Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-27
BY HENRY McLEMORF

TellOWS if 8 on Ar
BY HENRY McLEMoRE
THlS is in the nature of
Il warning 10 relatives and
police authorities that If my
body is found floating in some
secluded stream, or bound in a
sack at the foot of a prccipice,
they should seek for the culprit
among the teachers of bicycle
riding in this country.
They are a vicious and vcngc-
full group, 10 Judge by the letters
have received since publication
OF my little essay on the perils
OF riding bicycle in New York,
particularly along Fifth aveI-rc.
Their letters Ia me would de-
credit 10 "A Sicilian Black
Handler, and they called me
things that even the Greeks
haven't a word for.
The letters came as great
surprise 10 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
b in d m ms buff. drop-the-
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.
had always thought that
fellow learned 10 ride bicycle
by getting on one and falling off
until he could get on and not
fall off.
That was the way 7 learned.
and the way all my acquaint-
ances learned
You got a bicycle for Christ
mas. You always got it on
Christmas. II was too fine
present for any other day.
A boy might get skates,
cowboy or Indian suit. an air
rifle, or billy goat on his
birthday, but the bicycle came
on Christmas.
No one ever relied on
teacher for instructions.
Two minutes after the shiny
creature had been yanked from
its wrapping, il 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 ma
chimes.
THE conversation is as fresh
i an my mind as if it were
yesterday.
Mines got siren, and yours
only has n sissy bell"
yeah, but mine has a tail
light. What'Il you do when il
gets dark >"
"Nhateha 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 un-
comfortable but rakish angles.
Then every one settled down
10 the business OF learning how
10 ride.
The curbStones and telephone
poles took an awful beating as
kids rode full tilt into them.
Stockings had their knees
torn out. Pants and shirts were
torn
II was the aim OF every new
owner 10 master riding without
touching the handle bars. and 10
mount the bike with a running
start.
The aid Of older brothers VAS
scorned. and If a teacher had
come along and volunteered to
help you master the art Of bal
ance, you would nave died OF
shame and Sicked your pup on
him.
You were out on your own
and loved it.
RUT, IL the letters from bicycle
~ teachers are 10 be believed.
that is the wrong way TO learn
TO ride bicycle. and lust as
ridiculous as attempting 10
master the tuba the Splnet. or
the fife without expert inStruc-
ton.
Let me quote you n bit Of
instruction that one of the
teachers sent 20 nae
Put your left foot on the
pedal will teach you 10 start
from either side a. this il BIZ
cycle, and not horse -. am
ON your left and hold YOU
tightly by your garment Just
below the nape Of the neck.