The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-09-13
THE BICYCLE WALK.
American People Fast Becoming
q Pigeon-Toed Race.
Discoveries Made BY an Illinois PhysfcIan-
what the Bicycle Habit WIN Result
In There Il No Help
FofIt.


An Illinois physician has discov-
cred that the present extreme use Of
the bicycle is tending 70 make the
great American people decidedly
pigeon-toed race The constant re-
volving motion of'the feet and lower
legs as they turn the pedals has given
to the gait Of those people who are
much addicted to the bicycle a pc
culiar turn. which the progressive
doctor calls the bicycle walk. Those
who remember the days 81 theroller-
skating craze will probably recall
the effect that exercise had on the
gait Of those who practiced ii, par
ticularly the gait OF some young
ladies Of the age 10 be easily affect
ed. They took on at once q rolling,
swinging, halt-gliding, rhythmical
step that resembled the motion OF
roller skating as closely as could be
by anyone not on rollers. Soft is
with the bicycle walk, says the
aforesaid Illinois doctor, except that
instead Of being only q temporary
pecuIiarityit will become permanent
and hereditary, as the bicycle fever
promises to be, whereas theiroller-
skating fad enjoyed buis brief ex.
istence.
The bicycle walk is nothing more
or less than the pedaling motion OF
the wheel applied TO the walk, but
itgives to a person who hasiit;a de-
cidedly peculiar appearance Notice
a cyclist who is afflicted. twill be
seen that when he lifts his foot in
walking he does not put itstraight
ahead, but carries it back little, as
he would have TO in following the
pedals, and then swings it high, al
most to the calf OF the other leg, be-
fore sending it forward. Thepigeon-
toeing comes in there also, and
causes the sufferer from bicycle walk
to Interfere after the manner of
horses. The interference comes
higher up, though, because of the
upward swingof the foot as 1t goes
forward.
The pigeon-toeing is accounted for
by the position of the foot on the
pedals. There the toes turin in and
down, and the heels turn up and out,
the pressure being borne ON the ball
of the foot.
Among the racing men the .'bi-
cycle walk is the most noticeable,
of course. II has taken them in
much worse form than the ordinary
cyclist, and extends to the swfnpfof
the arms and the carriage 81 the
head. The elbows Of the racing man
pend out from the body, Is a result
pf Having 10 bear his weight sShe
leans far over the handle bars, ai ID
gives him the appearance ottslng
bow-legged as to his arms The
neck andhead are projected forward,
too, and the face wears that strained,
anxious expression Of man who
wants to ge: there as soon as pos
sible.
So much for the bicycle walk aud
its causes. OF its probable effects
let the discoverer speak in his own
words:
The bicycle habit, if persisted
in he says, will make US all
knock-kneed and as pigeon-toed as
our native red men. Pretty much
everybody of the present genera
tion rides wheel, oris just about to
begin, therefore pretty much every
body of the present generation will
beknock-kneed and pigeon toed or
will be affected with the bicycle
walk. Those ailments, conditions or
peculiarities, having settled them
selves on this generation, will nat
urally descend by Inheritance TO the
next generation, and there we are,
aknock-kneed and pigeon toed race.
| don't see any helpfor it, or any
need for help, either, so far as that
goes, but, asa matter OF fact, that is
what we are coming to and no mis-
take. Chicago Chronicle.