Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-02
JUDICIOUS USE OF THE WHEEL.
What Eight Years Experience Has
Taught DR.. Mary EastOn.

Eight years of bicycle riding has taught
me great many points about the judicious
use of this means of exercise, that it would
pay most women to know said Mrs. Mary
Easton, NJ. D., one day recently. Il had
made study of the bicycle before riding it;
study from the point of view of It's effect
upon the health. 1 will tell you some things
that every woman ought to know.
The first thing Is the selection of a
wheel. OF course, if you already the
owner of a bicycle. you possibly have not
this to worry about But even So perhaps
1t would be better, if the bicycle you Tide is
built on old lines and Is heavy and culnber-
some. to procure rev one. The first thing
to consider in the choosing Of new wheel
Is its weight, and quite as import an.-how
easily it runs. l have had experience with
many women who iGaorantly ploddeil along
on bicycle that overtaxed their strength
under the impression that they were taking
beneficial form Of exercise. The woman
who makes this mistake Is thrown into the
breach between the two radical opponents,
suain and exercise. OF course, you also
want strong, handsome wheel, but these
two points are of secondary import ance
where the question is one of health and ex-
ercise
Il want to advise streuuously against long
rides. They are fatiguing and not bene-
hciai. except in the elevation of the spirits,
which is followed by depression as the re-
glecting to clean the wheel after ride is
sign Of over exertion. When persons come
In from the daily ride so tired out that they
feel unfit to cope with the trivial task of
cleaning the wheel, 1t is because they have
not been sufficiently moderate In their use
OF the bicycle. AS sure this feeling exists
In healthy person. just so sure Is it that
that person has overdone the work
ON the subject of proper dress let me
warn inexperienced riders that tight lacing
Is dangerous; that only the lightest and
easiest OF clothing should be worn; that
wool should always be worn next to the
pair of alpaca, satin, Saline or wash silk
bleomers the exact color of the skirt which
Is worn over them; flannel or cotton shirt
waist. plain low trimmed hat aud pIaiu
black stockings of thin cashmere See that
you have the proper make of saddle and
one that is by CHEMICALLY correct Better let
a gentleman or somebody who knows how
set the saddle. This applies to the handle
bars, too, but you might rearrange them
afterward if you find them uncomfortable
DO not attempt to rival the prowess of
others who are in better physical condi-
ton than yourself. Make your own pace
and make that pace a comfortable log if
you would get the best effects of cycling
Never try to ride up too steep a hill Adopt
the ankle motion; 1t is the more graceful
and beneficial and it takes away the heavy
thrust motion. which is responsible for a
great deal of strain. Delicate girls should
never talk while riding. 1t congests the
ncoo dIiu tdheS away great deal OF the
good Of the exercise
One should be very careful on dismount-
ing not to stand IN draught. On return
ing from the ride the Undertaking should
be removed at once; then a sponge or
plunge bath would be found very beneficial
and refreshing. rub with alcohol or
wttchhazel and hot drink will expei any
feeling of fatigue. A short nap is also
good.
The beneficial effects of cycling cannot
be too highly spoken Of Many ailments
can be cured by 1udieious bicycle riding.
All nervous troubles, torpid liver, anaemia
ana chronic rheumatism: In fact there is
no chronic ailment so severe that the per-
sistent riding Of bicycle will not effect a
cure or palliate. The daily ride is a great
cntng. and If cold bath is taken directly
afterward 1t will be found to have sal
utary eject. 1 have only to reeite the ex-
perienee of two acquaintance to prove this.
Both took to cycling at the same time. and
used TO cycle in each others company.
They rode for one hour each morning. and
In that time covered ten miles, In three
weeks one of the women. who was quite
stout, lost eight pounds, while the other.
VINO is inclined to thinness, took on three
pounds. This merely proves what different
effects may grow out Of judicious bicycle
exercise"