The morning times., 1896-07-12
RIDINGOVER THE WAVES
Now the Ocean Is Crossed
on a Bicycle.
Copyright, 1S96.l


1t Is killing two very large birds with
one stone To cross the ocean under the
new auspices. You get the sea air, the
voyage, and the delights as formerly.
And you also & ct instruction in that great
est OF all modern pastimes and sports, bi-
cycling.
In one Of the largest cycling academies
in this country there is an accomplished in
structor, fitting himself for the task Of
teaching cycling aboard ship His requi-
sites are sets OF tools, pupils, belts, wheels,
both diamond and drop, and certain cycling
suits, coats, etc. In II few-da Us he viii lie
aboard great ocean liner with bis strange
outfit. pG f
So many people want 10 learn to wheel
while they are on their summer vacatiu
and so many want 10 cosnbine tuition and
pleasure trips in one brief space OF u
month or SIX weeks, tina this subject &C.
CURED TO an Instructor 'viIile giving u
bicycle lesson.
YACHTING C YELLING.
II want you To teach me how to ride a
wheel. 1 am going 10 tour Through Scot
land this summer, and 1 intend 10 Cycle
along. l want to learn to ride. Cone
down to my country pla ce for Il fe " da Us and
teach Inc all there is 10 kisow about the
wheel, SAID tins affluent pupil.
The instructor started for the country
seat. At the city dock lay a yacht. Aboard
1t were two fine wheels. Tie sail down the
sound was several hours long. An idea
occurred to the instructor. You have
only three days to learn a difficult art"
said he, begin now by getting tie knack
of sitting the wheel"
By the time the boat anchored at the
private dock the man could keep his seat
whiletbeiDstructOrt towcd the wheel laround
the deck The first lesson was learned.
''I'll do that again and on an improved
plan," said the instructor. Il will go
to Scotland myself, and, iincidently, 1
will earn enough money on the way over
to see the country any way l wantto."
Grand result. Permission from the
steamship authorities to use part of the
deck for tuition. The procuring of a very
nice outfit! And the booking of enough
pupils In advance to keep the days conf
fortably full!
Another grand result, The folio owing of
this example by many instructors OF the
wheel!
In teaching the bicycle aboard ship there
are advantages and disadvantages. The
former is headed by the fact that people
feel very strong and well at sea and can
perform feats OF physical endurance, 1t
does not tire them to learn to ride, as il
does on land. Ands again, they are more
unconventional in the matter of dress.
A man Learning at sea dresses himself in
sweater and trousers. He is fully ready
for inspection. On land, in an academy he
would want n coat and minor elegances of
toilet. which, while highly desirable in
civilization, are not missed on the high
seas.
with woman it is tile same way. only
more SO. At sea they willingly discard
skirts and put on bloomers, or dress in
some little short affair that in no way
binders them.
CYCLING OUTFITS.
The instructor who is gathering his outfit
30 carefully takes with linn a trunk of
cycling suits. He has sweaters and blazers
and knee breeches for men; and trim little
caps, blouses, coats and kuee skirts for
women. These lie will rent by the lesson
to those who need them.
The number OF lessons required to teach
the bicycle aboard ship will be about eight,
so the instructor calculates. They must be
taken two day, FROM the day after the
ship sails. Each lesson will be a half-hour
long, and the lesson hours placed as far
apart as possible.
The first lesson is the hardest. In learn
ing on land the pupil las a smooth, fiat
surface, but here lie has a rolling plane.
Now inclined one way and now the other.
III uippiuS one way the erect ls Ilk e gong
up and down grade. But IL the ship lurches
sideways there are sloping hills to be tack
led. This brings into play question OF ex-
Quisite balance.
The first four lessons aboard ship will he
devoted entirely to mastering this point
of balance. The instructor will not let go
OF the handles. He will, place his own hard
hands over the uuaccustomed ones OF the
pupil and direct every ,nioFement OF the
handlebars. After few Lessons the pupil
will learn this. ,ta
The rule to turn the handles the way you
are falling is complicated with the one to
notice the Iurch of the &hipe Learn to get
its motion and inse nsiblS you turn your ma
chine TO meet 1t. This is learned in about
four lessons On rolling boat-fully as many
lessons as are needed to learn the -rt in an
academy. But iearninson the high seas is
a great novelty. 1t beats reclining in q
steamer chair all to death.
These first lessons Will all be managed
with the aid of a belt and strap. The in
structor, holds. the latter t. prevent the
pupil from tipping away from him. If the