The Monitor-register., 1896-04-17
Learning to Ride a Wheel.

Learning to Ride a Wheel.
1t has been said in the past that horse
ba%ck-riding is the one thing in which q
prince may excel, and we read OF how
The rode like aprince to claim his bride";
and what was there then more artistic,
more artful, graceful, or masterful than
the princely rides of a princely bred i'm
partial horse, that would, if practicable,
as quickly land his prince as his groom
in the mire !?
But that was before the day of that
locomotive wonder, the bicycle, which
I like the horse, is no respector of persons,
and must be mastered by prince, pauper,
mistress, and maid alike, on the one and
only line of persistent democratic strug.
gle and effort, until art, skill, dexterity,
and power acquired by experience have
opened the eyes and made keen the senses
to detect and anticipate every departure
from or neglect of the rules of harmoni-
GUS %equipose. And what to-day is more
artistic, graceful, and even masterful
than the rider and his wheel as they spin
with the lightness and swiftness of a bird
over the smooth streets, the never.failing
object of admiration and interest to all
who see?
A short time ago a lady said to me: II
cannot ride my bicycle. I am what is
called 'object-struck.' Have you ever
heard of any one before who was SO af.
feeted 2"
l have yet to hear of a single person
(other thar little children, who approach
all things with a courage born of ignor-
ance) who. in learning to ride, has not
been ''object. struck" literally as we'll as
OFFICIALLY, and if bicyolists would all
write their first experiences the record of
bruises and bumps from ''objects" by
which they had been 'sstruck" would be
astonishing.
10 become a graceful and accomplished
cyclist one must first of all have a ma
chine which, in trade terms, ''fts." That
is, it must be adjusted and fitted in every
particular to its rider, just as a dress is
fitted to the form, for there is as much
difference in the appearance of q properly
and an improperly adjusted bicycle as
there is in a we'll and ill-ftting gown, and
one shows as conclusively as the other
the artistic or inartistic qualities of its
| possessor.
Next the beginner should have an in
structor who knows his business, one
who from study and practice understands
the requirements Of each particular pupil,
who studies each in the same manner as
the skilful millner or dressmaker studies
the face and form of her customers, the
length OF limb, outline of form, walk,
the curves of body, standing or sitting.
The pupil must learn the laws of bal
ance and exploitation, as a bicycle is
built to conform to them, and must adapt
herself to the never-changing laws OF
gravity, and she will best accomplish this
end by not trying to do it at all. Let hel
forget herself and allow her body to bend
and sway with the bend and motion Of
the machine, supple as the young pine
which bows to earth before the fury OF
the blast, but as quickly stands erect
again when it has passed by. Let her
keep her eyes up and ahead, her thoughts
from her work, her hands and feet upon
it, lightly and naturally, for nowhere
| does the saying that ''she who hesitates
is lost" apply more aptly than to the ruler
of the bicycle, as looking backward or
downward, or the neglect of proper
motion of foot, hand, or body, is as sure
\ to prove fatal to the cyclist as the hesita-
ton of Lots wife, or the seasick voyager
who keeps his eyes fastened upon the
surging pillows. And this is why so
many people are "object-struck," when,
instead of looking ahead, they look
downward, or. they fasten their eyes upon
some object in the road, and as surely
and unswervingly steer toward it as the
magnet steers to the steel. And this, too,
is why we hear so much talk of a bicycle
being a living thing, a demon incarnate;
that it can, shy, kick and buck, and that
no horse ever had a more vicious temper
than this thing of rubber and steel can
display, and that its will has a strength
and tenacity which neither whip nor spur
can master or control.
But if we could only observe the laws
of gravity, we would speedily realize that
the uncomfortable creature is within our
self, and as speedily find that by control.
ling self, by the gentlest, lightest touch,
We can make this fears ONE thing do u
slightest bidding.
There is an art in bicycling as in every
thing else. Time was, and that only q
few years ago, when any machine, any
dress, or half-worn shoes were good
enough for wheeling. To day all things
must be in perfect harmony for my lady
of the ''silent steed." First, her machine
must be of proper weight, of good build,
and correctly adjusted to her form and
carriage; then her dress, her shoes, hat,
and gloves, all and everything must SO
combine as to render her a symphony in
motion, in harmony and accord with
nature.
Take the middle-aged and the elderly
women, and there are many Of them to
be seen throughout the summer months
and lovely winter days in the parks and
upon the boulevard. Note with what
taste they are mounted and gowned. See
the girls, bright, winsome and happy,
and you will note the same observance to
mount, adjustment and dress. Then
turn to the bystander, and he may be one
of those same men who, a couple of years
ago, would have hooted the idea that his
wife or mother could even think of COM
hitting SO undigniied an act as the riding
of a bicycle. And if you ask him the
question: Do those elderly women appear
to you as out of place and at a disadvan-
tage upon bicycles? he will probably
stare at you a moment in incredulous
wonder, but will certainly tell you that
not under any circumstance would he
be one to deprive the mothers and grand
mothers of this best means of inducing
longevity, and that the bicycle is as
appropriate for the use of the old as for
the young. and will point as example to
the stately woman with white hair and
earnest, patient face, scanned by years,
giving dignity, grace and poetry to each
revolution Of her wheel or sweep and fall
of her skirts. Then turn to the little
children, those lovely bits of poetry in