Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-02-04
TRAINING FOR
SIX-DAY bike
RACE UNUSUAL

prize fight, a marathon run or a six
day bicycle race, is a mystery to the
average sport fam Possibly the most
iawsome to the uninitiated is the six
day bicycle race, on account of its long
demand on the physical powers and
resources of the rider, says the Chi
cago Daily News. I.
According to Lloyd Mcfarland, man.
ager of the six-day grind which is to
start in Chicago soon, the condition
for this game is not nearly so strenu-
Gus as for boxing, wrestling, track
running or any other sport requiring
fine fettle. .-:~. .:....... . *.
Give Legs Most Attention. X
The most important part of the
riders body in his training Is not his
arms and shoulders and back as might
be imagined, but his legs. They are
given ninetenths of the attention be-
slowed upon the cyclist by his train
er. -.
A set program is followed by the
average cyclist in his training for pro
fessional tests and none of it is really
strenuous. He might be envied by
other athletes whose training program
keeps them working diligently all day
long and forces them to adhere strict
ly to certain line of diet. But these
same athletes might not envy the
cyclist when the time comes for train
ing the legs, for description of this
process does not sound very alluring.
After he has gone through his morn
ing's workout, the cyclist reaches
camp about noon and Immediately
goes into his hot bath. This is not
for q washing, but for soaking or,
more like it, boiling.
Takes Hot Bath for Legs.
The victim is placed in tub some
thing like an diversified foot bath. He
sits upright Water at first luke
warm Is poured into the tank and,
from, that time on. the athlete must
sit calmly and grin. II he can, while
the temperature Of the water in which
his legs are slowly being hard boiled
il raised from - degrees to ff445, lis
and even 12o degrees.
The temperature is increased by
slight degrees so that, while great dis
comfort would be experienced in
plunging suddenly into the hottest
water, it really is not so uncomfort-
able as would be supposed, according
to Mcfarland.
This boiling process, while It red
dens the skin slightly, is the main
thing in training for cycle riding. The
muscles of the legs are made soft.
and pliable in relaxation, like soft
para rubber, but, when the long leg
muscles are put to 1t on the down
ward push against the pedals, they
are like iron. Under this tension
these muscles are harder than those
of the best trained distance runner
and yet. when relaxed, they are much
softer than the runners.
The cyclist has an interesting days
program He starts training for a.
six-day race about month before the,
first day of the race. He is out of his
bed at a. m. and back into it at g.
p. m. This is important He must
have at least these ten hours OF slum-
Der, relaxation and complete rest.
That is as important In the training
curriculum as the running, walking,
riding and bag punching.
Hitting the punching bag may seem
unusual training for the bike rider.
but he does it to tougher his hands
and prepare them for the inevitable
numbness that comes from the steady,
hour after hour tense holding of the
handle bars. The bag is slapped with
the open hand instead of with the
clenched fist. thereby toughening the
palms and stimulating circulation so
that when the arms are held in one
position for any length of time the
blood movement win not be slowed.
Ride Twelve Hours at Stretch.
When the race has started the rid
ers average IL hours at a stretch on
the track-there are two men to
team and they :.'spell'' each other in
relays-yet when they are off the
track they are subject to call from
their trainers at any time, sleeping or
that rivals start when the teammate
may be too much fatigued to keep up
to it. Hence this training schedule,
which has been worked out on scien-
tific basis, must be followed religious
ly:
Z a. m.-Arise, take brisk walk for
80 minutes.
1880 a. m.-Rub down and rest
s a. m.-Breakfast, then rest.
10 a. m.-Walk and run 10 miles
leisurely.
1880 a. m.-Bag slapping.
11:40 a. m.-Skip the rope
11:45 a. m.-Swing dumbbelIs and
Indian clubs.
11:50 a. m.-Pull gymnasium
weights. .
1855 a. Insight calisthenies for
arms and shoulders.
IL m.-Boiling legs. Followed BY
rubs with alcohol and goose oil.
/ p. m.-Luncheon and rest
$50 p. m.-Ride bicycle on track
about 90 miles, winding up with fast
sprint
4:S0 p. m.-Thorough body mas
sage.
5 p, m.-Brining process to toughenI