible and tn save
hi machine from breaking.
After the webbing stage has teen
passed. riding becomes a real pleasure.
and 10 m i NOR ready or willing IN
laugh at his clumSineSs than the bicvcIe
.-raduate. He cannot see how Il was
possible that he should have been ~
awkward and nervous. and fails IL
sympathize with his friends who have
not progressed a. rapidly a. he In
stead Of being ashamed Of his adven-
tures n mishsp~- he taxes pride IN re
counting his marvellous escapes from
sudden destruction and loves to enter