The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-10-13
CYCLISTS sU7ERsTITIoNs. |
There Are Wheelinen Who Have
Queer Notions which Control
Them in Their JOURNEYS.


Cycling superstition as special an
altogether distinct form OF superstI
ton Is a recognized fact Of the roau.
Naturally, says London paper
there are many ridiculous beliefs witt
which men and women are athlete,
that they cary into cycling with them
SUCH as the wearing OF some luck,
pocket piece or charm One man. FOL
instance, carries a Chinese coin and /
withered horse chestnut. II he omit,
transferring either to the pockets OF
his riding clothes he meets with an NO
cident and he blames the omission. II
II IL the piece OF money that he forgets
II IS trivial mishap. he says, but II
It Is the 1883 horse chestnut he is lin.
Die to have a smash.up and. get hurt
himself.
sueh notions are not, however, dis,
tlnctiye as cycling superstition. They
were born In the mind OF their victims
before they ever rode machine.
There are some superstitlons, those
that are peculiar TO cyclists.
One OF the most common IA that
about turning round The school.
taught rider always. and the average
rider usually. prefers a turn 10 the
left. In their neophyte days most rid.
ers have met with fan because OF nj.
tempting TO turn 20 the right. and this
mas led many into fearful state Of
mind that makes them prefer 10 dis
mount rather than risk turning that
way.
Inc consequence Is that the snpersti
ton about turning round Is not only
the most common. but also the most
dangerous. There have been many
mishaps on the road due 10 the Inablil.
~ OF a rider TO wheel right about or
mis- obstinacy In trying to wheel about
left.
There is a rider who will not pump
MS tires before going out, believing |
that II they have not remained hard
II presages misfortune. and there are
said 10 be others who entertain similar
sentiments concerning filling a lamp
ana oillng bearings This class az
rider thinks that II he has neglected
@ have his bicycle in perfect condi.
ION for an Immediate mount he shonld
not venture forth.
II Is common notion which fust
'boui classes with a superstition that
ne only way 70 tart on trip is 10
the Idea suddenly. grab ones
machine and mount IL without exam.
ming any part SO many pleasurable
INES have been experienced following
mpromptu starts or this kind thar
.undreds believe any ether kind OF a
tart TO be unmcky.
A stout officer OF an arlstoeratle
.ondon club knows that every time ne
'ears a certain shirt he Is bound 10
ct puncture, and some OF hIs club.
rates tell a story about his having
Kissed an Important club run because ,
his puncture-causlng shirt was the !
My one wearable
One man who assumes 10 be- a nhllos.
pher' says that be n not superstitlous !
hd especially innocent OF the old 4
iuntry superstition about rroselue a II
neral but be edmlts that he Al f
ays waits untll one passes. Just out p
respect f1r tho circumstances /.
hen be tells With grave earnestness I
orv that details how he rode alone
lank street ana encountered "a
neral corteges that waa ero,s,n~ 7
1nk street He slowed down and
.esiloned himself concerning whether
not he should cross fl. :
While be was deilberatIne two othor
ellsts travelling IN Opposite alrac
ms ATTEMPTED 10 cross between to-
rrlages They eolilded and fell ana
2 was struck by the hoof. of IN
ral coach horsa and severely hurt
us happenine D. thlnts luftlnsd ), :
Difference that is not superstition