The herald., 1897-08-01
A Freak of Daring and a
Summer Amusement
THE EXCITEMENT AND DANGER
FEET ON THE SPIKES AND LET
THE WHEELS 60 ROUND
No One Should Attempt Bicycle Coast
ing Unless Possessed Of Cool
Head and Good Nerve

Special Correspondents to The Herald.
NEW YORK, July 22.-The talk heard
of setting aside certain steep portions of
various highways as places upon which
It is permissible for bicyclists to coast
has revealed the fact that what was for
merly considered a foolhardy action on
the part of a cyclist has become an es-
tablished practice. Not only that, but
the idea seems to be gaining in popular
ity every day, and, as a matter of fact,
has been recognized by the best class of
wheelmen as legitimate form Of amuse-
ment.
The reason for It all is that there is
about it enough of the elements OF ex-
citement and danger to give that zest
which always makes pastinse popular
II a rider will be careful and always
keep a sharp lookout, both as to what
he is likely to encounter and the condi-
ton of his wheel, he Is by no means in
great danger It is the careless or in
competent rider, as rule. who meets
with disaster while coasting. In fact, 1t
Is only fair to compare coasting on
bicycle to driving a spirited horse. II
one Is a first-class wheelman, he is all
right IT one is a first-class horseman,
he is not likely to meet with accident.
The coasting fever did not change into
a legitimate pastime until the bicycle
clubs took it up. 1t was apparent that in
It lay a source of danger to wheeling as
well as a source of pleasure. The ques-
tion that arose. then, was how to regu-
late It. 1t was decided that the best way
Nt1erI, fnc
vestigation. and if it was found that it
would be altogether impossible to util-
ize It as legitimate form of amusement.
then it would be discouraged in every
way possible. In this way originated the
initial party of bicycle coasters. The
experiment was duly made, and the ex-
perience Of those who composed the in
vestigating committee was so charming
that it was unanimously decided that
there surely could be no harm, in the
practice, provided rider reached GER
tain degree of proficiency before at
tempting 1t.
Then the question arose, what was the
point to be reached before the requisite
degree Of proficiency could be said to
have been attained. It was finally de-
cfded that when a rider had demon
strated that he or she had plenty of self
control and thoroughly understood, as
well. how to control wheel, 1t would be
safe for them to try coasting trip.
Eight of the best known bicycle clubs in
the vicinity of New York have been
coasting on this basis for more than
month. and it would be difficult matter
to induce the members to stop what they
now consider one of the most charming
features of life awheel.
II must not be thought that this Is At
all in the nature of what is sometimes
called horseplay cycling. 1t Is not an
invention of the would-be trick rider,
who by his idiotic performances hopes
to gain notoriety, but 1t Is
legitimate practice OF legitimate
cyclists. 1t seems that the reason
It has been considered so dangerous be-
fore is that riders were ignorant of the
proper way to govern their wheels Now,
when they do understand, the danger is
10 greatly lessened that they really do
not take much more of chance than
when riding on popular thoroughfare
1t is not considered good form to coast
alone The party should consist of not
less than four. Each should be dressed
in bicycle costume, for otherwise some
part of the clothing might catch about
the wheel, and that would generally
mean disaster and sometimes injury.
The method of starting depends alto
gether upon the grade of the road down
which it is proposed to coast. If it is
very light, then all memebers of the
party should wheel back distance of
perhaps 200 feet and then, lining up as
If for a race, start at high rate of
speed for the point where the grade be-
gins.
1t Is this and other features of this
coasting process that render the pos
session of skill and self-control an alb
solute necessity. When the brow of the
hill is reached, each rider should place
his or her feet on the coasting spikes
which form a feature of every up-to-date
wheel, and then let the wheels do the
rest. The only thing for the rider to
look out for it to see that the course of
the wheel is not so DETECTED that there
will be any danger of collision with one
of the party or any object or person
which may be encountered on the road.
One must be an expert pilot, for slight
error is likely to lead to serious resulas
AT first the speed of the wheel is not
30 very great, but the momentum in
creases with each second until, if the
declivity be of any length it becomes
terrific. Perhaps it may. occur to those
who are well posted in bicycle matters
that the problem Of how to stop a ma
chine which has gained such tremen-
dous rate Of speed might prove some
thing of a puzzle, and indeed it would
be true if the rider had not figured out
the chances and possibilities beforehand.
That is exactly one of the things which
the club members do, and so when the
time comes to call a halt they are not
at their wits end for an expedient
First the brake is gently applied-gen-
tly, for if it was used with much force
at first the machine would be immedi-
ately either minus a brake or a rider,
for il the first did not fly to pieces the
sudden shock and stoppage would send
the rider flying. After bit the skill
OF the rider makes it possible to replace
the feet on the pedals, and from this
point on the task of stopping it is as
easy as 1t is simple.
The writer was over in Westchester
county not long ago with party of three
other cyclists, two Of whom were bicycle
girls. WestcEester is very hilly-in fact,
the Westchester hills are well and not