The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-13
HOW TO RIDE A CENTURY,
1.-THE Most Beautiful Athlete Of Inem
ALI Tells How the Rode 100 Miles.
FROM HOME TO GRANTS TOMB.
Lillian Russell Upon Bicycling for Women
and How to DO Long Distance Ri'-
ing-Lovely Woman Upon
Popular Sport.

I have taken a century run. THIS
although II is only a season or so since
the broad shoulder of the bicycle IN
structor steadied my nervous Name as
We bore down around the cycle path OF
the academy and the instructions 10 push
keep on pushing" were fresh In my
ears.
/ would say first that century run
IS not all II is reported to be. And that,
second. any woman who can ride at all
can ride century-if! The Wheelwomen
who spell their names with n capital w
have always been aware of these facts,
but they did not tell them. because II!
Well. they would not be such cracks after
all.
IL IS the ambition OF every woman 10
wheel a century. That is certain.
"Wnl you come wheeling, my pretty
mad?"
Can YOU do a century. sir?" she said.
mo. ! cannot. my pretty maid.
Then stay where you are, for | can,
she said
II is n rhyme invented for the woman
who wheels her century so easily that
she finds the man who cannot do so a
bore.
who wants to wheel a century I will
tell how IT is done. I did it in a very
simple place. Namely. between Grants
tomb on Riverside Heights. and my home
on Broadway. near Fifty-hfth street
But YOU can do il just as ! did It. any
where. provided Il is level and you have
a good road.
had often longed to do my century
but never dared attempt H. one day
on reaching home. 7 glanced at my CYCLIC
meter and found il 10 have registered
II miles. why" said !. II have only
been up the street few blocks"
yes that's So" replied an experience
ed wheelwoman; land that IS all a CEN
fury IS"
Accordingly trained" for a few days.
riding two or three times a day; until l
felt pretty sure / could do six times ff-
teen without feeling #.
/ also read all the cycle notes Of CEN
fury makers. I read how n tandem
couple started for Philadelphia from city
Han New York. and arrived back the
same day. without any trouble-in about
twelve hours. And then l read Of the
feat Of Mrs. Harriet Folger, who did her
double century within twenty-four hours.
she is no more expert than L. I said
10 myself in encouragement And as
matters turned out I was not far from
right.
one morning + rose at o'clock with
a determined look on my face and donned
my prettiest bicycle suit. And / want 70
say here and now that there is no such
aid To Iong-distance bicycling as pretty
bicycle suit. No woman can enjoy a
walk unless she is well dressed. and ! do
not believe that any woman can wheel
long or well unless she wears a becoming
as well as comfortable suit.
There are those who say you cannot
ride hygienically unless you put on GER
tain awful woollen undergarments, hid
eousness personifedi And that you can
do yourself Justice on a wheel unless you
are attired I'm boomers. but this do not
believe. ] hold that the average woman
who wants TO ride well and do herself
credit ON the wheel must clothe herself
convcntionally or she will never be
success.
As ] started out that day felt a thrill
OF pride on seeing myself reflected from
my glass. I'm suit Of neat blue duck,
n pair Of high boots and a straw sailor
hattie ideal toilet for ladylike cycling.
For bicycle riding there must always be
some preparation. / have read that the
| III
IN the morning before breakfast. But for
pleasure and comfort there can nothing
| be done before breakfast upon a wheel.
At least glass Of milk must be taken,
or some fruit. or something 10 stay the
stomach and take away the empty feel
| ing 10 ride upon an empty stomach Is
too much like running an engine without
| fuel.
on that morning 7 partook Of light
| breakfast and mounted my nickel steed
I'm front OF my door and set out TO do
my century"
Now. before explaining how / did II.
want 10 give. and 10 get. clear under
standing Of just what constitutes a cen
tury Certain members of the l.. a. W.
| originally claimed that It meant riding
100 miles without stopping. But this was
! soon argued down. II would De impossi-
bile IN practical riding 10 80 100 miles with
out dismountlng. There are too many
obstacles in the road. A wheelman meets
a truck and must dismOunt or be run over
| Again there is a muddy place In the road.
or again. a beginner. that bette noir OF
! the cyclist. cuts Off the path. 1t was
also argued that no one could or should
| try 10 ride 100 miles without stopping
| for refrcshment. So the question, in the
| T.. A. ". ranks at least. was settled by
deciding that as long as the 100 miles were
ridden within twenty-four hours IL would
! be a century run"
In riding I have always found that a
pervon can ride furthest alone. This FOR
several reasons First, that the desire
! 10 talk. and so spend ones force. is less
And. secondly. because one can take one s
own pace without regard 10 any one else
/ Ana IN art, Kind Of work this is desirable
when the best results are 10 be obtained
Accordingly | set out on my century run
| alone.
From my home 10 Grants tomb. count
ing I'm the devious ways which you take
20 get asphalted streets and the pretties'
| scenery OF the drive. is about six miles
or twelve miles for the round trip. Ihis
takes me- along the new wheelmen's path
on Riverside and through all the beau
tiful windines Of the drive. and finally
| down the hill and up the grade that lies
( back Of the famous tomb II Is said "a
be the "Wheelman's Path 10 Paradise.
| But while I will not go TO extremes re-
| garding H. will say # is only surpassed
by the boulevards and wheelmens path
in a very few places I have visited. II
] Is certainly ideal. overlooking as IL does
| the Hudson AT its broadest and giving
a view Of the palisades up above.
To wheel from my home 10 the tomf
and back IS nothing. And without stop
ping | took the journey twice. Then. dis
mounting. I climbed my front steps. and
without telling my people at home of th'
heroic self-imposed task before me.
had breakfast with the rest Of the family
| I wish TO say right here that no woman
| ia o,rer "a more devoted family thar