194 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOP.-EDIA. 



THIKD LESSON. 



Now, having in the first lesson ridden with the feet hanging down, and 

 in the second with them on the treadles, in the third lesson you should be 

 able to go along for a short distance, working the treadles in the usual 

 way. 



Of course, when we speak of the first and second . lessons, we do not 

 mean that after practising each of them once you will be able, of necessity, 

 to ride at the third attempt ; although we have taught some who seemed 

 to take to it all at once : but that these are the progressive steps in learn- 

 ing to ride, and you must practise each of them until tolerably proficient. 



When you are sufficiently familiar with the working of the treadles 

 while held by the assistant, it depends entirely on yourself, and the 

 amount of confidence you may possess, to determine the time at which he 

 may let go his hold of you, and you may begin to go alone ; but of course 

 for some time it will be advisable for him to walk by your side, to catch 

 you in case of falling. When you have arrived at this stage, you only re- 

 quire practice to make a good rider, and the amount of practice taken is- 

 generally a guide to the amount of skill gained. 



To GET ON AND OFF. Having now learned to ride the velocipede with- 

 out assistance, we will now proceed to getting on and off in a respectable 

 manner, in case you have not a step, which all modern machines are now 

 provided with. The proper way is to vault on and off, which is the eas- 

 iest way of all, when you can do it, but it certainly requires a little 

 courage and skill. 



At first, it may be, from want of confidence in yourself, you will jump 

 at the machine and knock it over, both you and it coming down. But 

 what is required to be done is, to stand on the left-h&nd side of the- 

 bicycle, and throw your right leg over the saddle. Stand close to the ma- 

 chine, holding the handles firmly ; then run a few steps with it to get a 

 sufficient momentum, and then, leaning your body well over the handles* 

 and throwing as much of your weight as you can upon them, with a slight 

 jump throw your right leg over the saddle. 



This may sound formidable, but it is in reality no more than most 

 equestrians do every time they mount, as the height of the bicycle to 

 be cleared is little more than that of the horse's back when the foot is in 

 the stirrup, only the horse is supposed to stand quiet, and therefore you 

 can jump with a kind of swing. 



You must be very careful that while running by the side you keep the 

 machine perfectly upright, particularly at the moment of jumping. Per- 



