The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-11-03
: CYCLISTS SUGGESTIONS.
There Are Wheelmen Who Have
Queer Notions Which Control
Them in Their Journeys.

Cycling superstition as a special and
altogether distinct form Of superst-
ton is a recognized fact Of the ROAD.
Naturally, says a London paper,
there are many ridiculous beliefs with
which men and women are afflicted
that they cary into cycling with them,
such as the wearing of some lucky
pocket piece or charm. One man, for
instance, carries a Chinese coin and
withered horse chestnut II he omits
Transferring either to the pockets Of
his riding clothes he meets with an &C
cident and he blames the omission. IL
it is the piece of money that he forgets
1t is a trivial mishap, he says. but II
II is the 1883 horse chestnut he is liza
BILE to have q smash-up and get hurt
himself.
Such notions are not, however, dis
tinctive as cycling superstition. They
were born in the mind Of their victims
before they ever rode a machine.
There are some saperstitions. those
that are peculiar to cyclists.
One OF the most common Is that
about turning round. The school
taught rider always. and the average
rider usually, prefers a turn to the
left In their neophyte days most rid
ers have met with fall because of at
tempting to turn to the right, and this
has led many into fearful state Of
mind that makes them prefer to dis
mount rather than risk turning that
way.
The consequence Ia that the supersti'
ton about turning round is not only
the most common, but also the most
dangerous. There have been many
mishaps on the road due to the inabili'
~ of a rider to wheel right about, or
his obstinacy in trying to wheel about
left.
There Is a rider who will not pump
his tires before going out, believing
that IL they have not remained hare
it presages misfortune, and there are
said to be others who entertain similar
sentiments concerning filling LAM
and oiling bearings, This class o.
rider thinks that II he has neglected
to have his bicycle in perfect condi
ton for an immediate mount he SHOULD
not venture forth.
It is common notion which jus
, about classes with a superstition tina
, the only way to start on a trip is t
; conceive the idea suddenly. grab one
, machine, and mount II without exam
lining any part. So many pleasurabl
} times have been experienced following
impromptu starts Of this kind tina
; hundreds believe any other kind Of
start to be uniucky.
A stout officer Of an aristocrati
: London club knows that every time
wears a certain shirt he Is bound I
get a puncture, and some of his clul
mates tell a story about his havin
missed an important club run becaus
; this puncture-causing shirt was III
only one wearable.
One man who assumes to be philo'
opher, says that he is not superstition
and especially innocent Of the oil
!. country superstition about crossing
a funeral, but he admits that he a
Q ways waits until one passes, just OF
= Of respect for the circumstance
y Then he tells with grave earnestness
story that details how he rode alor
. Blank street and encountered
Il funeral cortege" that was crossir
> Dank street. He slowed down ar
questioned himself concerning wheth
= or not he should cross 1t.
While he was celebrating two 9TH
cyclists travelling in opposite dire
= lions attempted to cross between 4
} carriages. They collided and fell, al
- one was struck by the hoofs Of
- neral coach horse and severely hui
vTbic happapinu ha thipEc iuStifipd