St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-08-25
BICYCLING FOR WOMEN.

Bicycling for fun Yes, but one
gets incidentally what amounts to a
great deal more than does the fupda-
mental object of the effort made.
"Fishermans luck" is proverbial in
bringing to the man who seeks for
fish, other things than fish. A boy
plays "hookey,' leaving school for
fun, but gets, in the line of
a thrashing, that which perhaps he
did not calculate on, and which has
a far more reaching effect than the
hockey" does, which was all he
originally contemplated.
Women bicycle for fun. but are emf
nently successful in securing that
which is of far create value than fun,
although it is freely admitted that
there are few things which afford
more genuine, unalloyed fun than
does bicycle riding over good roads
with agreeable companionship.
There is scarcely any, perhaps no
exercise, which is available for wom-
en-, that contains as many of the
qualities needed for securing and
maintaining health as does proper
bicycle riding. This is stated after a
careful considera ton of the effects of
bicycle riding, as well of the differ
ent kinds of sports and gymnastics
which are available for women.
Just notice, for instance, how nearly
all the fundamental conditions of
healthful exercise are fulfilled here.
The work is done by the large mus
cular groups of the legs, thus much
energy is expended with compare
lively small amount of fatigue. Fiji
teen minutes of bicycle riding will af-
feet the digestion more than an
hour of calisthenic work, where the
movement largely consists IN hand
ling light Indian clubs or dumb-bells.
AS has been formerly stated, exer-
else to fulfil the conditions of health
must be vigorous, must produce per-
spiration, must involve deep breath
ing and vigorous circulation. To do
this the exercise must be vigorous
and regular, that is, the movements
must succeed each other with regu-
larity and must be powerful. All of
these bicycling supplies. Few exer-
cises do this to the same degree as
does bicycling.
Bicycling involves and secures, if
properly taken, an excellent carriage
of the body, erect head, we'll poised
upon the shoulders, and free play at
the waist This of course, is not
true of men who SO frequently bend
forward at the waist in endeavoring
to "scorch." If bicycling is to be
taken with the greatest comfort an
especial dress has to be provided, in
which the waist is perfectly free, for
the deep brea thing involved, and the
increased circula tion, demand the
fullest play of the organs of respira-
ton and circulation.
1t is a fact more generally admitted
than understood, that exercise which
good to the individual than that
which mas none, other things being
equal. Thus if two men are work
ing the chest weights, one does it
from clear sense of duty and with ex
IRENE dislike, the other enjoys and
believes in it; the one who enjoys it
will get more good out of it than the
one who does not. Comparatively
few ride the bicycle from a sheer sense
of duty, but ride because they enjoy
it, thus this element is satisfied.
The American college girl is one to
be peculiarly benefited by such exer-
else as bicycling. With a very high
ly organized nervous system, she has
by dint of systematic work, with
very little or comparatively little
physical work, trained herself to be
bright, quick, good student, and is
all that goes to make up the Amer
lean young woman, except that she
lacks staying power. She cannot
work for any great length of time;
her back aches, she stays awake at
night after any excitement, she has
to be very careful about her eating;
in other words, she lacks physical
vigor. For such a one bicycle riding
would be better than work in the
gymnasium, because if she works in
a class, as she would probably do, |
she would be given very light work,
light, graceful, beautiful movements
done to music. She would be told /
that she must do each movement |
with exactness. A piano in the
hands of an excellent player would |
afford stimulation. Pride would /
compel her to do as well as her /