The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-04

ling the Best Of Exercises-Th,
Erect Position Not the Correct On,
Never Ride Until You Are Fa-
tigued-How Bicycling Will Re
duce Ones Weight-The Bicycle
a Godsend to the Frail Woman.
The very nature Of my subject-bi-
cycling for health-precludes the con-
sideration of racing, except to condemn
it on general principles. Great eau
ton is required in all forms of exercise
in which competition is the ruling mo-
tive. The tendency is to 90 too far; not
in distance. but beyond the reasonable
limit Of ones endurance. There comes
a time as every racing bicyclist has ex-
perieDced. when he Is short of breath. -
Although the legs play the active part.
the force (or power) is furnished
through the action of the lungs and
heart. The rate Of heart action pro-
duced by violent exercise would aston
ish some who indulge in II. When the
condition (short-windedness occurs, II
the rider does not slacken sufficiently TO
strike the balance between heart and
lungs (Which he is not likely to do II his
opponent is pushing him). he may rea-
sonably expect a breakdown, sooner or
later.
Not only bicycle racing, but all sports,
requiring sudden and tremendous exer-
tion, draw very lavishly on the reserve
constitutional strength. and this over
draft on nature becomes a matter of ne
cessity. 1t is in the arduous training
and in the strenuous rivalry that the
abuse arises and the fact is lament
able one that 1t is a tax on the growing
muscles OF the younger men, who form
the large army of contestants. When
a famous athlete succumbs. nearly every
reason but the right one will be ad-
vanced for his collapse. II was only to.
day that | read in the daily paper the
following statement from DR.. Edmund
]. James, president of the University OF
Illinois: The successful football man
must. under modern conditions. so over
strain himself. physically. as to dimin-
ish seriously his chances of achieving
success of any kind in after life" This
is not a prophecy. but the result of an in
vest.gation of the records of football
players after graduation. II applies
with equal force to bicycle racing or any
sport that is overdone.
Three Rules for Bicycling.
These three things are imperative, II |
you ride the bicycle for health, viz.
l. Correct position.
2. Correct breathing.
3. Moderation.
Correct position is not the erect one.
nor is 1t the monkey-on-a-stick Both of |
these are extremes. The former (except
on smooth roads or pavements) is unde-
sirable from a physiological viewpoint;
the latter. unnecessary, ungainly and
When sitting perfectly
erect the body is subject to every Jolt
and jar caused by rough road or OBJ
greatest objection to even
he most moderate cycling unless one
rides, as everyone should, a strictly
lygienic wheel.
The body should incline forward from
he hips, not bend at the waist. When
sitting correctly the vital organs (heart,
liver, etc.) are in position for
perfect action-an important matter as
regards the heart, digestion. breathing.
tic. Not only this. but correct position
protects the kidneys. spinal column and
base of the brain from the unnecessary
md unhealthful jarring consequent on
IN erect position. STOPPING. or drop
ping the head over the handlebars. may
'e essential to racing. but racing is not
essential to health.
Correct position depends. also, upon
he adjustment of the saddle and OF
he handle bars. The point OF the sad
lie should tip slightly downward never
he other way, just enough to cast
bout 20 per cent. of your weight on the
landlebars and 20 per cent on ~ed-
lis. Your body from the hips 1. will
take the angle of the saddle.
nd in taking this position you become
S 1t were. a part of your wheel. thus
eeking the true center Of gravity which
les midway between the two wheels.
lave your saddle high enough SO that
our heel will just rest on the pedal
ghen the latter is at its lowest point.
hen when you are riding. the ball OF
he foot on the pedal. you will have free
nkle movement. and your leg will ex-
end fully (without stretching) at every
evolution BY so doing. you will never
ave the leg muscles cramp. Your han
lebars should be neither too low nor
DO high; just low enough to have your
rms straighten when the body inclines
Directly forward. The proper distribu-
ion Of weight means the proper distri-
ution Of effort
There is no difference between cor
ect breathing when bicycling and cor
ect breathing at any other time. but
here is more Of a tendency TO violate the
rinciple Of that correctness (mouth
losed) when the physical effort is either
nusual or prolonged. ,
In going uphill. no matter how steep
eep the mouth closed. Dilate the nos
rils, muscularly. and keep the chest ac-
I've. Avoid quick. short inhalations.
ut instead, take deeper and fuller