Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-30
WOMAN on THE BICYCLE.
Advice Tint should MIKE Her At
trnctivr on the Wheel.
lsra.y c,,pl


II woman gets bicycle with the
proper height of saddle and a moderately
short crank she may be a graceful rider
If she viii observe one rule-not TO turn
the knee outward. but inward. pressing
the foot down. That 1t is natural to turn
the knee out Is demonstrated by the
small boy. whose knees wlggle from side
TO side like governors on an engine, as
he rides nis bicycle. with woman this
action stretches the skirts 10 their ut
most width and causes a very bad show
ing from behind and from the front IL
will also be found that there Is much
less fatigue from the Inward stroke than
from the outward. as the pressure Is
more direct and with less friction.
There is no royal road TO learning to
ride the modern safety. II is larg ly
matter of confidence. Some women will
learn in an hour. and others In a week.
Where II f. practicable. It ia best to 20
to one OF the schools and take a lesson
or two from a competent instructor IL
this cannot be zone the next best plan
is 10 mount the machine near a wall or
board fence. where there ia slight In.
cline, and holding the handle with on.
hand and Tending along the wall with
the other, move along until confidence Is
attained The reason why the wall IL
advocated rather than friend with
strong arm is that If the friend is
male he will insist on being at the side
OF the learner. so as to be ready to re-
ceive her in his arms when she is about
20 fall. The prettier the girl the more
he will adhere TO this line of conduct.
So long as the support Is In full view
the rider can see what assistance IL
given, and she gets ratified the moment
she sees IL withdrawn. The assistant
should keep well IN the rear. and should
support the rider by holding the machine
so that the learner cannot tell when tn
supporting hand IL withdrawn. In this
way the correct balance is learned before
the rider knows II.
Here Is description of the latest cos
tune for a woman 10 wear when bi-
cycling. IL includes n loose blouse waist,
and has a skirt made Of some loosely
webbed fabric which falls into folds or
i:s own accord. The skirt Is gorel to TT
very close around the hips, while from
Just above the knee to the bottom II is
flare1 or widened. The hem IS lightly
weighted This, 1t is claimed, does away
with all display of the ankles and the
ugly, cumbersome look from behind
which most OF the proposed costumes
have been found TO possess in actual use.
In walking 1t does not look unbecoming.
KnckerbOckers or full trousers may be
worn under ii or not. az desired.
Given a properly-htting machine. rea-
sonable skill. and a well-cut skirt there
Is only one thing needed to make wo-
man ride q bicycle gracefully. and that
is the limitation of speed. No woman
should attempt TO ride more than about
eight miles an hour on asphalt, or more
than six miles an hour on macadamizei
road IL she values her appearance. Her
skirt must have time to fall and drape
between the motions of the feet, and this
cannot take place if rapid action Of the
knees Is kept up. A well-mounted wo-
man, riding at moderate speed, Is sell
dom seen. bIt when she IL met with
every one turns to look at her. and here
is given the eecret OF her superior at
Effectiveness THE woman should set the
pace for her escort, not try to keep up
with him.