The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-08-25

Unless He Is Specially Prepared ior his
Contests Few Hard Races Duils Him
and He Is Beaten by a Really Slower
Rider-ProfessionaIR Riders Have Only
Understood the Value of Training and
Many of Them Spend Considerable
Money in Employing Capable Men.
Bicycle riders, amateur and profes-
sional, are fast coming 70 the conclusion
that success in racing depends largely
upon The thoroughness with which they
train. A man may have plenty OF
Epeed, but unless he is especially pre-
pared for his contests a few hard races
dull him, and he is beaten in slow time
by riders Of an inferior class. There is
q striking example Of this in the case
Of Earl Peabody, the Chicago amateur,
who began the present season like
Ehilwind, winning race after race, and
coming 10 the front in manner which
stamped him as a dangerous competitor
Tor championship honors. But Peabody
would not train While other riders
Nerehaving themselves taken care OF be-
tween heats ne scorned rubdown5 and
instructions. His riding in practice was
done without mentor, and one day the
wheeling world was told in the press
dispatches that the Chicago crack had
been badly beaten by riders Of a poorer
elas5 in Michigan, where he had gone
full OF confidence in his ability 10 bring
home the pick of the prizes. Peabody's
case is only used as an illustrl1ion be-
cause he is a man Of note in bicycle cir
cles. There are others, and lots of them,
VINO have gone in the same way. Grad
ually they all get around to the train
Ing quarters, but ii takes a lot Of hard
luck 10 gei some Of them 10 understand
what the real trouble is, and wnat they
must do 20 overcome il.
Professional riders have, long under
stood the value Of systematic training
and steady, regular practice under the
guidance. Of competent instructors.
Wheelmen are like race horses. They
require the best OF handling toke ep them
in condition, and must also be judicious-
Iy scnooled. Each man must have his
work cut ont for mis- special needs. What
might be 2. good thing in the way Of
distance anj speed and diet for one rae
or might be fatal to the winning chances
Of another. To secure the best results
there must be a close study OF the char
acteristics Of each individual and the
method Of work regulated thereby. It is
possible that Zimmerman. Cooper, Bald,
Kiser Nertens, Sanger, Loughead,
Michael, and other crack professionals
could have made fast records without
the assistance of their trainers. but none
Of them will assert his ability to reach
the extreme limit Of speed and sustain
IL season after season without conscien-
tious training and implicit compliance
with the promptings of his handler.
Wheelmen are now riding faster than
the best OF trotting or pacing horses can
go. and some Of them have pu: far in
the backgrounds the records Of the run
ming turf. To carry a wheel for mile
in less than 1: so. even when coached by
the most expert of pace settlers, calls for
an effort which necassita1es me acme
Of speed and endurance. and yet there
are bicycle riders in this country. aside
from McDuffie, who, by reason Of their
special preparation for just this kind OF
crushing competition, are able 10 do i.
at ieas. once q week with the right kind
Of track and weather conditions. They
are men trained and fitted % the hour.
Their muscles are plant. their wind and
courage good. and their pedaling power
developed 10 the utmost.
A We'll known trainer who has turn
ed out some speed producers gives the
f..T1
tory one to follow in the physical fitting
Of wheelmen:
The man who seeks 10 make himself
fast rider should be taken in hand ear
ly in February and given light work in
a gymnasium. QuicknesS Of the eye
ana muscle is wanted. noc mere strength
and the gymnasium work increases this.
When the roads ge. in shape he should
iake long slow rides on his wheel. start
ting with a low gear and never eXerting
himself to the point of getting weary. L
Is right here that the necessity for a
trainer or physical instructor comes in.
Tor nearly every man viii overwork him
.elf az The beginning and the resul. is
positive injury. from which !, often
takes months 20 fully recover. As the
flesh grows firm and the muscles easy
and plant the speed may be greatly in
creased. All this time the interior sys-
lem mus be kept in healthy condition.
Tor there is a tendency 10 rregulari;y in
the action of the liver Between rides
the wheelman should be vigorously rub
bed down and cooled off just a is done
with race horses. THREE months Of this
Kind Of handling should put a man in
finefeJ;le and fl him Tor extra efforts in
sustaining a high speed over a distance
Of ground. His heart movemen, Will 5e
improved and he viii be in shape for
5ruising race. As ne increases in speed
ana his spurts made longer ami more
frequen; until he acquires the knack OF
getting OF; % himself every possible
ounce n pushing power whenever call
ed upon. Some men ride best in one
position and some in another such
Things as this must be studied and ak
en- advantage OF by the trainer. and he
wheel changed 20 suit the requirements
Of the rider. one great Poin. IN train
ing is 70 watch the rider closely % see
that he does not become stale and 20
back. What would be play fcr one rider
in training would sap the vigor on; OF
his working maze. and i is necessary 10
keep a sharp lookout for signs OF this
kind Of trouble.
In the general care Of a riders body