Items related to The complete cyclist
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ...to the straight so soon as the machine has resumed the perpendicular. Many do anything but remember this rule, and consequently make bad pupils. Some only require a very short time before they are able to ride alone. After a couple of lessons, say, of half an hour each, any average person should be able to ride for short distances. I once taught a friend, who could not be described as athletic, as he was well on towards middle age, and had never attempted cycling before, in the remarkably short time of twenty minutes, and this was on the old Ordinary. Next day he could mount and dismount, and disdained further help. He simply carefully remembered the rule I have mentioned and put it into practice. Having plenty of confidence, he did not throw up his hands and come down every time the machine leaned on one side. He simply persevered until he found out by experience how not to overdo the turning process. This was before the days of cycling for ladies, and I well remember that his wife never forgave me for my tuition. Her husband had been before a model man, who had always taken his family for regular constitutionals. When he became an ardent cyclist he preferred his wheel to his previous domestic enjoyments. His wife did not forget to remind him of the fact that a bicycle was not a thing for a respectable married man with a family. At the present day, however, the cycle no longer need divide the domestic circle. Every one naturally requires a little assistance to properly acquire the knack of balancing a machine; that is to say, if he wishes to become a rider with the minimum of inconvenience. It is possible with a Safety to dispense with this aid, but not advisable. The process when no assistance is forthcoming is to obtain a low-built machine,...
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