The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-22
THE BICYCLE LEG.
Inc Leg of Persistent Riders Changes
in Shape
New York JournaI.)

tSeW ! orH Journal.)
Inc human leg is rapidly assuming a
no" shape. thanks to the bicycle Or
ulharlly changes in the physiognomy
". men When they have come at ai,
aibEe come gradually. We originally
mad all sorts OF extra anpliancfs .c-
cofdins to the scientists. Their disan-
Pedrallce one after another caused man
20 ADAPT himself to new conditions.
but IL took hundreds, frequently thou-
SANDS OF years for these changes tn
come. ~
Inc bicycle leg. on the other hand, has
So,rie IN less than ten years With The
I'm VI .ne people the bicycle leg has
not reached as yet an advanced stage
but with steady riders, and ospec ,u:lv
MIN racing men. it has reached d pc;nt
.nat transforms the shame entirely
ihe next generation. according 10 oil
Piecedents. Will be born with n log :, @
uilerent from the leg with whirb the
generation of to-day came into the
"prld as 1t Is possible to imagine.
oitssor John Atkinson, the wizard
So , VINO has been setting tie
,oWn by the ears since his arrival fran
england by his wonderful curas hos
given close attention to the bicycIo lc,r
i!oleSsor Atkinson is an eXpc,t nn,to-
i,iist: IL Is his intimate kno;yl,,1me of
me human frame that enables hin RI
Wor" the wonders that he doc In
SpeaklnS OF the phenomenon, III; soid
The thigh and calf in the human loo
IL .n tne case of persistent bicycle
riuerS, and especially with racine MON
completely changed In shane mo Ion,
muscles above the knee has bsen do
heioPed abnormally until 1t upppnrs N
pe an entirely new formation. This INNS
cie extends from the knee on the unn,r
INSIDE OF the leg almost to the rro.n
anyone may notice II by merely rIanc.
ing al the leg of racing bIcyclist, The
unie'ence between THE shape of the leg
u such man and the ordinary shane
VII DE seen to be startling. Another
the calf. Here the big outer nnnscIo q.
so pronounced that In many men II
iooks IKE deformity. In n compara-
livery lew years n calf like this will bo
me normal calf: let us say in n peneI
lotion or two. If the present bcvclo
craze lasts as 1t promises.
bu. lhe most striking change will
come IN the bicycle foot Fifty wears
| more OF the wheel Will mako Tho Co.
c!siah race walk as Straight a., the In
uidh. we VIII ceaseto zoe out. Alreadv
tue chanse has come but naturally thu
evidences of 1t are less pronounced en-
Far, than the change in the upper mart
Vi the leg In the case of Ishe foot the
chahEe is In the bony and cartilacinous
structure OF the ankle Such changes
come slower than muscular changes,
but once they manifest themselves thov
come to stay.
And, as TO to=ing in. or rather not
.oelnS out, that will certainly be a dis
.inct gain. Our present manner of walk
ing IS entirely artificial Nature never
intended that we should toe ou;. Man
ana that In attempting to get what he
considers a military walk Turning The
toes out throws ;he body out of the line
OF the center of gravity. 1t weakens the
knees. II the bicycle did nothing but
pIing us BACK to the natural way of
walking It would be sufficient boon :"
so TIE new leg need Brighten no one
even II II is not as handscm as the old