Evening star., 1897-03-13
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS

Frequently the question is asked as to
how far a woman should ride. There is no
set distance, and hence no general answer
car he given. All women not alike.
Some can stand fatigue. while others can
not The least exertion will tire some wo-
men while others can Withstand a good
deal. This is evidenced in all Of the walks
of life. and applies equally as we'll to BIZ
cycling Some women take natural de-
sire to the wheel. and push the pedals
for some miles without getting tired. while
there are plenty of others who cannot
stand over one o. two miles of continuous
riding. 1t is on this account that each
rider should be the best judge of her capa-
bilities. and fully know when she has
Travelled far enough.
Washington has one member of the fair
who has succeeded in covering a CEN
tury within the allotted time OF fourteen
hours. She is one out of many and an ex-
pert rider. There are many other female
riders in the city who can anG have COW
cred fifty miles during day. There are
many more who would not be able to push
this long distance or even half of u. 1t Is
folly TO keep pushing the pedais yrhen one
Is tired. The exercise ceases then TO be
beneficial, and assumes harmful aspect.
and more damage can be 1one in this way
than would be imagined. Each rider should
be perfectly able to judge now far she can
ride. \ man can stand more riding than
a woman, endurance being a component
part of his construction, a general rule
If out on a long ride rest frequently. es-
pecia!ly when climbing steep hill. A stop
of five or ten minutes will do an immense
amount of good and help ward OF the IA
tigue that inevitably comes from lur:, rid
ing to one Inexperienced.
The riding abilities can be gradually en-
1arsed with continual riding. Never at
tempt long journey unless you have had
good deal Of experience in riding. 1t is
advisable 10 make short trips frequently
gradually extending the length. adding two
OF three miles each time. and In :aat way
the muscles viii become accustomed to the
use of the bicycle. and the ri1e- will be
surprised to find the large distance she can
travel on the machine. EY.a when this
state Is reached it is unw.se to make too
large a jump. and impose TO greatly on
thH powers of endurance. which are apt 20
1all in an cmeI gency OF the kind
Baltimore has a club of 80 women men,
hers who have signed a pledge to wear
short skirts. clearing the ground at lea:t
three inches, on rainy days. The efforts to
form similar clubs in other cities will be
impeded by the fact that only the young
and slender look well in short skirts. The
Baltimore short skirt. which made its ap-
pearanCe a few weeks ago. hasn't much
consideration for the stout and the elderly
women 1t will probably not be long be-
fore a similar agitation will be made in
this city. 1t seems though all of the re-
forms in the feminine dress have a gen.
eral tendency toward a rational costume
which. instead of being reached by direct
route. will gradually come into general
usage
Speaking of women clubs reminds the
writer Of the fact that with all OF the fe-
male cyclists in the city. there is not a sim
gle girls cycle club in the District More
than this. there is no club that has any fe-
male auxiliary. This is to be regretted
There Is probably city in the country
That has so large a percentage of female
riders as Washington. and the absenc. OF
d club of some sort is conspicuous The
organization OF one. and its successful m:n.
agement. would refute many uakiud re-
marks that have been made ON the subject
The male cyclists are generally selfish in
one respect. and they look with diss,air
upon any female cycling organizat ton
Women In club by themselves OF in q
club with men will never succeesi. tn.
quarrelng and dissension will soon break
up any organization, said a weii-knowI
wheelrnan to The Star cycle reporter Hi:
prediction seems to have been verified In
many Instances There until recentl,
a girls club in Chicago. which started OF
with a big blaze of glory. but which sud
denly came 10 full stop. and from tn,
last accounts the matter had oeen brough
into court 10 see which members were en-
titled TO the powder box, the curling iron.
and other feminine articles. A similar fat,
has befallen organizations of a like char