The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17
WOMAN AND THE BICYCLE
MRS. HUDDERs GIVES SOME POINTS
OE INTEREST ON THE SUBJECT.
Century Runs Are InjuriOus-There Is
Great Nervous Strain and Wom-
en- should Not Ride Them.
New York Times

lieves, is from a wrong adjustment on the
saddle and from automatic riding Mrs.
Hudders in connection with her work as
instructor and lecturer upon Health and
Domestic Science has studied the bicycle
thoroughly. mechanically, and in its rela-
tons to the rider TO be able to give assist
ance to women going to her instruction,
and to teach them to solve the difficulties
for themselves
1.-The wheel must be adjusted to the in
dividual." she said. talking upon the sub
ject one day last week. "a woman should
understand the mechnical points of her
wheel and be able to adjust her saddle to
suit herself. No two women are alike; no
two women have the same breadth of hips,
the bones do not hang in the same way
from the hips; there is different knee ac-
ton and a different ankle action
Trouble caused by wrong adjustment
is not always laid to the proper cause, for
the result may not appear at the seat of
the trouble A congestion at the base of
the neck may be caused by an enforced po-
stion of the neck, which the rider may not
know is the result of badly placed saddle,
and headaches will result when the head is
habitually thrown back in strained posi-
ton.
Women are too automatic in riding;
they do not allow their bodies to sway
with the wheel; they do not get the ex-
ercise they should have in riding, do not ex-
ercise enough muscles, and they do strain
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS too much exercise of a
wrong kind, in holding back instead of go
ing with the wheel, becoming one with it,
as a good horseback rider will do with a
horse.
Last Sunday / watched the century
riders going out the Firemen's century
rum and the very best riders were the
japanese. AS a race, they are noted for
their skill IN feats where perfect equi-
librium has TO be preserved, and their rid
ing shows it. 1t is most important mat
ter in riding, and the saddle must be adj
justed so that the weight OF the body is
evenly disposed.
"A perfectly straight position on the
wheel is not correct; there should be q
slight incline of the body, the rider bending
from the upright to about 20 degrees. The
upright position is only correct when the
saddle is directly over the pedals, and this
can only be used by an experienced rider
I'm bending the incline should always
be from. the hips and the abdominal muscles
must be kept smooth. If they are not there
is a compression of the abdominal contents,
which is injurious, and will in the end,
cause trouble.
CONDITIONS FOR RIDING.
mo woman who has any organic trouble
should TluG, except ulQeT the QOClOI
lions. l should never advise woman who
had any heart or kidney trouble to ride at
all 1t might be possible for them to ride,
with discretion, but the danger of the wheel
is to ride without discretion, and it is bet
ter for a woman with either of these
troubles to eschew riding altogether. With
pelvic troubles / have known women to be
benefited by riding, but they should do so
under a doctors direction.
Half the troubles of women are caused
by congestions of some kind. Headaches
backaches various troubles are caused by
congestion, and the improved circulation of
the blood brought about by judicious riding
Will benefit or cure the trouble.
Riding up HILL If done properly, is
easier than walking. Any one who finds
difficulty in breathing should dismount at
once. When there is gasping for breath the
heart is being overtaXed The strength of
the heart, in the end, determines the length
of life, and it is dangerous to oVertaX 1t.
One can learn to ride up HILL don't be-
lieve in rushing hills. This may do in a
short hill after coming down another but
in a long hill the force of momentum from
before the hill is half climbed and it is
more difficult than to begin the real work
of climbing.
"A good ankle movement is necessary in
climbing a hill. and all the strength must
not be used in the first part of the climb
If possible where there are not too many
riders and drivers on the road, climb dt-
agonally, riding from one side of the hill
to the other: let up a little on your handle
bars. and don't throw your weight for
ward on the wheel Hill climbing is good
for the lungs where people can do it. 1t
strengthens and expands them. But the
rider should never force herself. If she is
almost at the top of the hill and finds her.
self tired and out of breath she should dis
mount then and walk the rest of the way.
After climbing the hill don't hurry off as
most riders do. but ride slowly for a time
and give yourself a chance to rest; give
yourself as good care as driver will give
"A wheel should be kept clean if it is to
ride easily. and to make this comparative
~ simple matter | should recommend a
but weight is of comparatively little mo-
ment in either mans womanS wheel;
it is the correct adjustment which makes
the riding hard or easy 1t is only IN rae
ing that weight will count materially.
CENTURY RUNS
ST took the century run to Philadelphia
and back this season, and 1 had the heav-
TEST wheel in the party. We started in the
mud and rain: the roads were unusually
bad, and do not believe could have made
the run If my chain had been clogged with
mud. With a gear case a wheel can be
run two thousand miles without lubricating
AS ride around the city I hear the chains
on women's wheels grinding with dust or
cracking because they had not been prop
erly adjusted.
But do not believe in century runs for
women. took that run because l wished
to know the effect from actual experience.
And failed to find a man, and 1 asked a
great many. who did approve of the century
runs for women. If woman takes the
run she must depend entirely upon herself;
one has time to look out for any one
but himself 1 took my own pace. and
walked up hills when / felt like Ii and got
Off when l felt like it to rest When /
stopped at the hotel for Something to eat /
again. No one asked me if l was tired if
! was going to keep on, or paid any atten-
ton to me. / rode for miles and miles alone
/ made the run in thirteen hours and a
hair, and the return trip in twelve hours
and five minutes AS ii happened, / was
ard they gave me glorious reception, but
that was my first and last century run.
The men told me that they were always
glad when the women dropped out on the
run. and also that. while they did not pay
any attention to them. they were really a
they never knew what might have happened
Il did not have an accident during the
run. but kept away from the pacemakers.
1t is the pace that kills, and with the pace
makers that the danger lies. They have not
time to choose good roads they so over OBJ
struetions and through gulies; if one stops
or turns aside IL means that a number be-
hind must be thrown. The strain of such
riding is very great. There were very few
who did not have accidents that day. There
is no glory in riding century and not
keeping up with the pacemakers.
Women who ride TO keep the pace are
gradually breaking down. Men cannot stand