Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-08-31
1900 MILES A-WHEEL.

The Record In Two Seasons of Miss
Bessie Newman, II BrattIeborO Girl,
Now of Boston---NVhatS She says About
Bicycle Costumes for Women.
Mrs j. NJ. Savage and Miss Bessie New
man, both members of the Massachusetts,
Bicycle club, the one on the membership
committee and the other on the executive
committee, have the honor of being pio-
neers in the introduction in Boston of the
new bicycle costumes for women, says the
Boston record. Mrs. Savage has Ia "cent-
uries' "a 100 mile ride in "a hours) to her
credit and Miss Newman has six. The
latter rode 1000 miles last season and has
ridden more than $500 so far this season.
These two and Miss Margaret Kirkwood
are the only three women who have done
the "triange," (from Boston to Provi-
dence to Worcester to Boston, 143 miles in
one day.
The Massachusetts club has been in ex-
istence some 10 years, and ladies were first
admitted two years ago last May, and at
present number about 80. About one
fourth of these have adopted the new cos
tune.
"As you see," said Miss Newman,
bright-faced girl, with a charming color,
1--WE wear Turkish trousers of broadcloth,
navy blue (the club COLOR in hue, but some
who had their costumes before joining
wear black. The trousers are cut very full
and have almost the effect of a skirt. Some
of the others wear kniCkerbOckers, and |
certainly approve of them, but Mrs. Saw
age ant were the first to appear in the new
costumes and we didn't want to make too
radical a departure. The trousers are
| gathered just below the knee, and the full
ness hangs over. Long ribbed stockings,
like the mems, are worn, and CATERS in
coo! weather. Black kangaroo shoes, lac
ing to the toe, are very comfortable, and
have cleats on the soles of mine to pre-
vent the "rat-trap pedals from slipping.
We wear any kind of an outing waist,
and the jacket and yachting cap of broad
cloth complete the suit
AS Miss Newman stood describing the
details of her suit she certainly appeared
to my critical eyes quite sufficiently wom-
anly, modest and lady-like.
Speaking of her experiences in the new
suit Miss Newman said "Of course we felt
! self-conscious at first, and if any one look
ed at us we couldn't help blushing and
feeling ridiculous, but we soon got over it,.
| Sometimes we overhear funny speeches.
! Occasionally when we stop at a hotel for
! lunch the loterers will line up and grin,
and there are always old ladies to eXclam
'Scandalousn and 'Reedikerlous! "
Would you like to wear your costumes
all the time, for the street,"
"Oh, no. OF course every woman will
want to wear the skirt on ordinary occa-
sions, although it is very inconvenient in
case of rain and nconvenent almost al
ways, any way. In bicycle riding the
skirt is decidedly inappropriate. In a
strong breeze it is certainly not so modest.
No weights will keep it down. In head
wind it bulges out like a SAIL and progress
is very difficult. The bottom becomes
covered with dirt and grease and accidents
by ENHANCEMENT with the chain are almost
certain to occur. Sometimes the chain
breaks, sometimes the skirt tears. ! had
a dreadful accident once continued Miss
Newman with a pretty blush, "when |
wore a regulation skirt, and if | hadn't
been able to borrow a needle and thread
don't know what | should have done! AL
most every woman can tell a story of the
same tenor, too. The divided skirt, or
"bloomers' either, will catch the wind,
and if short skirt is worn over trousers
it will fly up in high wind People don't
realize how hard it is for a woman to ride
bicycle in skirts. The eXertion is so Sc
we're and she gets so hot and tired and
cross that the ride doesn't do her any good.
l believe knickerbockers will come next,
making riding still more easy and pleasur-
able. A skirt may be carried on the han
die bar in case of long trips"