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

A physician who is himself a wheel
man of several years experience, and
who has also devoted great attention
to other athletics, lays down this gen.
eral proposition: Never take a cold
bath when you are tired. He points
out that the greater the exercise the
more poisonous waste material is Great
ed, and that q cold bath does not as
sist the skin in getting rid of this pro-
duct, whereas a warm bath does. The
doctor adds:
when you take a cold bath you may
depend upon the heart to bring about
reaction. If this heart be already tired
by the long ride 1t may not be strong
enough to bring about reaction, and the
blood and it's waste material may not
be brought to the surface. Internal
congestions may follow. and, as have
seen in two cases, death may ensue.
1t matters not how hot you may be,
how much you may be perspiring, the
cold bath is harmless provided always
the heart be not tired. A simple rule
for the bicyclist, whereby he may know
whether the heart be tired, is simply
to count his pulse, having in a pre-
vious quiescent state ascertained what
is When after a long ride his pulse
rate is normal he may with safety use
the cold bath. He should, therefore,
rest after tiresome journey, until the
pulse is normal or thereabouts, say
even ten beats per minute faster than
normal, or what is far better, get into
tepid bath. one neither very hot or
very cold. When he has remained in
hn tn.. Is.,a . L.
pulse rate to be about normal he can
then, with perfect safety, plunge into
cold water, and these two procedures
form the ideal way of using water on
the surface after fatigue"
Cycling has developed more athletes
| than any sport which has been at all
| popular, and the quality of these ath-
letes is superior 10 that of those who
have practiced in most other lines, for
| the reason that there is endless recrea-
tion in 1t. The surprising results are
| due to this more than anything else.
| There Is constant attraction about
the sport. and the effect of this has
| been that the devotees have unceas-
| ingly developed.
The average rider nowadays is a
healthy individual, possessing surpris-
| ing endurance, and there are number
less wheelmen who are capable of very
| speedy work. In every locality there
are a few fast pedalers, and this shows
| there are innumerable young fellows
of abnormal muscularty This Is an
! inestimable benefit which will last, and
tends to encourage such athletic work
| among all young men. The examnle Is
generally quick to have effect, and good
health follows in abundance among
the younger set.
| Manufacturers find that there is a
large demand for semi-racing wheels
and this indicates the inclination OF
most riders to speed. Throughout the
country wheelmen are showing increas.
ed interest In the racing branch Of the
sport, and judging from the advance
already made II will not be long before
there will be more attention paid TO Il
than TO horse racing.
According to a repair man. who ought
to know. the following is the way tC
clean a bicycle lamp:
First, clean the surface with a pad
OF cotton waste, and then cover the PAD
with cotton velvet charged with FIN,
rouge. This will not only remove tht
scratches, but viii impart brilllancy tC
the glass. Lenses in lanterns should
not only be clean and clear. but should
be brilliant as we'll, and brillIancS
comes partly from polishing.