EXERCISE FOR ANY GIVEN MUSCLES
world's history has any other plaything been discovered at once so useful and attractive. Nothing has approached the wheel in tempting all persons of all ages and sizes to get out-of-doors, and to take a little vigorous daily exercise; to drop all thought of business; and to play a little. Why should middle-aged and elderly people forget how to play; and so lose one of their chief helps; and charms? To the 3,000,000 wheels in use in the United States in 1898, a million more are being added annually. And no other thing is doing as much for the health, force, and vigor, of our in-door people; or for our roads. Every city ought to have good cycle-paths on the side of each attractive street, from one end of the city to the other. No men make such good roadmasters as the wheelmen. No other thing has approached the wheel in enabling girls and women (and men too) to dress sensibly and comfortably; and in helping at last educate their bodies, as well as those of the men. As here appropriate, we append
ROBERTS'S HINTS FOR THE CYCLER
Life is like a bicycle-run; some worry, fret, and scorch along and soon reach the end, while others take it easy and enjoy themselves as they go.
Don't sit up as straight as a stick; lean a little forward, as you would if you were running.
Keep your head up; chin in; chest up; back straight, and mouth shut, especially this last on a cold day. So long as a cyclist can breathe with his mouth shut, he will not strain his heart.
Increase your lung capacity by practising deep breathing as follows: Hold your head up; shoulders back; chest out; inhale slowly through the nose while counting five; hold until you have counted two, exhale quickly. Repeat while counting ten, again while counting fifteen, holding and exhaling as above. Don't ride with the hands close together, it will cramp the chest and impede free breathing.
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