Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS


which she lives is rather limited in size
The bicycle population of the place is lin
lied to three-Mrs. Lacher her husband
ana her son. As a result the other people
In the village regard the Lachers as in
duiging In luxury bordering on extrava-
gance. Mrs Lacher was recently seen nd
ing through the village wearing bloomers,
which created considerable excitement.
Several wardens of the church saw her and
were shocked. The morals of the place had
been corrupted in their opinion, and they
quickly got together and held a meeting
After much secret discussion, by and with
the advice of the pastor, they annulled the
church membership of Mrs. Lacher. The
created an even greater sensation than did
the victim in question when she appeared
on the highways in the rational costume
MRS. Lacher Is the wife of a prominent
citizen of the place, and the mother OF
seven children. The husband, 1t is under
STOOD, Will not let the matter rest as 1t is
according to an exchange d philosopher
whose insight into human nature is deep
mas reached the very logical conclusion
tnat 1air woman. being lover Of Jewels is
naturally infatuated with the diamond
frame bicycle. As it is impossible for her
to ride In skirts bicycle of that design,
she has turned her attention to the rational
costume. Boomers and knckerbockers
therefore. are not the outcome of pro-
gressive ideas, but the necessity born of
admiration of precious gems. This is one
view of the matter.
This is the season for beginners in cy
cilng, and here are some good suggestions
from an instructor who IS regarded as one
OF the best in the city Of New York: l.
Grasp the handle bars lightly and do not
stlnen the muscles of the arms or should
ers =. Turn the wheel gently in the direc-
ton in which you feel you are falling;
never jerk it, and never turn 1t in the op-
posite direction. 3. Do not be afraid to
pear down on the pedals: the faster you go
the more easily you will find it to control
your wheel. 4. Always look ahead. CT
rather toward the point to which you wish
to go; If you look down you are almost sure
TO get ratified and il you fix terror
stricken gaze on any object you wish to
avoid you are almost sure 20 run it down.
Out in Milwaukee bicycle parties are the
latest fads of society, the fad coming into
vogue as early March, when the wind
was blowing hard enough to make the male
riders turn up their coat collars to keep
warm. scores of young women could be
seen riding through the frozen streets of
the city. The run generally ended at some
place where refreshments could be served,
after which the entire party would listen
10 some lecture on cycling, the correct
manner of mounting and dismounting, the
position In the saddle and similar points,
or else talk OF the formation of summer
cycling club or perhaps indulge in a gen.
eral all-around gossping match.
The female rider should remember that
nothing is more injurious to a bicycle than
dead weight when riding over a car track.
rough roads or obstacles. To relieve a
wheel when riding over the things men
toned, the rider SHOULD press upon the
pedals. slightly rising from the saddle
Such precaution taken to relieve a wheel
will add to its life. and keep it in good
condition. to say nothing Of aiding in the
comfort of the rider.
riding abilities of their females claiming
that they were able to Withstand a great
deal of riding. The last report of the Cen
fury Road Club of America has stunned
them. Standing eighth on the list is the
name of Mrs. A. E. Rhinehart of Denver,
Col, who has ridden lis centuries. The
English cycling press looks at this aghast,
ana. though not openly, intimates that
some mistake has been made No English
woman has ever been known to ride that DIS
lance in England While the riding of Mrs.
Rhinehart is meritorious there are a num-
Der of other women who have done good
riding. Mrs. George Bunker of Chicago has
ridden ninety centuries, and Mrs. j. w.
Roth of the same city has ridden fifty-six
centuries. Mrs. NJ. j. Kelley of New York
has covered fifty centuries while Mrs. c.
NJ. Fairchild of Chicago has covered fifty
one centuries. Miss Lizzie Hegerty of
Bloomington, ILL.,, is the only unmarried
lady mentioned on the list, and she has
ridden thirty-five centuries. All of these
are members of the Century Road Club.
There is general opinion among persons
on, as we'll as off, the wheel that riding will
contract the chest, unless the wheelwomen
as a girl who sits in chair in round
shouldered position will probably not
abandon her favorite attitude because she
is riding a bicycle. However. there is no
sitting holt npripht a
slight bending forward from the hips, with
the back fiat and the shoulders we'll back,
gives a better position on the wheel, while
there is no danger of contracting the chest
The question of dress creates additional
interest with the wheelwomen the army
of riders of the fair sex becomes larger.
There was a time when the female riders
rode in their street costume. Some, of
course, still adhere to this, but the great
majority of riders have their bicycle dress.
and 1t Is, indeed, complicated arrange
ment. Boomers have practically gone out,
or. more properly speaking. have with
drawn from sight, they are now worn
under the skirt as q general rule. Perhaps
the most popular costume Of today is the
blouse or loose waist, knickerbockers or
boomers, leggings and bicycle skirt,
which is made somewhat shorter than the
ordinary skirt. There have been costumes
worn by some female riders which may
have caused the machine to turn a vivid
color under it's enamel. but few of this
character have been shown in this city.
Among the striking combinations recently
seen at St. Louis was that of young girl
whose hair and bicycle were of a decided
vermillion. Dressed in snug-fitting suit
Of black, trimmed in red of the same shade
as her wheel and hair she attracted no end
Of attention. Nevertheless, the effect was
good, and her manner Of riding much better
than the ordinary.
There are few of the wheelwomen of
this city who are riding in boomers, but
they are so full and are such near relations
to the divided skirt that very few can tell
the difference. The popular color of the
wheeling costume appears to be a light
gray or fawn color, or one of those fetching
mixtures which become any woman and
which do not show the dust. When out on
the road the costume of the male rider is
liable to get covered with dust. Under the
same circumstances the costume of the
female would present sad sight. There
are perhaps very few women who have con.
sidered this matter, but 1t is well worth
some attention.
A New York bicycle club captain, who il
on a pleasure visit to Paris, has written
home to some of his friends giving the
news of interest to the cycling fraternity
He states that all of the women wear
tloomers. and the people take such a sight
in the ordinary everyday sense In fact a
woman who appeared In the streefs in n