Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1869 — Corry O'Lanus on the Velocipede. [ARTICLE]

Corry O'Lanus on the Velocipede.

Managing the velocipede if just u easy u (hating, when yon know now to dolt It takes yon a little time to learn how. All you Hare got to do la to keep the velocipede op and keep it going. Yon can’t do eltHSr of these separately, and have to do them both at ones. Which makes it difficult Became if the velocipede stops it falls down. At the same time if it falls down it will ■top. - The first law of vdocipedestrianlsm is motion. On the beautiful philosophical principle that necessitates the perpetual motion of the planetary bodiea comets, eclipseegffieteors, aurora boreeliaea, and things which are continually going on. Or like a man’s credit, the moment it ■tops running he goes up. ' Only in the case of the velocipede he goes down. First, you must start the velocipede before you mount, then jump on while it is running. If you have had any practice asa circus rider this comes easy enough. All you have to do then uto catch the pedals with your feet, and keep the wheel revolving. Steering In very esay, when you get accustomed to it; all you have to do la to turn the wheel the way you want to go, and you’ll go it You moat not, however, go -upon the principle that one good tom deserves another, because too many turns may wind up with an overturn. Any apeed maybe attained by Increasing the velocity of the velocipede, which isaone by a lively agitation of the driving wheel The more revolutions you make the Aster vou will so. H The next thing after driving and atearIngis to learn to manage the brake. The brake la very useful, and must be looked after. It is neoaaary in order .to keep the ' ■ ■' *••

mad wheel from running fester than the front wheel, and putting the machine ont A painful accident happened recently at Chicago through a neglect of the brake. A man was ranningarace on time,and was going at the rate of three miles a minute. The hind wheel kept gaining on the front wheel and in the attempt to pass it made the velocipede torn e somerset. The rider was thrown ahead, the velocipede went over him. I would advise yon not to bny a velocipede till yon have learned to ride. Yon can get lessons with the nse of a velocipede for twenty dollars a quarter. A robust and daring rider can knock twenty dollars' worth of damage out of a velocipede in a week. To say nothing of personal damage to hie own anatomy, which ia at his own risk. Bnt don’t be discouraged by such trifles as a braised ankle or a dialocated shoulder. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.