The record-union., 1898-12-17

Its mighty hard to say.
From the costumes they are wearing,
from the mountains to the sea,
Ii the biker is she one
Or biker is a he.
A New York dispatch Of December
10th said: Orlando Stevens is the first
OF the Eastern contingent of crack bl-
cycle racers to go to California for the
annual round up. Most of the big ones
Of the East have their eyes on cali
fornia as training ground next spring,
and all of them, with the exception of
Eddie Bald, will certainly go out there.
The American Racing Cyclists Union
will in all probability start next year s
circuit in California, and as points are
TO be decided for the championship in
both scratch and handicap races, most
Of the men will be out for the fight
from start to finish. Major Taylor has
been barred for good by his recent de-
sertion and Bald will be taken up with
his theatrical venture, SO the big bat
tie will be between Gardiner, Cooper,
Stevens and a half dozen others.
New York Tribune: A beginner at
road work for athletic events should do
three days a week, running every other
day. On alternate days he should de-
vote his time to the speciality that he
intends to take up. He should also ex-
ercise with dumbbells Gwo-pound
wooden bells are the best) and use the
chest weights This will help get the
upper part of the body in good shape.
The beginner should never run himself
out in his road work, but should make
his pace so that at the end Of the run
he feels like going a. little further.
Three weeks devoted to the line OF
work just described will place the pupil
in good condition to take up whatever
branch of sport he desires, and it will
also stand him in good stead later in
the season, when in actual competition.
This work is good and necessary for
not only sprinters and short distance
men, but all classes of athletes as well.
In training a man should have long
and hard work one day and short and
light work the next. 1t does not take
much work to keep a man in good con-
dition after he has reached that state,
and after training for four or five
weeks the worker should take care not
to overdo. If a man in training be-
gins to feel lazy and tired he should
stop work for two or three days. Most
athletic contests are held in the after
noon, and men in training should try
to do their preliminary work at that
time, if possible They should certain
ly do their work at the same hour ev-
cry day.
Physicians all over the world almost
invariably advise use of the bicycle, eX-
cept in cases where organic troubles
make robust exercise undesirable. Cases
are on record where the use of the
wheel has made fat men lose flesh and
has made lean men gain tissue. When
this phase of the case was mentioned
to a we'll known physical director re-
Gently he was not at all astonished.
"Oh, that is simple enough" said he.
The bicycle does what systematic out
door exercise will do for anybody.
Healthful outdoor exercise, taken in
moderation, will in time bring the per-
son to his or her normal condition, and
that is neither fat nor lean. It is only
natural that it should reduce flesh in
one case and add it in another"
Chicago Times Herald: One city has
been found in which there is no BIZ
cycle craze, and never will be. 1t is
Alden, on the Red Sea. A Chicago
maker having written to the Consul
there, asking a statement of the condi-
tions and chances, has been told that
the roads are hilly and quilted; it is al
ways too hot to ride in the daytime:
the natives are all too poor to own
W of hoy
ty-fve bicycles in the four towns of
Alden, Little Alden, Steamer Point and
Shaik Gilman; there is no demand for
any more; there is no demand for re-
pairs.
Tunis, however, which is almost as
hot as Alden, if not quite, has been in
vaded by the wheel. French makers
SELL them on easy monthly payments,
guarantee them for a certain length of
time, and keep them in repair free of
charge. To do this they have been
forced to establish a general repair
shop. The Italian and Maltese resi-
dents are too poor to buy, and the
Arabs regard bicycles with fear and
contempt
The new President of the California
Association, Mr.. N1ppert, is taking
hold Of his work energetically. he is
business man of decision, courage
and patience. He proposes to double
or treble the strength of the association
in 1899, and he is just the man to do it.
A cycling journal gives this advice:
Many women have to clean their own
wheels and have no one to advise them
as to the best course to pursue. These
few suggestions are intended for them
An old pair of loose gloves will aid
to keep the hands in better condition
and the cleaning will not be the dirty
distasteful work SO many women
find it.
A brush is a necessity for good clean
ing, especially for the hubs, sprocket
wheels and pedals; so, failing the
above, use an old soft tooth brush
Special cycle brushes, however. come
with a long handle and a tufted end.
In making your preparations to clean
the wheel spread out an old piece OF
carpet SO that where the wheel touches
the floor it will not be marred Turn