The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-08
HOW TO RIDE A CENTURY.
BEAUTIFUL ATHLETE TELLS HOW
SHE RODE 100 MILES.

Russell Upon bicycling For Wo-
men and How to DO Long Distance
Riding-LOvcIy woman Upon Pop
uInr sport.
New York, Aug IL have taken a cen
fury run. This, although it is only sea-
son or so since the broad shoulders of the
bicycle instructor steadied my nervous
frame as we bore down around the cycle
path of the academy and the instructions
to "push-keep on pushing" were fresh in
my ears!
I would say first that a century run is
not all it is reported to be. And that, sec,
ond, any woman who can ride at all can
ride century-if! The Wheelwomen who
spell their names with a capital w have
always been aware of these facts, but
they did not tell them, because III Well,
they would not be such great cracks after
all.
1t is the ambition of every woman to
wheel a century. That is certain.
"Wm you come wheeling, my pretty
maEd?"
Can you do a century, sir?" she said.
mo, I cannot, my pretty maid"
"Then stay where you are for 1 can"
she said.
1t is a rhyme invented for the woman
who wheels her century so easily that she
finds the man who cannot do so bore.
Well for the benefit of the woman who
wants to wheel century I will tell how
1t is done. l did it in very simple place.
Namely. between Grants tomb, on River
side flights, and my home on Broadway,
near Fifty-ffth street. But you can do it
just as I did it, anywhere, provided it is
level and you have a good road.
1 had often longed to do my century,
but never dared attempt it. One day, on
reaching home, 1 glanced at my cyclone
ter and found it to have registered hf-
teen miles why" said I. Il have only
been up the street a few blocks"
yes that's So" replied an experienced
wheelwoman; land that is all a century
is"
Accordingly, l "tri med" for a few days,
riding two or three times day. until I
felt pretty sure I would do six times fiji
teen without feeling it.
l also read all the cycle notes Of century
makers. l read how tandem couple
started for Philadelphia from city hall,
New York and arrived back the same
day. without any trouble-in about twelve
hours. And then l read of the feat of
Mrs. Harriet FOlger, who did her double
century within twenty-four hours. she
is no more expert than l." l said to my
self in encouragement. And as matters
turned out, l was not far from right.
one morning 1 rose at o'clock with
determined look on my face and donned
my prettiest bicycle suit. And l want to
say here and now that there is no such
aid to long-distance bicycling as a pretty
bicycle suit. No woman can enjoy walk
unless she y well dressed and 1 do not
believe that any woman can wheel long
or well unless she wears a becoming as
wen as comfortable suit. aa esfors ID
There are those who say you cannot ride
hygienically unless you put on certain aw-
full wooden undergarments, hideousness
personidedl And that you can't do your
self justice on a wheel unless you are at
tired in boomers, but this | do not be-
lieve. l hold that the average woman who
wants to ride well and do herself credit
on the wheel must clothe herself conven-
tionally or she will never be a success.
As / started out that day | felt a thrill
of pride on seeing myself reflected from
my glass; in a suit of neat blue duck,
pair of high boots and a straw sailor hat
tine ideal toilet for ladylke cycling.
For bicycle riding there must always be
some preparation. l have read that the
athletes train upon an empty stomach in
the morning before breakfast. But for
pleasure and comfort there can nothing
be done before breakfast upon a wheel.
At least a glass of milk must be taken, or
some fruit or something to stay the
stomach and take away the empty feel
ing To ride upon an empty stomach is
too much like running an engine without
fuel.
on that morning I partook OF a light
breakfast and mounted my nickel steed
in front of my door and set out to do my
Century"
Now, before explaining how l did 1t.
want to give, and TO get, clear under
standing of just what constitutes CEN
fury. Certain members Of the J.. A. w.
originally claimed that 1t meant riding 100
miles without stopping. But this was soon
argued down. 1t would be impossible in
practical riding to go 100 miles without
dismounting. There are TOO many obsta-
Giles in the road \ wneelman meets
truck and must dismount or be run over.
Again there is a muddy place in the road,
or, again, a beginner, that bette noir Of the
cyclist, cuts off the path! 1t was also
argued that no one could or should try 90
ride 100 miles without stopping for re-
freshment. So the question, in the L. A.
W. ranks at least, was settled by decid-
ing that as long as the 100 miles were rid
den within twenty-four hours II would be
a century run"
In riding l have always found that a
person can ride furthest alone. This for
several reasons. First that the desire to
talk, and 50 spend ones force, Is less
And secondly, because one can take ones
own pace without regard TO any one else
And In any kind Of work this Is desirable
when the best results are 20 be obtained
Accordingly | set out on my century run
alone.
From my home TO Grants tomb count
ing In the devious ways which you take
10 get asphalted streets and the prettlest
scenery of the drive Is about six miles,
or twelve miles for the round trip This
takes me along the new wheelman's path
on Riverside, and through all the beauti-
ful windings Of the drive and, finally,
down the hill and up the grade that lies
back OF the famous tomb. II Is said to
be the "Wheelman's Path TO Paradise"
But while / VIII not go 70 extremes re-
gardlng Il, / will say Il Is only surpassed
by the boulovards and wheelman's paths
IN a very few places ! have visited. IL rs
l. inn a. I4a