The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-06-14
That Byke
The Man about town Tries to Ride.

haven't learned yet; that is, I am
not n trick rider, although / per-
form some tricks never seen before.
/ have wanted to ride a wheel for
years, but not until recently did I
have the opportunity. I am i'm
proving the opportunity. In fact, I
am improving the opportunity
more than my language, by trying
to learn to ride.
The wheel 1 am breaking in is a |
giddy thing and likes fun. I don't
mind fun, but / prefer to have a |
little of it myself. So far il has all
been the other way.
The bicycle I am trying to ride
has two wheels. 1t really needs
three or four; still two are more
than l am able to keep on the
ground. The best place to learn is
on a gentle incline, so the wheel
will run without pedling. would
spring gaily into the saddle and the
bicycle sprang into the air. L think
the wheel I was trying TO subdue
was really invented for a flying
machine, judging by the hourishes
and false motions it made.
AS we went skimming along for
about nine feet and l imagined /
was about to get onto its curves, it
would suddenly shy to one side and
[ went over to the other SIDE of the
street to look tor something.
hadn't really lost anything, but
did that so the spectators wouldn't
suspect that 1 was unhorsed.
Again, when the wheel sort Of
felt its oats, it would stand first on
one end, then on the other. Then
it would jump up and down, both
wheels off the ground at once; its
bucking being any amount worse
than that of Mark Twain's Mexican
plug.
Once. when 1 went across the
street with my eyes near the ground
so l could see what was looking
for, the bicycle followed me and
ran along my spinal column and
whispered something into my ear.
When i looked around to get the
drift of the conversation more fully,
1t had climbed maple tree hard
by, and sat on limb looking down
at me with its thumb at its nose
and the fingers of the same oscilat-
ing in derisive manner. 1t veXed
me.
Learning to ride a bicycle is
splendid exercise, 1t is good for
both. The wheel gets all the ex-
ercise it wants travelling over my
anatomy, and 1 get it by hunting
things didn't know were lost.
Bicycles never cut up such capers
with anybody else as they do with
me. was told to mount it and
give it good start as my right foot
struck the pedal. I did so. Any
thing l can do with my feet is done
with force. I have good, substantial
feet for pedalling. The wheel took
a squirt straight ahead, and l went
in the same direction. 1 really
went faster than the wheel, and the
momentum acquired by my feet
pedalling kept me in motion for
some little spell after I had intend
ed to stop. Presently the bicycle
oyerbalanced, and then the fun be-
gan. 1t climbed upon my helpless
frame and counted my ribs. 1t next
jolted loose two vertebrae and ex-
amined my appendix. 1t ran over
me backwards then forwards also
obliquely from sou thwest to north
east. 1t ended by dancing a horn.
pipe on the small of my back while
L whistled, and this pleased my
audience. kept up lively strug.
gle with my legs in the air as if
were trying to fly, but I wasn't.
was trying to get away from the
bicycle. Finally I got leg through
one of the wheels and checked its
mad career.
1 tried to break the bicycle when
l found that I couldn't ride it just
then, and / jumped astride like
Alexander rode Bucephalus, but il
merely gave one lurch and I went
to examine the real estate in thai
vicinity, Notwithstanding that
didn't want to buy an acre. The
l bike stood back and looked at me
+, and l am sure it laughed a low
! diabolical laugh ;but 1 couln't prove
1T, so my case fell for lack of evi
4 dence. If that had been all thai
. fell that day would have beer
r happier.
l must acknowledge many valu
, able suggestions from my wife thai
4 day. ] do not think should have
4 learned nearly so well if she hadn'
haan an frna mifh har advino Oh.