Evening star., 1897-02-20
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS

Many lady riders asking themselves.
"What will be the style of cycling costume
this season. Like everything else, fem
inine style is brought in. This is TO be re
GREETED. II places certain restraint upon
the exercise for women. which. if anything.
is harmful. Bicycling Is a common sense
pastirne, and as such needs a common
sense costume. It is not necessary TO have
elaborate costume to enjoy wheeling
The costume does not add anything to the
heaItSfulness of the ride. It may serve 20
make the rider look a little more attract
i've. something OF: the order of a doll baby
on bicycle. but fer real hard riding, the
kind that exhilarates and brings health
the simplest Of costumes oftentimes an
Swers better than a costly riding habit
Bicycling does not need near as expensive
habit as do other outdoor sports ior
women 1t is far different from horseback
riding. and the heaIthful and beneficial re-
suits are much better. BY many 1t is
claimed that the bicycle has emancipated
women. bur the emancipation is very slight
NheG $jE.G creepS iS
cycling costume for women need not
be elaborate. even though ii is attractive.
1t all depends upon the women. Some
would look very attractive in a certain
dIssS. while others with the same dress on
would look positively horrible. as the girls
say. and vice versa Use simple costume
suited 10 you. Ornaments are cut of place
on cycling costumes. unless the rider con-
templates entering some carnival or some
thing of the sort. y cycling costume for
roa5 riding does not last so very long.
especially when the roads are dusty, and
as matter of economy il is best to get
plain and simple costume.
There are some who want to know
whether not the bicycle boot will be in
general use this year. or whether leggins
or CATERS will have the call. Instead of
waiting 10 see. the best advice is TO the
kini of suit that suits you the best-the
boot. If you like it; if not. then the leggin.
Each has its alhereuts and while not
definite, it seems probable as though the
two will divide popularity. Each style
has its advantages and disadvantages
The female bicycle boot. with its long
facing. Is preferred by good many who
claim that it is cooler TO wear in warm
weather tEan leGgins- But, like everything
else made. the boots come in sizes and
there are some who cannot conveniently
wear thcn. A welI-fiIIed bicycle boot Is
soirsih hiEs pleasant TO look at.
On me other hand the leggins or CATERS
are suitable for such use as the bfcycle
boot HIll not fill- Then the buttonins of
the ies--in is worse than the Tightening OF
the lacas in the boot Another styIe thar
was iEauEurated last year. and which
Sd4i4.u number Of admirers is the golf
s'ockiuss, with no Iesgins or boots using
pam walking shoe. Some girls are
orilSiAS the matter down. and wear a piair,
SIX or cotton stocking of dark color For
reaI warm weather this Is vithour ,5orb,.
the best style that could be worn. and there
are some who will adopt this wear aIto-
st'hef IN the summer months
some Eiris seem TO have the greatest
amount of trouble with the lacinc ON tbnir
80 y-'.s- ne pretty colored cord is very
weak and slender. and it does NOT rsorire
sdch extra strain to break IT, When in
plaGt any ieHsth of time it is apt to rot es-
Pec.dEy as Il gets wet. and then again
lhe constant rubbing of the dress against
the lacing wears it out or weakens IL 70
such an extent that it will snap at the
shehtest provocation- Perhaps the great
est trouble with the lac:rc Is wftb tha+
part protecting the dress from the chain
sometimes when the crank shaft is going
arouhd IL strikes the cord and rubs it, but
IIle Most trouble is caused. in a majority
OF instances. by the heel OF the boot of
the rluer. rubbing against the lacing caused
by pedaiiuS with the toe pointing away
from the bicycle This can be remedied
The tee should be on a parallel with the
machine. and if this is followed the beeI
Will easily clear the lacing. If any diff
Guilty Is experienced in this IL is suggested
tnaL some insulated wire be secured and
used at The cnain guard in place Of the
Iaciitg or cord Do not pull the wire TOO
usht- as = is apt TO make the guards
strike against the chain and produce dis
comforting noise. II trouble is experienced
with the other laciag the wire can also be
used. The Insulation is colored a good deal
like the lacinS cord. and could not tell
the diierenee by looking at it, though i'll
the matter Of wear the superiority of enc
ever the ether is very apparent. The ire
can De secured in any size. but that equal
in diameter to the kind of wire Used In
wrapping orOoms will answer the purpose.
The wire can be secured at any hardware
store or electrician. and will cost a little
more than the cord lacing.
The ordinary tool bag of bicycle is too
small to contain all Of the things a lady
rider likes to take with her. and the sug-
gestion has been made that a reticUIe be
made for of the bicycle. 1t can be fas-
Ter nod Ia har md
be IN the way of the rider. small lunch
can he taken, toilet articles. soap and
towel. il on long run In addition, there
are many little trifies picked uo or a BIZ
cycle spin that interest woman and
then the reticule comes in handy.
In the variety Of styles OF mounting the
bicycle :de girls are fast equaling the men.
There a time when only one style was
in general use. but the riders become
more expert and gain more confidence they
are branching out in the style of mount
ing. the Old style of mounting. by stand
Ing out in the street. with the pedal raised.
IS not so easy to do in going I'D a hill
Now The curbstone mount Is beco ming pep
Uiar. This is easy way of mounting the
wheel and way that any one can learn
II saves the strain TO large extent on the
frame of the wheel A woman's wheel. by
the way, is not as strong as the diamond
frame OF a mans bicycle. Perhaps the
most graceful mount of any. and likewise
the most difficult, Is the female pedal
mount ne 1CCt IS pldced on ltle
right pedal which is raised 10 nearly its
highest point. A slight shove Is given the
wheel. and before the right pedal reaches
Its lowest point In its revolution the left
foot has slipped through the frame and
caugns the left pedal just as 1t is coming
up. lis pretty, but hard.
The one great objection that some ladies
have in riding in windy weather IS the
difficulty with skirts. The wind is apt to
play all sorts of praEks- This can easily be
avoided by fastening the ends of the skirt
with simple arrangement Take piece
OF ordinary rubber elastic, long enough to
max a garter. with about six inches left
over IT one end Fasten the loose end with
q pin 20 the dress and place the garter in
position. and the work is done. There are
plenty OF elaborate devices on the market
calculated to overcome this trouble but
this simple arrangement answers the pur-
pose. Riding in the wind Is not near as
pleasant would think. and a woman
with her skirts Is Handicapped consider
ably There are some fair riders who kick
Up their skirts in riding, whether there is
wind not. and the same ARRANGEMENT