Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-06-11
WOMEN AND WHEELS.
mr. Zimmerman Says 1t Is Time The,
We're Lectured For Their AwkUardness.

Mr.. Zimmerman Says 1t Is Time They
We're Lectured For Their Awkwardness.
1T Is high time some one spoke to
women about their position in the sad
die. for. taken altogether, there is vast
room for improvement among the women
cyclists says Mr. Zimmerman, the
crack wheelman. II do not know Just
why it should be SO, but women who
walk gracefully, and whose dancing, for
instance, presents the poetry Of motion,
are awkward on the wheel
To overcome that of which 7 com
plain l would suggest that all women
learn to ride the wheel under the direc-
tion Of competent instructor. by that
do not mean To learn how To get On
and off the bicycle and to keep from
falling off, but 70 learn the correct po-
sition to assume when riding and how
to pedal properly.
Women, more than men, must sit
up straight in order to get the full bene-
flt from bicycle riding. If the bicycle,
as it is rugged at present, does not per
init, change the seat and handle bars.
If that doesn't do it, change the wheel,
for it is manifestly better not to ride a
wheel than to ride one which il injuring
you slowly. The handle bars and saddle
can be so arranged that you can assume
natural position.
The best way to begin is by getting
wheel of the proper size and weight
and with suitable saddle adjusted in
the proper position Those are matters
which you can determine for yourself
more quickly and easily than / could
tell you. The easiest and surest way of
getting saddle that viii be just right
is to have one made from a mold
See to it that the saddle il kept in
its original form. If it should change
form through use have it restored TO its
original shape, else you Will suffer dis
comfort and fatigue. Pedal evenly. II
you don't pedal evenly now, learn how
at once. Do not put all the force in
pedaling in the downward push Point
the toe downward when the foot is go
ing forward in the circle. Keep the
knees in and straight
AS between the seat and the pedals
do not have the saddle so high that
when the pedal is at the lowest part Of
the circle the leg is perfectly straight.
The correct position at that point is to
have the leg slightly bent at the knee
with the toe inclined toward the ground.
But be careful not to have the saddle so
low that the upper and lower portions
Of the limbs are at more than slight an
giles. At the same time the arms must
be curved slightly, the hands resting
easily on the bars
Remember what have said before
to all bicycle riders-don't rock 1t Is
particularly bad for women to get into
the habit. Many wheelmen and wheel
women seem to think the rocking mo-
tion adds to their speed or helps them
along. 1t does nothing Of the kind On
the contrary, it does a woman positive
and distinct injury, as any medical man
viii tell you
And if that doesn't appeal to you,
ladies, want to tell you that you real
ly look hideous when rocking from SIDE
to side. particularly to any one who
happens to be behind you
What I have said about woolen un-
derclothing and keeping out Of drafts
when the ride is over and the avoidance
Of drinking cold fluids applies with more
force to women than men. Remember
You are not 50 strong as men and can't
endure the same strain. Don't ride too
long or too far. The best rule is for you
to get home before you get tired. "