The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17

always. The Associate Cycling Clubs of
New York are talking of making rule for
bidding women and children to go on their
runs, and / hope they will do it,
1T is much worse than racing, for racers
are trained: you would not find a racing
who would take a century run. 1t IS
seventy miles day easily, but / trained up
to it, / have ridden fifty miles without dis
mounting and rode with ease: There should
be squirting in riding. The hardest rid
ing for women is around the streets of New
York. The nervous strain in getting out OF
the way of vehicles is bad Women should
ride in the country.
NEED OF THE BRAKE.
"No one should ride without a brake.
I have investigated the cause of a great
many accidents and have found that most
of them could have been prevented by the
use of a brake. A wheel cannot be brought
suddenly to a standstill without one, and in
case of collision they are necessary. Going
down a hill where it is necessary to back
pedal it is harder work than going up hill,
and there is a greater nervous strain, for
there is always danger of the wheel getting
away from you the best you can do, and
then you are helpless.
Every woman should take care of her
own wheel. 1t is not fair where there are
two or three wheels in family to make one
person care for them all, as is sometimes
done A woman will appreciate the value
of her wheel more if she takes care OF 1t
herself. The chain should be taken off once
in three weeks or a month and soaked in
kerosene wiped and hung up to dry and
then replaced on the wheel. Put drop or
oil in the top of each link, let II stand untll
IL has soaked in, and then wipe the cndlIl,
as the oil will collect dust. The sprockets
must be kept clean, wiped off with kero-
sene. 1t is necessary to be careful not TO
get the kerosene on the tires. as IL runs
them. A mica lubricant should be USED
and any good lubricating OIL. Ine cham
cracks when it is dry, but a dirty chaln
should never be oiled. A dirty chaln am is Is
too loose or toe tight. One need OF brake
is in case of accident to the chain; Accl-
dents will happen occasionally, ana Ill me ie
chain snaps without brake the rider Is
helpless, the pedals are useless. me Wneel
should be cleaned after each ride ana
brush which will not lose its bristles is use
full With the gear case cleaning is sim
pie matter, and l would recommend snort
skirt and no chain guard in any case.
Il should not recommend a wheel TOO
high-geared for woman. That must be
regulated by individual strength. Few eX-
perienced riders will find gear higher tnan
seVeny of advantage, and SlXIy-SX is Soou
for the average rider. Long distance riding
is better done on a sixty-four-geared Whesl
a seventy gear a ten-tooth rear sprocket ana
twenty-five front, with a seventeen crank,
are satisfactory The greater number OF
women, however, will find the siX-and-a-
half-inch crank more satisfactory
For a cycling dress Mrs. Hudders wears
pretty divided skirt, kilt plated. wide box
plat covering the opening in the front ana
s. little Elton jacket She wears low sn 1;S1s
and wooden golf stockings, with thin Isle
thread underneath. .4,.,.
But of all denominations, she says. "thln
stockings are the worst on the wheei. ~
The divided skirt is necessary for Mrs
Hudders' S riding, as she rides the diamond
frame wheel ito.
And if | had to choose between giving
m nv wheel and giving up my diamond
frame. ! should give up the wheel alto
gether You can get better position on
the diamond frame. do less work riding,
there is less vibration, and there is greater
safety The wheel is lighter too; though
that is not a great advantage. Men come
IN me constantly to ask ME to urge their
wives to ride the diamond frame