Evening star., 1942-07-24

to Judge by the
letters / have re-
usssSssl ceived since pub
Henry MeLemere. lication OF my
little essay on the perils OF riding
bicycle in New York, particularly
along Fifth avenue. Their letters
to me would do credit to a Sicilian
Black Handler, and they called me
things that even the Greeks haven't
word for.
The letters came as a great sur
prise to me, because didn't know
that there were such things as
teachers Of bicycle riding. To me.
they didn't exist, any more than do
teachers of blindman's bluff, drop
he-handkerchief, in-and-out-the
window, wink and post Office.
Certainly, they have been hiding
their light under bushel Of handle
bars and coaster brakes for a long.
long time. I had always thought
that a fellow learned to ride a BIZ
cycle by getting on one and falling
of until he could get on and not
fall off.
That was the way I learned,
and the way all my acquaintance
learned.
You get bicycle for Christmas.
Always you got it on Christmas.
It was too fine . present for any
other day. A boy might get skates.
a cowboy or Indian suit, an air
rife, or billy goat on his birth
day, but the bicycle came on Christ
mas.
No one ever relied on Q teacher
for instructions. Two minutes after
the shiny creature had been yanked
from Its wrapping. it was out on
the sidewalk and being subjected
to solo flights by Its new owner.
Within few minutes all the new
owners Of bicycles had gathered and
/ started inspecting and comparing
the various machines. The CONVEX
sation Is as fresh In my mind as II
it we're yesterday:
Mines got a siren, and yours only
has a sissy bell"
yeah, but mine has a taillight.
Whatu you do when 1t gets dark7"
| "Whatcha got in your tool kit?"
| Handle-bars were loosened and
turned down in order to make the
bikes look like racing ones. Seats
were tilted at uncomfortable. but
rakish angles.
Then every one settled down to
the business Of learning how to ride.
The curbstones and telephone
poles took an awful beating as kids
rode full tilt into them. Stockings
J had their knees torn out. Pants
and shirts were torn. It was the
aim Of every new owner to master
riding without touching the handle
bars. and to mount the bike with q
running start. The aid Of older
brothers was scorned. and II .
teacher had come along and vol
unteered to help you master the art
Of balance, you would have died of
shame and sicked your pup on him.
You were out on your own and
loved it.
But. II the letters from bicycle
teachers are to be believed. that is
the wrong way to learn to ride. a
bicycle. and just as ridiculous as
attempting to master the tuba, the
spinet or the fife without expert
instruction. Let me quote you q bit
Of instruction that one OF the teach
ers sent to me:
Put your left foot on the pedal--
will teach you to start from either
side as this Is q bicycle, and not .
horse. - am on your left and
hold YOU tightly by your garment
just below the nape Of the neck.
We circle and circle and only the
first turn or two seem . bit awk-
ward. We keep this up until my
hold is not more than an ounce Of
pressure. We try some stops
brakes on--and hold on to them.
foot down on the side that you lean
over to. Now we get ready for the
thrill Of solo that is your achieve
ment in correct cycling. There We
go! stay in back Of you and re-
peat few dos and donts. There
we are! Turn after turn! Grace
a-wheel! Later on you will say that
you know how to cycle much better
than your friends who learned to
cycle as children. You viii have
learned the more modern way and
have full cognizance Of the funda-
mentals"
PShaw!
Let one Of those bicycle teachers
show me pupil Of theirs who can
hop curbs without touching the
handle bars, who can throw q
rolled-up newspaper on a front
porch while riding full speed along
the sidewalk, or who. II his best girl
is watching, can ride backward for
a full block. Moreover, what kid
with dime in his pocket is going
to spend 1t on bicycle lessons when
he can get banana split, with
three kinds Of ice cream on 1t, at
the corner drugstore?
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