Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23
HOT WEATHER CYCLING.
Some Words of Caution Given by
Physician.

Some Words of Caution Given by a
Physician.
A physician in the New York World,
gives the following advice in regard to
cycling in very hot weather:
With the advent of extremely hot
weather it behooves the cyclst to have a
care and avoid the numerous indiscretions
to which so many are addicted.
About the first thing noticed after riding
for some time is intense thirst The
habit Of stopping by the wayside and in
dulging in drink of iced water, ice-cold
beer, lemonade or any one of the numerous
other beverages kept in such places is one
of the bad habits common with wheelmen
The cyclist should sit down and get thor
oughly cooled off before drinking anything
that is cold
Many cyclists avoid an intense thirst by
chewing gum. This habit may be INDUCED
IN with perfect safety, provided the pure
and old-fashioned spruce gum is used 1t
is an open question as to which will prove
the more injurious to the stomach-the cold
drinks or the saliva impregnated with all
sorts of powerful favoring substances con-
tanned in some of the modern Chewing
gums" The process of manufacture Of
most of the so-caled gums is secret so
that one cannot tell what he is chewing
1t Is quite evident that the fair, fat and
forid people one sees on the boulevard and
In the parks are not aware of the danger Of
heart failure, embosm. apopIexy and va
rious other troubles, or they would not go
pedallng along the roads and up the hills
at the furious pace which some of them
employ. Such are out with one object In
view. and that is to reduce weight Some
of them do lose f1esh,' but they usually
take 1t on again when they discontinue
wheeling
Riding uphill is always a dangerous thing,
but particularly SO in warm weather 1t
causes the heart to overact at a furious
rate, and this oVeraction, when continued
for any length of time, must eventually
cause an enlargement or dilation Of the
organ. with such symptoms as shortness
of breath. rapid and feeble heart action
and loss of flesh and strength.
The wise bicyciist never rides uphill He
dismounts at the foot of the hill and wheels
his machine to the summit, thus avoiding
the risks involved were he to ride to the
top. 70,
Another da1 ger to the health of the cy-
clst lies in riding Immediately after a
meal. The wheel she uld ever be mounted
until after the process of digestion is well
under Way-say from an hour and half
to two hours. 70
The eye is also apt to be affected as the
result of indiscrcet riding. There are cases
recorded in which the vision was very ma
teriaily If terfered with through the rup-
ture of q minute blood vessel. The trouble
In each case was attributed to 'scorching''
in hot weather.
Long-distsnce runs Should never be in
dulged in unless the 'cychst has had a pre-
vious training for them, as they are highly
productive of the different troubles men
toned above.
When one compares the rumber of peo-
pie who start on a century rum with the
survivoIs' it becomes quite apparent that
very important percentage cannot stand
the prolonged strain.
Another danger to cyclists-particularly
those who go for long rides in the coun-
try-is suEstroke. 1t is always best to ride
before noon and after o'clock in the af-
ternoon. The danger of sunstroke is al
ways much less during these hours
When seized with a feeling of exhaus-
tlon, fatigue, headache and faintress the
rider should discontinue riding at once and
lie down in cool and shady place. Riders
who are subject to attacks of faintness and
headache will do well to carry small
quantity Of aromatic spirits of ammonia
A teespoonful of this preparation taken in
little cold water will afford almost in
slant relief
The run" however, should be discon-
tinuel at once.