Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1894 — HOW TO RIDE A BIKE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.

MAY HUMP YOURSELF OR NOT, AS YOU CHOOSE. The Change from Low-Handled Racer* to Roadster* with a High Steering Gear Make* It Optional with the Cyeliat How He Look*. A* Others See Them. A middle-aged gentleman sat In the park the other afternoon watching a string of expert bicyclists shoot past at top speed, says the Chicago Times. The forms of the riders were bent away forward on their wheels, their heads were lowered, and they exerted all their leg power in racing their steel steeds. The elderly gentleman turned to a companion, who was also in middle life. “I never could ride in that style,” he said. “I should think they would build machines that a rider could sit up straight on and take things lei-

surely. Everybody doesn’t want to shoot ahead at that breakneck pace. ” The middle-aged speaker expressed a view of bicycle racing held by many who are unfamiliar with the exercise and the construction of the machines. All first-das'! bicycles are built nowadays so that they can be readily altered from the low-handled “racer” to a high handle, easy going “roadster,” upon which the rider sits upright. The transformation is effected by an adjustable handle bar that can be raised or lowered at will.

“The machine for the rider who wishes to ride leisurely and with comfort,” said an expe't, should have a turned-up handle and a seat set upon springs. If the wheel has the turned-down handle the bar would have to be raised so high in order to enable the rider to sit upright that the handles would interfer • seriously with the balancing and steering of the machine. It would make it wobble. The nearer the handle; are to the framework of the machine the easier it is for the rider to keep his balance and steer. The lowering of the handles to this position incieases the ability of the rider to speed the machine, because when he bends over he gets a better hold on the pedals and is able to exert more power in forcing the wheels ahead. And when his body is thrown forward, viyth the head down, there is less resistance to the wind. Elderly or leisurely riders would find the upright position more to their comfort

and liking, and that is why all good wheels are made so that either position can be taken. As I said before, it is a mere matter of raising or lowering the adjustable handle bar. Speeders all prefer the bar with the turned-down handles, and those who do not care for speeding select the turned-up handle bar. That is all the difference there is to the two styles of riding.” The accompanying pictures illustrate both positions.