The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-25

teach one how TO ride a wheel II is
quite as dlfioult to tell a learner how
to ride as II is to teach one how TO
swim in that way. Practice Is the best
instructor. Experience Is the safest
guide.
With the methods OF instruction and
the peculiaritles OF the instructed in
riding schools and academies of OBJ
serving. one has TO go out of ones
way to see an indoor riding school in
operation. The school of the pavement
he attends. as a matter of course, in
the pursuit Of his daily business. All
sorts of people patronize these riding
schools, from the four-year-old little
girl to the silver-haired grandpa OF
eighty-five. They put in an appear
ance as soon as the academy Is opened,
at or o'clock In the morning, and
usually there are few beginners tug
cling away at the pedals when closing
time comes at 10 or IL o'clock at night.
When one sees wrinkled, grizzled and
stoop-shouldered old men, portly wild
ows, frolicsome, yet perseYering little
girls working away hour after hour,
expending more energy than they have
ever done in ordinary employment, one
cycling. both as an exercise and the
most delightful of summer pastimes.
There are few boys found in riding
schools. They generally prefer to be-
gin their self-instruction on the curb
stone.
Said the manager OF one of our riding
academies one day last week: "Our
instructors and attendants primarily
and continually try to instill the spirit
OF confidence In the beginner. That Is
the secret OF learning to ride a wheel.
When a beginner, taking his first les
son, starts out resolutely and at a
rapid pace, we never expect'to get more
than one fee out of him. All ne needs
are few suggestions in the manipula-
tion of the handle bars and the posi-
tioh on the saddle. All else comes as
a matter, of course. 1t Is the timid
ones. those who want to feel the in
structor's hand at their back or push
ing against their shoulder, that re-
uuire the longest time and the most
delicate and varied attention for the
development of self-reliance and intel
ligent methods of riding q wheel. We
have more of this class of customers
than any other. Almost invariably the
beginner, the moment his forward
wheel starts to steer in one direction,
instead of twisting the handle bars In
contrary direction, thus counterbal-
ancing the machine, turns them the
way the wheel is swerving, and soon
finds himself communing either with
the floor or mother nature. This little
| alteration we have to overcome in the
rider, besides a number of other ILL
| directed tendencies. 1t is difficult
| rlatter to properly instruct a begin.
| ner for he must have reasonably
wide berth and should only be coaxed
when it becomes apparent that the
wheel Is getting beyond his control
Then 1t Is that the attendant rushes
| forward on his rubber-toed shoes anc
either holsters the wavering student
or extends his arms in time to rescue
him from a fall. AS matter of fact
very little that is Of advantage can b,
given the beginner In the way of ora
instruction. The new rider must fint
out for himself by practical experienc,
almost everything bearing upon tn,
proper handling of a wheel. No othe
way is possible. 1t is about the sam,
with bicycle riding as with swimming
The swimmer eventually finds himsel
! swimming in good style without being
conscious Of doing anything he did no
do when he aimlessly paved the wate
and ducked and strangled in hopeless
! effort to keep afioat. 1t is, about tn,
same with mastering the bicycle. w
aim III riding schools to instruct tn
bes'nners as to the proper manner o
handling the bars to keep from takinl
headers, and particularly to have then
demonstrate to themselves the fac
that the feet on the pedals have NOR
to do with operating the wheel thai
the hands on the bars.