Evening star., 1893-12-04
INJURY FROM THE CYCLE.
The Double-Up Position Can Do Much
| Harm.
From the Westminster Gazei

FROM the Westminster tiaZette.
A visit to Sir Benjamin Richardson's
house in Manchester Square at once shows
the interest taken in cycling by its owner
Just inside the hall stands well-used tri-
cycle. with the trace of a recent ride still
on it. and inside the waiting room a 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, 1 have said so
much on this subject that people think / 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 a
great deal of harm is at present being done
by injudicious cycling. The attitude that
nearly all cyclists adopt. to greater or
less degree-DenuIng themselves forward
over Ine handles oI their machines-is un-
doubtedly most unhealthy. And though /
cannot explain The leason Tor takins up
such an atltude, 1 know that 1 nave u
keep "a careful watch over myself to main
tam an erect position.
Ihe uuuoIe,.-up position does more harm
than people imagine. OF course, every body
knows tnat 1t rs ugly. The spinal curves
are the most perfect in nature, both' for
strength and beauty, ana these are de-
stroyed. The top or the anterior curve is
brought forward-and l am not sure that
the pOSterlOf curve as we'll is not affected
until the spine becomes almost an arc
The chest bone is then affected by the un-
natural pressure placed upon It. The circu-
lation is impaired, and, no doubt, the lungs
are int2rferej 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 II 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 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 Keith Falconer, two
magnificent riders, who both died of heart
disease. l knew many first-class speed
cyclists years ago who told me that they
felt no Ill effects, but they are nearly all
dead now and not at advanced ages"
Then do you consider cycling as a sport
unhealthy?''
Not more so. 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. l have known
a mans pulse to so 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 reieas-
ing the spring of a watch and letting II run
down suddenly when it is fully wound. The
effect on the system is most Injurious Hill
climbing, too Is 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 1t would be a very great
benefit If some such idea could be worked
out and made to anSwarn