Evening star., 1897-02-06

1t means that she is afforded a chance to
see tfings she never would have seen. 1t
means that it will bring her to places
where she never would have visited were it
not FOR the wheel. 1t means that she has
certain freedom never before dreamed of.
In fact, l. means many things which those
who do not ride can hardly think of or ap-
preciate so long as they keep away from
the bicycle.
The feminine cycling costume is some
thing which has much to do with the pleas
ure obtained in riding a wheel. The use of
the rational costume is in its infancy as
yet, but the day will come when the female
ridor will dress to suit her own ideas; when
Dame Fashion VIII make a sudden SWerVe
and style of dress suitable for cycling de-
creed to be the rage. Then will the women
dress AT present the unqualified approval
of the medical fraternity and the common
sense people in general is toward the use
of the loose corset. 1t is impossible for
woman wearing a tightly laced corset 10
ride either comfortably or gracefully. She
must have a perfectly free respiration: her
lungs must be permitted to expand without
let or hindrance, and her heart must be
unconstrained by any artificial means.
Tight lacing will produce snortness OF
breath and palpitation cf the heart. which
lead to illness if not to death. Then the
simple skirts in use permit the unimoeded
action of the limbs, which conduces TO the
perfect development of the whole frame
One seldom sees a woman bending over
the handle bars like a male scorcher.
There are some in this city, however, who
are acquiring this forward bend, caused
mere by lowering the handle bars than by
anything else. 1t looks badly enough for
man. but many times worse for woman.
AS a rule, the ladies ride more erect than
men. 1t may be attributed to the fact that
the pride of the woman prompts her TO
make as good an appearance as possible
Most women would rather be graceful than
fast riders. For these reasons, which con-
duce to moderation in the sport and pre-
vent excesses, bicycling is doubtless of
greater physical benefit to women than TO
men. 1t is natural to conclude. too, that a
woman, after enjoying freedom from the
constraints of tight lacing while on the
wheel. will not torture herself with small
cCrsets while on the street or in the house,
but will give to her vital organs on all oc-
casions that freedom from repression which
is imperativel demanded while she is hav-
ing a spin of a few miles over some favof-
ite driveway.
While some women may strive to make
a graceful appearance on the wheel, there
are many who do not succeed 1t Is easy
enough ii properly tried. but good many
women think that they can get more power
by sitting as close to the pedals as the
frame of the wheel will admit. In this po
sition they are nearly doubled up Ed.
Plummer, who is manager of Teddy Hale.
Tom Linton, and the other English racers,
says they look like apple dumplings.
The combina ton frame tandem is coming
out in greater variety than ever. By com
bination frame is meant a frame that will
permit a lady and gentleman using it.
seat having a drop in front. while the 9TH
er has the regular diamond frame The
question comes up as to which position the
lady should ride. Inasmuch as most wheels
are made with the drop part of the frame
in front it would seem as though the man
ufacturers had settled the matter by nav
ing the lady ride in front This is without
a doubt the proper thing. There are cases
in this city where females have been known
to ride diamond-frame tandem, and then
again there are other cases where the fair
rider occupied the rear seat. Tha. this is
wrong is proven by the fact that II IS the
rider who occupies the ,ear seat who
mounts last and gets the machine under
way. This is plainly the duty of the man.
The only important question remaining is
that of steering. A woman accustomed 20
riding a single wheel is naturally inclined
to steer when she first mounts n ia andem
but after little experience she becomes
willing to trust to the stronger hand in the
rear, although it is obvious at times thar