The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09

Their Views on Pedals, Bells, Lamps, ana
Gyttofp.


children The beginner was there IN hcl
wide stiff skirt, eager for first lesson
the graduate was there 10 practice IN the
cool of the day. and the expert was our
to timber up and spin around Tor Wnllc
af.cr staying in during the hot speh. nc
obese man was numerous also ana ue-
clared az nc mopped his red face; There
is nothing in the world like It. GIVE me
every time external treatment In the way
of cycling In preference to the stun OF
the doctors to be taken internally Ana
as he pedalled away, after delivering him-
self I'm this manner, the girl IN boomers
made the comment that fat women were
awkward enough on wheel, nut they
were not to be compared with fat men.
But the women have so much the ad-
vantage Of the men," remarked man
rights woman in rather an indignant tone.
''They do not" said the girl in boomers;
they simply can't learn 10 ride as quick
Is as the women
I'm grant that answered The other'
but they don't have the same opportunl-
ties. In the first place an instructor VIII
not give man pupil half the attention
he does a woman. This Is partly the
mans fault for not being used 10 depend
ing on anybody but himself. he does not
demand II and a woman does Then. too,
skirts are a great aid to a beginner after
all zone feels exceedingly conspicuous
and awkward on wheel for the first
time. and couldn't be convinced that
every spectator in the academy was not
looking and laughing at her. Now, If "A
wOman's legs happen TO be little crook
ed the skirt hides the defect But alas
the poor man has not this safeguard. and
/ believe that statistics would prove that
nine out OF every ten Of them have a de-
cidcd tendency 10 turn their knees out
ward, and any frequent visitor at the
academies win tell you how the women
riders guy them for this Any time that
you stop 10 listen you can hear such re-
marks as. Sec him saw the air. say
give that man a wide berth Watch out
for the thin man; there isn't much OF
him, but he needs room l tell you the
men have the worst OF IT. and II l was one
/ would never take a lesson In the
academy but would learn on the road
This argument would probably have
kept up Indefinitely If the director OF in
structiCn had not come up with a broad
smile on his face.
wv hat S the matter now?' asked some
enc.
ooh. nothing much he replied. "only
| was Just thinking how many tales of
woo the wheelwomen pour into my ears
every day. one came TO the desk few
minutes ago quarrolling like anything be-
cause she had just pad 500 for a wheel
and had 10 pay extra for a bell and lamp.
This is always too much FOR a woman. |
don't believe there - a salesman living
who could convince her that a lamp and
bell are no more parts Of a wheel than
tucker and a hemmer are Of a sewing ma
chine. She can't understand that they
are merely necessary attachments
by the way asked a lnical spinster.
"what is the best lamp to get?'
There is a fortune awaiting the nan
who can invent a really good bicy lie
lamp" said the instructor The best
one made is the scarchlight. which cannot
be bought for less than S. IL is the only
one in which kerosene can be burned,
sperm oil being used in the others. The
great advan age of the searchlght is that
IL is less liable to go out In running
across car tracks. ruts or rough places,
but a sudden jerk often eXtingushes the
light in this. as we'll as in the cheaper
and less ingenious lamps. The truth OF
the business is If cyclists could buy a
well-perfected lamp there would be none
OF these arrests Of persons for riding
without lights. Lamps cost all the way
from $3.50 up to s.. and will hold enough
oil TO burn about four hours"
What about bclls?" asked another wo-
man. Il can't get mine placed to suit
me-"
For convenience a bell should be near
the handle bar. as the average rider is
compelled TO hold the bar. and ring the
bell at the same time Some people have
them near the steering rod but II is awk-
ward for any but an expert TO ring them
when there. Bells can be purchased from
50 cents up to $3.50"
Half the fun in riding Is derived from
having cyclometer. so one Of my friends
tolls me- remarked a schoolgirl. How
msch do they cOst?'
The best ones S." said the instructor.
end Il Is very good company when one
is spinning along alone 1t has a bell
attached 10 II which rings once at every
quarter OF a mile. twice AZ the hall. three
times at the three-qu irtcrs. and four
times at the mile Every woman should
have a cyclometer, as she is less apt 10
CvcrdO herself then"
Here the enthusiasts turned their at
tention to a woman who had come IN of
the road, one who is a conspicuous figure
on the Boulevard every afternoon owing
20 excel lent management OF her wheel.
she joined the crowd and all stood watch
ing the beginners in silence for some
time-that is. as long as a score Of wo-
mon can watch anything in silence. FIN
ally one girl broke out with: "W hat is II
that makes mounting so hard. anyhow
The expert said modestly: II think
II every beginner would be careful 10
select a machine with that part OF the
frame run nng from the front TO he rear
wheel curving downward. instead or
straight. a great deal of the difficulty
would be done away with. DiSmounting
from q wheel with this advantageous
curve is also much easier than from
one with two straight bars. There Is
absolutely no chance of catching the foot
or ankle in the one with the curved or
rounded bar. while there is every oppor-
tunity for an accident in mounting the
bicycle with the straight bar. as IL Is so
easy 10 catch the foot between the two"
rs there any difference in pedals?' ask
ed the novice.
The greatest in the world continued
the expert warmly. and If a woman
would select wheel with the proper
pedals she would find mounting and dis
mounting as well as sticking ON, mucn
facilitated. No woman should use the
rat-trap pedal as"
Gracious. | should say not" exclaim-
cd a voice. "its name is enough TO XIII
IL with women. But what is the rat-trap
pedal anyway
THE rat-trap pedal is made of steel,
and has pointed spikes like the teeth OF
sharp saw. The teeth will puncture
the sole of the best shoe in the world.
and II Is much harder TO keep the feet
on them than on the rubber pedal. which
is the only one for the whcelwoman 10
use"
she knows everything there is TO be
known about wheels and wheeling" re-
marked some one as the expert went out
to take trip 10 Coney Island