The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-27
HOT WEATHER CYCLING.
Some Words of Caution Given by Physi.
clan.

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 cyclist to have q
are and avoid the numerous indis-
oretions to which so many are addicted.
About the first thing noticed after rid
ing for some time is an intense thirst
The habit of stopping by the wayside and
indulging in a 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 cyolist should 81
down and get thoroughly COOLED off be-
fore 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. It is an open question as TO
which will prove the more injurious to
the stomaoh-the cold drinks or the saliva
impIegnated with all sorts of powerful
fiavoring substances contained in some of
the modern chewing gums" The pro-
cess of manufacture of most of the So
called 'Egums'' la secret, so that one can
not tell what he is chewing.
1t is quite evident that the fair, fat and
f1or1d people one sees on the boulevard
and in the parks are not aware of the
danger of heart failure, embolism, apo
plexy and various other troubles, or they
would not go pedaling 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
reauce weight. Some Of them do close
flesh. 'sbut they usually take it on again
when they discontinue wheeling.
Riding uphill is always q dangerous
thing. but particularly SO in warm
weather. It causes the heart to not at
a furious rate. and this overaction, when
continued for any length of time, must
eventually cause an enlargement or dila-
tion of the organ, with such symptoms as
| shortness of breath, rapid and feeble
heart action and loss of flesh and
strength.
The wise bioyoliat 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.
Another danger to the health of the
cyolist lies in riding Immediately after a
meal. The wheel should never be mount
ed until after the process Of digestion is
we'll under way-say from an hour and
a half to two hours.
The eye is also apt to be affected as the
result of 1ndiscreet riding. There are
cases recorded in which the vision was
very materially interfered with through
the rupture of a minute blood vessel.
The trouble in each case was attributed
to scorohing" in hot weather.
Long-distance runs should never be
INDUCED in unless the cyolist has had a
previous training for them, as they are
highly productive of the different
troubles mentioned above.
Z When one compares the number of
people who start on d @''century run"
with the survivors, it becomes quite
apparent that a very important percent
age cannot stand the prolonged strain.
Another danger to cyclists particulars
ly those who go for long rides in the
country-is,sunstr 1t is always best
to ride before neon and after 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon. The danger of SUM-
stroke is always much less during these
hours.
= When seizsdswith feeling of exhaus-
ton, fatigue, headache nd faintness the
rider should discontinue riding at once
and lie down in q cool and shady place.
Riders who are subject to attacks of
faintness and headache will DO we'll to
carry a small quantity of aromatic spirits
of ammonia. A teasponful of this pre-
paration taken in little cold water will
afford almost instant relief
The run" however, should be discon-
tinued at once.