The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-10-27
CYCLISTS sUPERsTlrIoNs.
There Are Wheelmen Who Have
Queer Notions Which Control
Them in Their Journeys.


Cycling superstition as a special and
altogether distinct form Of supersti.
ton Is 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. II
II is the piece Of money that he forgets
II is a trivial mishap. he says, but n
II is the 1888 horse chestnut he IL Tia.
Bile to have a smash.up and get hurt
himself.
Such notions are not, however, ais
tinctive as cycling superstition. They
were born In the mind Of their victims
before they ever rode machine.
There are some superstitions, those
that are peculiar TO cyclists.
One of the most common Is that
about turning round The school.
'ansht rider always. and the average
rider usually, prefers a turn TO the
left In their neophyte days most rid.
ers have met with 4 fail because Of At
tempting 10 turn 10 the right. and this
has led many into a fearful state az
mind that makes them prefer to dis
mount rather than risk turning that
way.
The consequence Is that the supersti
tion 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 lnabill.
" OF rider TO wheel right about. or
his obs,inacy in trying to wheel about
left.
There Is rider who will not pump
his tires before going out, believing
that II they have not remained hard
Il preaages misfortune, and there are
said 10 be others wha entertain similar
sentiments concerning nlllng a lamp /
and oiling bearings This class Of
rider thinks that II he has neglected
to have his bicycle in perfect condi /
tlon for an Immediate mount he should 1
not venture forth.
II is a common notion which Just
about classes with 3 superstition that
the only way 90 ftart ON trip Is 10
conceive the idea suddenly. grab ones
and mount II without exam
ming any part So many plessurable
lines have been experienced following
Impromptu starts OF this kind that
believe any other Kind Of
start 10 be nnlucky.
4 stout ofieer Of an arlstocratle
london club knows that every time he
wears certain shirt ne IA bound 10
Est punolure. and some OF hls club
mates tell story about his havlne
missed an important club run because
his puncture-causing shirt was the
,nly enc wsarahle
One man Who assumes to be phllos.
'pher. saya that he 4 not superstisious
md especially innocent of the old
'ountry superstition about crossing a
but he admits that he ai
Ways waits until one passes lusg out
u respect for the circumstances
Then he tells with grave earneaness
tory that details how he rode aionr
Blank street and encountered "a
nnerai corleger thai was erosslnr
)ank street He slowed down ana
uss'ioned himself concerning whether
Z not be should cross n
While he was dellherat'ug two other
yriists travelling n orn17lte direc
Ions attempted % efos, between The
aFriaeea They colllded and feil. and
ne Was struck b. the hOnfs or 4 IL
eFai coach horse and severely hurt
rhls happenirf he thinis iustlfed hy
he Difference that Is not superstition