Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
INJURY FROM THE CYCLE.
The DOuble-Up Position Can Do Much
Harm.
From the Westminster G.;

From the Westminster Gazette.
A visit to Sir Benjamin Richardson's
house in Manchester Square at once shows
the interest taken in cycling by it's owner.
Just inside the hall stands a well-used tri-
cycle, with the trace of a recent ride still
on it, and inside the waiting room home
trainer" or stationary machine for the
practice of cycling, occupies a corner On
the subject raised by the speaker Sir Ben
jamin was quite willing to speak.
Il quite agree with the speaker" he
said. But, unfortunately, l have said SO
much on this subject that people think 1 am
prejudiced against cycling. though. as a
matter of fact, l am myself very fond of it
as an exercise. There is no doubt that Il
great deal of harm is al present being done
by injudicious cycling. The attitude that
nearly all cyclists adopt, to greater or
less egree-bending themselves forward
ove- the handles or their machines-is I'M
doubtedly most unhealthy. And, though
cannot explain the reason Tor taklns up
such an attitude, 1 know that L nave to
keep u careful watch over myself to main
tain an erect position.
-Ihe uouuie.-up position does more harm
than people imagine. OF course, every body
knows that it Is ugly. The spinal curves
are the most perfect in nature, both for
strength and beauty, and thsse are de-
stroyed. The top of the anterior curve Is
the posterior curve well is not affected
until the spine becomes almost an arc.
The chest bone is then affected by the un-
natural pressure placed upon II. The circu-
lation is impaired. and. no doubt the lungs
are intarfered with, too. In fact, there is
hardly any possible evil effects which it
does not produce"
What can be done to improve matters
Sir Benjamin."
Something may be done. but at present
! cannot say what. Riders of the old-fash-
toned high machines were better off in this
respect than the riders of today, and they
generally sat much more erect. | think
the safety bicycle with its longer reach
has something to answer for"
Would altering the position of the han
dles-bringing them higher up and further
back-prove effectual?"
1T might. But 1t would be unpopular.
Any change in the construction Of machines
which either necessitates an alteration in
the manufacturers plant or impairs the
speed of the machine will meet with a great
deal of opposition. / think a desire for in
creased speed is mainly responsible for the
introduction of this attitude. Men find that
by bending themselves down they both offer
less resistance to the wind and get more
power over their work, and they will not
bother about the remote consequences
Long-distance riding, too, has done a great
deal of harm. In fact the cyclists of the
present generation are feeling the effects of
their riding much more than earlier riders
did, and even they suffered severely enough.
There were Cortis and Keth-Falconer two
magnificent riders, who both died of heart
disease. | knew many first-class speed
cyclists years ago who told me that they
felt no i'll effects but they are nearly all
dead now, and not at advanced ages"
Then do you consider cycling, as a sport.
unhealthy"
Not more 50. when INDUCED in moder-
ately, than other sport. OF course. rowing
affects the breath, walking and pedestrian
ism affects the nerves, the use of dumb
bells and other stationary exercises affect
the muscles. And in the same way.
cycling affects the circulation. have known
a mans pulse to go up to 223 during a race
and you can imagine from that the work
the heart must be called upon to do And
besides there is the sudden running down
after the system has been strained up To
this pitch. 1t might be compared to reeas-
ing the spring of watch and letting it run
down suddenly when it is fully wound The
effect on the system is most Injurious Hill
climbing, too is a very severe strain Sew
eral inventions have been tried for storing
up energy while going down hill which
could be used to assist the rider at the next
ascent, and think it would be a very great
benefit if some such idea could be worked
out and made to answer"