The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04
BIKE STUNTS For WOMEN.
COULD REVEL IN THEM IF THEY
WOULD WEAR BLOOMERS.


DismOunt, the stand stiIl, and the
Ride without Hands-Tricks For
Women I'm skirts.
New York, July 2.-"If women could
only wear boomers, 9ssighed the lady bike
instructor, they could do just as many
stunts on their wheels as the men do,
and do them better and with more grace.
The reason for that is that the women
who have ridden for any length of time
and are at all expert have been taught to
ride on scientific principles and by instruc-
tors who have made study of the art of
mastering the bike in all its details.
THE average bicycle woman devotes
five or six weeks in an academy to just the
kindergarten work, Pand she takes this
work great deal more seriously than the
average hiking man does. He gets out
on strip of asphalt when the work is
done, and, with a couple of friends to
prop him up, learns to ride in a get-on-and-
fall-off-again sort OF fashion that may
make him wheelman in a way, but will
never give him the complete mastery over
the wheel which his wife or sister who
has made a study of it-just as she has
her art or her music-will have.
"But the Punishment of the boomers
from the boulevards puts an effectual stop
to the woman who would do stunts for the
benefit of the curb birds. "A horeswoman
might just as well try to ride bareback
standing up in a regulation riding habit as
for the wheelwoman to perform tricks in
the ordinary skirt that is in style to-day.
mot only is it almost physically impOs-
sible to attempt fancy riding in skirts. but
it is extremely dangerous as we'll. The
folds are bound to become entangled in the
gearing, and falls, with serious conse-
quences, are the inevitable result.
There are so many pretty little tricks,
too, if only the boomers would re-
turn" and the lady instructor sighed
again. Take vaulting into the saddle,
for instance 1t is much more effective
and graceful than the ordinary method
of backing in, as if the rider were afraid
she would find a tack in her saddle.
1T wouldn't be effective in a skirt,
though; it would only be pitifully start
ling.
''Dismounting a s a man does, by throw
ing his right or left leg over the saddle,
is another trick which is a great improve
ment over the common way. This can
be done even in a skirt, providing the rider
is especially agilo and no one is around.
The woman who tries ii should not, as the
natural tendency is, slow up too much
when about to dismount, as her wheel.
having lost its momentum, is likely to fall
upon her. She should remember too, to
incline her wheel slightly towards the side
she is to throw her leg, or otherwise her
bike will fall from under her and pull her
down on top of it. This is trick that
should be practiced by every woman, as
it is useful to know in case of a quick
dismount or dismount from the back of
the wheel.
"Only the woman who aspires to become
a professional trick rider has any
business to try stunts on top of her wheel
They can be done, but at the risk of beau
ty spoiled and bones broken. learned to
balance my wheel while standing with one
foot on the saddle and the other on the
handlebar by using what was virtually an
overhead trolley system. / had wire
stretched across the academy about fif-
teen feet from the floor. From this was
suspended a harness consisting of four
straps which 1 buckled around my body
after the manner of fastening on a life
preserver. After all was securely fastened
l had an assistant hold the wheel, and
then 1 stood with both feet on the saddle,
with my body bent forward so that could
grasp the handlebars with both hands.
Then had the assistant give my wheel
shove, and with the harness to hold me
up / had little trouble in balancing the
wheel. Gradually, as l became more ac-
customed to it, 1 relied less upon my
hands, and finally was able to guide the
wheel with one foot alone. IL is not
stunt, however for the novice to try
boldly.
Standing still is both pretty and USE
full. and can be done in skirts. To do it
correctly reduce your speed until barely
moving, then quickly turn the front wheel
half way around so that 1t is at right
angles with the rear wheel Place the
feet on either side the forks, and maintain
your balance by gently turning the wheel
as you would do IL trying to balance your
self on barrel.
wheeling with one leg perfectly stiff
and working like piston rod is an easy
accomplishment, and is one of the first
things a woman tries to do. This, too,
is useful, because Of the complete mas
terry IL gives you over the wheel You
can stop it In a second II you have the
'piston-rod stunt at your disposal.
There are plenty of women in skirts
doing stunts on the streets every day,
and worrying the bike coppers into prem
ature badness. Trying TO ride without
the hands is favorlte stunt, and the one
that most often brings the experimenter
to grief Once woman gets IL into her
head that she is going to ride without
her hands It is almost impossible for her
to resist It until she has treid 1t. II
possible she selects a large. fat man TO
butt in the stomach. IL the large, fat
man is not available bevy Of beginners
does about as well and makes quite as
disastrous smash-up.
Before riding without hands the novice
should learn to guide her wheel with her
knees, which she can do only by practice
and by lifting her hands gently an inch
at time from her handle bars.
Practice Is. after all, the only neces-
sary thing for the would-be trick rider
and by getting on the wheel night and
morning daily all summer you will be-
come a trick rider In spite OF yourself"