The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-08
USE AND ABUSE oE BICYCLE.

1iILul l iCCOl1llGs
USE AND ABUSE OE BICYCLE.
Properly Seated the Rider May Derive
Benefits From tho Exercise.
International Journal Of Surgery.
The use OF the bicycle as a means Of
exercise ranks, in my opinion. as fore
most among the beneficial forms of eX-.
ercise hat may be taken. It ranks
| equally with horseback riding, rowing,
swimming, and is superior to walking;
besides this it is a means of rapid
transportation and forces the rider into
the open air. 1t is IN active exercise
that can be proportioned to the weak
est and the strongest. He who desires
vigorous exercise can obtain it. NO n
can ride q bicycle and not have his
thoughts taken out of himself, and at
the same time have his attention pleas
antly engaged. rhe exercise is fairly
principally the legs, the arm and sec
ondarilv those great systems. the car
diac, glandular and nervous After q
careful study | believe the following to
be its effect on health:
Under moderate, sensible use the re-
SEPARATION is notincreased, but deepened;
the heart beat slightly increased, and
the blood by these NEAR and the alter
nate contractions OF h muscles re-
ceives q large proportion of oxygen and
is more evenly distributed over the
body, preventing congestions. The
effete materials in the tissues are rap
idly removed, and oxidation, which is
essential to health. is more perfectly
performed. Upon the stomach and the
intestines there is a secondary, but
noticeable effect, viz, increased diges-
tive power with increased capacity for
food. This in turn enriches the blood.
Tho increased circulation of blood above
mentioned gives additional material u
of which to manufacture gastric juice.
Upon the liver its effect is not SO notice
able, though the writer is inclined to
believe it is similar 20 that of the stom-
ach, viz, increased functional power.
Upon the muscular system it has a
direct effect, increasing their size, their
hardness and power. Secondarily it
trains the great spinal centers to per-
form complex spinal action, gives in
creased coordination with lessened eX-
penditure of nervous force. The acts
become automatic. Its effect upon the
brain is OF great benefit. It develops
the motor area of the brain and in it
permits of u combination of intricate
muscular acts. Again, take a man who
has exercised his intellectual faculties
to the utmost; has, as a consequences,
increased circulation in the intellectual
area of the BRAIN. By means of his
muscular improvements and by bring
ing into play the muscular u emotive
+senters of his brain he changes the
force and directiono of the cerebral blood
current, relieving and resting the hard
worked intellectual centers. And, last
ly, it gives that elasticity and carriage,
that solidity of gait, which bespeaks the
healthy individual, while his express
sion, animal spirits and rosy complex
ion arein very great contrast to the IN
certain movements, sickly smile, pale,
pasty, greasy-looking skin of the recluse
and overworked man.
There is one thing against which l
wish to take an unquestloned and de-
cided stand-that is, the incorrect posi-
ton assumed by many riders. This po-
sition is the resultant of a compressed
vanity, or lack of knowledge, and has
caused much unfavorable commentto be
bestowed upon this silent steed. The
correct position is that OF a modified
position OF the soldier-a position OF
command, grace and perfect muscular
control. The rider should have his
handle bars so adjusted That when he.
sits perfectly erect the palm of the hand
rests upon the bar without tension upon
the arm muscles. The arms should be
comfortably extended, and the trunk, as
far as possible. held erect without be-
ing stiff. The legs can then be extend
en- with comfort, and without Interior
lence with tile return circulation from
the lower limbs. II one Will stand per-
fectly erect, the arms close to the. body,
and the forearms tlexed at right angles,
and the lower limbs separated about
eight inches at the heels, he will un-
derstand thoroughly what I mean by a
modified position Of a soldier.
MAN wants but little here below,
EaE Rut wants thnt little good. ,=Et+