The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-20

inc less resistance to the wind, would
speed further on a clustering day. AS
lightweights have won on still days
and heaVyweights have been similarly
successful on windy days, it is evident
that the old maxim, exceptions to all
cases, fits as we'll in bicycle coaStlng
as in other mundane affairs.
When coasting competitions were first
inaugurated contestants came to them
in their ordinary cycling costumes,
perched their feet on the coasters, MT
ted to the front fork. and whirled
away to the bottom Of some declivity
for the glory there was in it.
One day a bright thought came over
a rider who was entered in a coast1ng
contest, and he appeared at the start
of the course clad in racing costume.
His opponents, seeing at once the ad-
vantage that he would acquire, flied
a. protest with the referee, on the
ground that they wore loose-httlns.
outing costumes, which would hold the
wind, and retard their progress, while
this man, clad in Jersey garments,
would offer considerable less surface
to the breezes that might blow. The
referee heard the complaint, and de-
cided that he could take no action III
the premises, as cycle coasting rules
had not word to say about the wear
ing apparel of the contestants. The
result was the jersey clad coaster ran
away from the field.
In those days it was the fashion to
put the feet on the coasters, crouch
over the handlebars, and shoot, comet
like, through space to the bottom OF
the HILL In fact, until within year
or so almost all coasting had been done
with the feet on the fork coasters.
One of the experts who had studied
and pondered over the science of coast
ing. reached the conclusion that plac-
ing the feet on the coasters offered too
much superficial area to the wind. he
decided that the pressure could be re-
duced very considerably by placing
the feet inside the frame.
How to hold them on the slippery
enamel surface was the next problem.
That was solved by winding the 1up-
ing with cloth Cloth was inclined to
slin and tire tape was substituted.
That stuck.
Then the inventive genius contr1Ved
a spur to attach to the frame to hold
the feet. One of these spurs is 1as-
tened to the middle brace, holding the
seat post, and two others to the front
brace, running from the steering head
to the crank hanger With one foot
braced against the rear OF the lraille,
heel I'D and toe down. and the other
held by the spurs on the front tubing
the coaster has both legs behind the
front fork.
The saddle must be fitted so accu-
rately that the contestant can bend
forward at an angle that will cause
the atmosphere to slide over his back
without retarding his progress. The
head is bent far over the handle bar
and the expert really takes desperate
chances in combining the area of his
vision to space not more than
dozen feet in front of him.
The position for coasting, as reduced
somewhat to a science by the experts,
is that of making the body resemble.
as far as the shape Of the bicycle
frame will permit, a huge ball.
To become an expert coaster 1T takes
steady nerves. The hand that guides
the front wheel must be firm. All de-
viations sideways, no matter If for a
few inches only, count against the I'm
ish.
He must be perfectly competent to
hold his balance until the last inch
has been turned at the finish. Per-
haps half a foot will win, and it takes
great steadiness to remain On bicy-
Gle that is barely moving. The slight