The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-02

practical observation, It has been found
that experienced rider will get sore
much sooner on a cushioned or padded
saddle than upon a hard one. This
fact has been demonstrated in a num-
Der of long distance races, especially
at the six-day events held In this city.
When the rider is satisfied with the
saddle, and finds that after a weeks
use 1t does not chafe, the only thing to
be done is to keep 1t In good repair.
AT least a week should be given for a
| thorough trial, as 1t takes that long and
| sometimes longer to fully break in q
saddle. as 1t is termed. A new saddle
is made soft and pliable by use. and
| gradually works into shape to fit the
| rider, and It Is this shapeless process
| that causes more or less discomfort
| with a saddle to the new rider. A
| saddle which appears to At at the be-
| ginning is apt to be worked into a
shape that causes more or less trouble
| in future riding.
Though 1t seems as though only a
limited number of persons are aware
of the fact. most saddles can be regu-
lated whenever desired. The continual
weight of the body is very apt to
stretch the leather, and after two or
three months hard riding the saddle
will sag in the center In majority
of cases the average rider does not ap-
pear to take any notice of this, and
continues tc ride. The result is that
oftentimes the springs beneath begin
to make an impression through the
leather, while the rear back board is
shown by another impression. The
remedy Is simple. Look beneath the
saddle, and the rider will find that he
can tighten the leather by either work.
ing screw or loosing a nut, and
throw the pommel out still further.
This takes only a short time, and many
riders will find comfort in using the
| saddle again.
In regard to the position of the sad
| die. For general use it Is best to have
| the saddle adjusted on a level: that
| Is, have the rear end and the POM
| mel or horn on the same line. Though
| some riders prefer it, the writer does
| not recommend the raising of the
| pommel end of the saddle above a level
| of the rear end. 1t not only serves
| to chafe at certain seasons of the year.
| but the rider is apt to get hurt when
| mounting, or get caught in the saddle
when dismounting. The scorcher and
| racing men seem to prefer the pommel
| end somewhat lower than the rear end
| This is thought to give additional lev
erage in pushing the wheel, bracing
the arms on the drop handle bars,
and most likely it does.
The location of the saddle is another
thing that should be considered. In
| buying wheel it is best to get T.
| shaped saddle post instead of an L.
shaped one. With the former the sad
| die can be fastened directly over Nie
! pedals, which is claimed to be the prop
| er location, but If this should bring
the body too close to the handle Sars
then the saddle can be taken off and
| placed on the other end of the post
giving more satisfaction. In fact, some
people claim that they can pedal with
much more satisfaction when slight
| ly behind the pedals than when di-
rectly over them. This is perhaps some
thing that can best be left to the dis
cretion of the rider. 1t is also sug-
gested that the proper height of the
saddle from the pedals should be just
the distance from the heel up. In 9TH
er words, the saddle should be placed
at that height from which a person
can touch the pedal with the heel when
sitting on the wheel. Though this may
be so, on account of the demand for
| lower framed wheels and also the dror
sprocket, many riders this year are
pedaling with slight bend in the low
| er limbs.
should receive some attention. It often
| happens that the wheel begins to
squeak when in motion, and it is the
hardest thing imaginable to locate the
noise. In a majority of cases the trou-
BILE lies in the saddle. Examine 1t and
see if any parts have worked loose
! This is frequently the case, and when
the loose parts are tightened the diff
| hculty will have been overcome. Some
times there is friction in the saddle
| springs, and drop of oil will prevent
the annoying sound. If a rivet works
| loose the rider himself ought to be able
to fix it, Rivets can be bought at any
hardware store for about five cents a
dozen, and 1t is easy enough to place
one in position.
If the rider could only appreciate the
value of good saddle he would keep
1t in the best of repair So many by
chance stumble on good fit that they
pay very little attention to the matter
but it is we'll for all others to re-
member that an easy and comfortable
saddle should always receive some at
| tention.
Scranton Conservatory of Music,
| Fall term begins "Wednesday SAINT