The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-11-03

chine seems q part Of her as she rlues
it. 1t is not bit harder to have Dl
cycle adjusted to fit than to nave Il
adjusted so that it does not ut, ana tn'
difference in appearance IS everything
In most cases the changes necessary L
alter the position and appearance OF
rider from bad to good can be made by
raising or lowering the handle bars OF
the saddle, or moving the latter little
forward or little back IL nine cases
out Of ten women who look and Tee
awkward on wheels do so because tht
seats and handle-bars of their machines
are not properly adjusted.
The accompanying pictures show
some Of the many shades Of difference
between the right position, in which a
woman may ride gracefully and easily.
and the wrong positions, in which Shit
IS sure to look awkward and uncom
Portable. Many women may find IN
these pictures, too, hints that will help
them to correct their styles Of riding
and enable them to better enjoy an eX'
ercise which has been only half pleas.
urable in the past, because they did moi
know how to follow it.
1t Is easy to see what is the difficulty
with the woman shown in figure No. l
what 1t is that makes her look as If shs
were working a sewing machine rather
than riding wheel. Her saddle is too
low. If it We're raised to its proper
height her knees would not pump up
and down before her chin with every
revolution like a pair of piston rods
If it were raised she would have a de
cidedly better appearance, her skirt
would hang better, she would ride more
easily and it would not be hard fol
her to guide her wheel, as it certainly
is in the position in which she il
shown.
The awkward position shown in fig
IRE No. 2 Is the result Of having the
saddle too far back from the handle
bars, so that the rider can just reach
the steering apparatus and no more
ard so that she has to push forward
on the pedals almost as much as down
in propelling her wheel. The position
which that adjustment Of the machine
gives makes the rider look as IL she
were trying to keep her seat on buck
ing bronco from which she was expect
ing to be thrown at any instant. If the
saddle were brought forward q little
and raised slightly the position would
be good. The lady would be sitting
over the pedals, too, rather than behind
them, and would have enough of bel
weight on the handle bars to guide hel
machine easily and safely.
There is such thing, however, as
having the saddle too far forward anG
too high, as is shown in figures 3 anL
4, which Illustrate positions just the
reverse of those in the figures explain
ed above. In figure 8 the rider has the
appearance Of climbing steep hill and
Of working very hard in the ascent
simply because her saddle is too low
and too far forward She has to pusl
back on her pedals rather than down
and has not room enough between the
saddle and the pedals to give full swing
to her knees. Raising the saddle anG
putting 1t back little would give the
rider graceful and easy position.
The difficulty shown in figure is the
opposite OF that in figure 1.-The saddle
is too high. The rider has to tip for.
ward in order to reach the pedals when
they are at their lowest point in max
ing a revolution. That attitude Is, per
haps, the most firing that can be as
sumed by rider on long journey, as
1t throws the entire body out of posi-
ton. The adjustment would be correct
il the saddle were lowered so that tne
pedals and handle-bars could be reach
ed easily and the lady would find cy
cling much easier and more pleaSurable
than she can in the attitude in which
she is shown.
All that Is necessary to make any oil
the changes suggested and to adjust
wheels so that the riders can look anC
be comfortable rather than awkward
and uncomfortable is a monkey-WreDct
and little common sense. With those
nearly all the changes that are neces
sary to put women's wheels in proper
condition can be effected.
A proper position for a woman on 9
bicycle IS shown in figure 5. The rider
there sits easily and gracefully, and the
work of propelling her wheel is not hall
the work exerted by any of the others
She not only looks well, but it is posi-
ton in which cycling exercise Is play
rather than labor, and beneficial rather
than harmful.