The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-13
aIgn mE lllzlHnHaEas.
THE BICYCLE In MEXICO.
Swels of Cactus Land Have Taken
Some Gorgeous Costumes
IN KHHEn zIF zH ETrI

CITY OF MEXICO, Nov. 7.-Down
here in Mexico. where an era of prog
ressiveness seems to have set in. tbs
bicycle has become almost as popular
as 1t is with US. In the larger cities
of Mexico one sees all kinds Of wheels
in the streets. used for pleasure and
various unitarian purposes. the same
as here. There is one important dh-
ference. however, in that practically no
Mexican women ride bicycles.
When a wheelwoman is encountered
in Mexico she is almost sure to be an
American. All citizens of the United
States are called Americans in Mexico
as they are in Canada. 1t is considered
slangy by many to use the term Yam.
kee.
The reason Mexico women do not rios
bicycles IS the moral wall that is built
around women in our sister republic.
The senorita is guarded al all moments
by her duenna She is not allowed 10
move one step unattended, and her a2.
parel is such as To hide her identity
and to make ease Of action or freedom
OF limb impossible Hence she does rot
ride a horse, indulge in outdoor sports
or enjoy the recreations Of girls of moro
advanced nations and, OF course, the
bicycle is beyond her reach. II viii
take generations before the Mexican
girl Is freed from her bonds.
There are no BICYCLE factories in
Mexico The wheels used there are
nearly all OF American make. The
prominent municipalities seen on our
boulevards are also on view in Mex
lean cities. The machines are sent
across the border in parts and assem-
tled IN Mexico, it being cheaper TO i'm
port the parts than the finished bicy-
Gle. because Of the discrepancy in the
Mexican tariff laws.
In the City OF Mexico good wheeling
reads are plentiful, and cycling is the
popular pastime. There are several
successful wheelmens clubs there, the
most prominent being the Mexican
Club Cyclists, an organization Of
wealthy young men.
The uniform OF this club, worn on
state occasions. Is the picturesque cos
tune OF the Mexican vaquero. eXag-
gerated IN elegance and color. II makes
an effective and striking picture, and
when the entire club turns out so at
tired a spectacular aspect is given TO
the wf,eelrnen which Is novel and pleas
ing TO the onlooker. Otherwise the
clothes worn by Mexicans awheel are
not particularly attractive. Cur golf
ing trousers and knickerbockers are
seldom seen. Long trousers, fastened
with straps or bits OF string az the
bottoms are the staples.
Several interesting tours In the Vi
entity OF the City OF Mexico are avail
able for the cyclists. The most re-
ma~kable OF these is the trip up the
mountain twenty-five miles to the mon
astery. the Oldest inst tuition Of the kind
in Mexico. The road is steady climb,
Tvs listing in a snakelike course up the
mountain and passing through two old
brigand villages. One of these. San
Lorenzo. was feared and avoided by
peaceful Mexicans in days gone by.
Travellers to the monastery never went
through il in those times. but made
q defour Of many miles to arrive al
their destination safely.
The going 70 the monastery Is hard
work but the coming back is exhii-
Grating in the extreme. II is coast all
the way home. ard no brake exists
that can hold the wheel under perfect
control
With the ordinary lever brake the
arm would become paralyZed before
the trip were half over. The Mex
leans overcome this condition in a
novel way. They cut a small sap,ing..
or a branch Of larger tree. and. ty-
Ing Il to the seat post. use Il as drag
This i1apediment serves 10 hold the
bicycle IN check sufficiently 70 enable
the rider TO make sharp turns without
danger OF plunging over the steep
banks At that, TIE brake Is often call
ed into play.
The favorite long run FOR those who
like easy riding Il from the City Of