Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-06-29
SHOULD CHILDREN CYCLE.
An Eminent Surgeons Opinion on Vers
Important Question.

:
Important Question.
A very interesting discussion is now
under way among certain physicians as
to the advisa bility of allowing young
children to ride the bicycle. By some
it is urged that the child's frame, being
in an immature state and capable of be-
+ ing distorted much more easily than
later in life, is apt to be more or less
Informed by the wheel. Others assert
that the exercise is highly beneficial,
whether partaken of by old or young.
There is third class which takes the
middle ground that bicycle riding can
do no harm to any one, young or old,
provided he or she forms the habit of
sitting perfectly upright.
1t may be here stated that the for
ward bend which is so commonly seen
/. in riders about New York city, is not
only extremely ungraceful, but is detri-
mental to the health as well. There
seems to be an idea among bicyclists
that the machine can be ridden faster
and more easily by placing the seat
back as far as possible and leaning over
to reach the handles. That this is an
erroneous notion can readily be proved
by adopting both this and the upright
method for while. The latter will be
found far more comfortable and digni-
fed.
1t is true that racers bend forward.
but this is merely to avoid as much as
possible the resistance of the atmos-
phere. No racer will bend himself
double when he has long distance to
travel.
A celebrated English physician and
surgeon, who is well informed as to the
effect of bicycle riding on the constitu.
ton. has been interviewed, and renders
the following opinion:
The question whether young chill
dren between the ages, say, of six and
twelve should be allowed to cycle, and,
if allowed, how much they may indulge
in the pastime without mourning the
risk of injury, is one of considerable in,
terest, and has of late provoked dis
cussion. This, like most medical ques-
tions, is a subject on which no man,
who forms his opinion after due investi.
cation, can pronounce dogmatically, or
lay down any strict and invaliable
rules: for there are children and chill
dren, and what for one small boy or
girl might be merely healthy and bene-
fetal exercise for another might mean
physical ruin. But while each case
must be judged on its own merit, one
fundamental principle may be clearly
enunciated, namely, that no young
child with any organic weakness,
whether of heart, lungs, joints
or nervous system, should be al
lowed to mount a machine I'M
der any circumstances whatever
period of their lives, are disqualified by
nature there is no doubt that the exer.
else of cycling, properly regulated and
adjusted to the capabilities of the indi'
vidual. is one of the very best forms OF
recreation that can be partasen of by
children of both sexes at an early age.
1t develops the body, and the self-relf
ance and resource entailed by the man.
agement of a machine tend to strength
en- and enlarge the mental and intellect
ual faculties. But, granting all this
great care is still necessary, and Il few
simple precautions, easily taken, may
insure good and avert evil. First. at
what age should children begin to ride?
For most children six is quite soon
enough. There are, and will be, excep-
tiOns to this rule. Some children are
much more forward than others, while
the offspring of experts may be expect
ed to develop, under paternal supervi.
sion, capab ility which to others not
so favorably placed would seem alb,
normal. But for the average child
six is quite early enough, and
even six for many is too early.
Great care should be taken il
choosing and fitting a machine to a
young rider Any old cast off crock
will not do and may even produce dis
ease and deformity. The machine Sc.
lected should be light. of course. the
gearing low enough to admit of a short
crank throw -four inches is generally
ample for a child of six or seven) and
the saddle and spring properly adapted
to the weight and size of the rider.
But most important of all is the length
Of reach. This should be quite short:
the child should be able easily to touch
the pedal at it's lowest point with the
heel. Nothing is more injurious than
a reach so long that the unfortunate
boy appears as if riding on rail, just
touching the pedal with the tips of his
toes. Then the position must be care
fully studied. Young growing tissues
are easily distorted. and saddle toe
far back and handles too far forward
would certainly cause curved spine
and permanent camel's hump. The
peak of the saddle two inches behind
the crank axle and the handles sc
brought round and back that the child
can sit perfectly upright on the ma
chine are two things that must be in.
sisted on in buying either bicycle OF
a tricycle. for young rider. IN. Y
World.