Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS

One good thing that the bicycle has done
for women is to wonderfully increase
their power of endurance. That this re-
suit is directly due to the use of the wheel
and nothing else. is apparent. This being
the case the use of the silent steed has In
deed proved a Godserd for the women of
the country, and it is no wonder that the
members of the fair sex are taking to its
use in larger numbers every season. Con-
sidering the fact that it has only been
within the past two or three years that
the females have taken to the use of
the wheel, it is an encouraging sign that
its beneficial effects are SO easily seen.
The average woman rider. especially one
new to the use of the wheel. will find, and
has found, herself almost completely ex-
hausted after taking a journey of five to
seven miles awheel. Take the same wo-
man six or eight months later in the sea-
son, and, ii she has been riding with any
degree of regularity, 1t will be surprising
TO learn that she can go on trips fifteen or
twenty or twenty-five miles and not feel
as tired as she did at the end of her first
journey. The use of the wheel has tended
10 increase her powers of endurance The
habby muscles have become strengthened.
the system improved. the constitution in
Vlgorated and the whole body built I'D to
considerable and noticeable extent. This
Is a much better tonic than anything else
that could be done. No physician could
nave prescribed any medicine that could
possibly have the same effect on the en-
tire body in the same time.
The female bicycle population of this
city have not, 1T seems, attained the same
aesree OF proficiency as that of a number
or other cities in the country. This NAV
probably be due to the fact that a majority
OF the lair sex In this city use the smooth
tnorough1ares almost entirely for their ex-
erclse on the wheel. In other cities this Is
not the case. The smooth Streets are CON
spicuous by their absence and the riders
are forced out on the roads which afford
Tar better riding than the average streets
once on the road the rider is Immediately
lnVigorated by the bracing atmosnbera anJ
charmed with the ever-changine scenery
as viewed from the skimming wheel All
tnis tends to build up the system and II &c
no "onaer that hundreds of women in
olnef citles are capable of taking trims NJ
from forty to fifty miles a day even n,ora
without showing any sign of fatigue.
In this city there is only at present
limited number of women who are ah1a to
stand such long trips 1t is nIea sinp ~
note, however. that the number is rapidjv
Increasing, and before the close of the cmr.
rent year there will be any number who
VIII be competent to indulge in such lone
trips There is a certain degree of Meas,
ure IN knowing that one can ride some
thing like fifty miles in the course of n
DAY. 1t not only affords satisfaction In
knowing this. but it gives additional sat.
isfaction because it increases the cvclino
sphere OF the rider and enables her to
visit new fields with new scenery. and
continually &C ntuaa brings to view new objects
OF interest. This applies when the start
anu hhlsn OF ride Is made in the CITY
The power Of endurance Is of additional
value when out on a tour Of any sort as It
gives the rider plenty of time to enjoy the
trip ana yet cover an allotted distance dur
The whole secret Of successful riding lies
In the statement made by Mrs. Rinehart.
the female century rider of Denver who
was IN this city short time ago. She
says that the great trouble with the wo-
men riders is that they do not take enough
of exercise in bicycle riding In her opin-
lon regularity Is everything. and very lit
ne can be expected in the way Of good
rldfng from the woman who rides once Or
twice week. and then for a distance of
not over two or three miles. Her view of
the matter Is without doubt. correct
one, and contains more truth than fiction.
Her case Is an Illustration of regularity of
exercise. and she is capable of Keeling off
centuries in the same time and with less
fatigue than the ordinary female rider can
cover one-half or one-quarter the distance.
However, all female riders do not aim to
become centurions. If they follow the plan
adopted by Mrs. Rinehart they will find
that they will show a wonderful improve
ment In their riding form. What would
seem to be big distance to some women
now Is a short distance to the plucky Dem
Yer WON an.
In the case of good many female riders
1t is almost a matter of impossibility to
season. II they could go out every good
day on which they can find time to ride a
change would be noticeable In their con-
dition. To others 1t Is recommended that
ha toll 6axy
This Is the season of the year when the
early morning rides make the most de-
lightful trips. The sooner after daybreak
the trip is started, the better it Is, and I'D
to o'clock in the morning the conditions
are favorable for good riding. When the
sun gets well UP in the heavens the riding
Is not as pleasant as it might be. Late in
is suited for the female riders. though a
run IT. the afternoon rs not near as pleas
ant or exhilarating as the early morning
trip. So long as thereois daylight it is not
necessary to have am escort. If two or
three riders get together they need have
no fear in riding on the. roads In and
around the city. An escort may be a good
thing to have along. but his absence will
have little or no effecteon the ride.
The question Of having women go out on
club runs has received good deal Of at
tention from club members in other sec
tons OF the country, The clubs of this
city have paid scant satteation to the fe-
male riders. and the suggestion of women
participa ting in the weekly run has met
with general opposition. This is not only
the case locally. but In. other places. Out in
Galveston, Tex, the matter was brought
up by leading club. The club officers
were confronted with the situation that
unless runs were scheduled in which the
members wives or sisters could OCCASION
ally take part majority Of the members
would abandon the weekly fixture and take
outings in small parties The experiment
was tried, and here Is what one of the
prominent club officials has to say OF the
matter:
Until this season I was bitterly opposed
to my club allowing women to go on our
runs. Now indorse the idea. Cycling Is
popular with the women, and many a rider
who wishes to take pleasant trip of
Sunday with Q club finds himself In a sell
fish position II he declines to take his wife
or his sister along. The action of clubs in
according the privilege Of taking women
on runs occasionally to the members In NO
wise Affects the Organisation In fact, the
presence OF women demands decorum and
sdds to the dignity Of Q club. Trips Of
n1ty or sixty miles arc possible with al
women riders, who exercise frequently
ana think Il u Tar better to take women
on trips into the county :,