Year: 1869




BY all means begin practicing it
in the morning, when the air is in
vigorating, and the physical man is
not tornented with undigested food.
Choose, if possible a period when D0-
body is near to witness your frequent
failures, and to hear your objurgato-
ry remarks thereon. Have conf
dence in yourself, but don't be rash.
Otherwise you are likely to lose your
temper. Remember that it is no
disgrace to be upset by bicycle. Do
lot needlessly expend your strength.
Skill not force is required. At first
it will seem rash, almost chimerical,
that one can trust oneself on the
back of a mechanical horse and
maintain ones equilibrium, support
ed on so narrow a base. But after
little practice it Will be found that
the nag never refuses its fayors to
anybody. To keep the poise easily
great speed is necessary. But to go
fast or slow the rider must first mas
ter the knack or balancing himself.
How is this to be done !? Expert
velocipedists spring upon the ma
chine, giving it violent push, which
starts it forward, and their feet after
ward keep up the motion. Those
less practiced keep to the old meth
od of velocipeding, that is, if their
legs are sufficiently long. They
start out by placing the feet upon
the ground, and it is only when
proper rapidity is attained and their
seat is secure that they use the tread
les. Tyros fall hurt themselves, and
accomplish little without the aid of
a teacher. By all means take les
sons. Only an excellent gymnast
will succeed without instruction.
The velocipede with two wheels is
the only one worthy of the name. 1t
is blooded horse, while the veloci-
pede with three wheels is simply a
hack. 1t is true that with the latter
the difficulty of equilibrium is avoid
ed by being seated in a sort of arm
chair, but the tractiou is greater and
needs double effort to overcome it.
The body instead of contributing to
the onward impetus is simply a
heavy weight upon the seat. But
we digreSS from our purpose of Civ
ing advice to those who would be-
come adopts in the use of thebicycle.
The following rules are laid down by
the most skillful operators Make
the first attempt on a machine OF
moderate height in order that your
feet may readily touch the ground


Walk beside your iron steed, leading
it, as it were, with your hand, so as
to familiariZe yourself with its move
ments. Commence practicing with
it on a Notwithstanding slope, giving
impetus with the feet. Take your feet
from the ground and maintain your
balance by resting the hands lightly
on the guiding bar, in the meantime
occupying your attention with the
effects produced by the inclination
which you give the machinethrough
the agency of the tiiler Thorough
ly understanding the nature of this,
place the right foot upon the pedal,
and follow its movements without
assisting them, touching the left foot
on the ground lightly The di!icl.
" with beginners is To restrain the
unnecessary expenditure of muscular
force they ordinarily perform ten
times the labor that is requisite.
Continue the same molten bv chang
ing the feet. This viii accusJom the
leS5 to the machine. Next repeat
the experiment upon level ground,
having both feet on the pedals and
working them alternately with scru-
pulous regularity. Speed is obtain
ed by merely accelerating this move
ment. After two hours practice the
tyro will be able to accomplish a dis
tance of from thirty to forty yards
without running the risk of an upset.
Should the machine incline to one
side, all that is necessary to be done
is To remove the foot on the same
side from the pedal and place it on
the ground To alight, both feet are
raised simultaneously from the tread
les, which has the effect of retarding
the machine. The feet are then
placed on the ground at the same
moment, the tiller being still firmly
held by both hands.-IH. J.Winner,
in April Galaxy.