THIRD LESSON. 197 



This is all a matter of nice judgment, hut when you can do it a very 

 good effect is produced, giving spectators the idea of your complete mas- 

 tery of the bicycle. 



But remember that you must be always ready to seize the handles, and 

 resume command if any interruption to your progress presents itself. 



To RIDE WITHOUT USING LEGS OR HANDS. As you can now ride with- 

 out using the hands, let us now proceed to try a performance which, at 

 first sight, will perhaps seem almost impossible, but which is really not 

 much more difficult than going without hands. This is to get the veloci- 

 pede up to fall speed, and then lift your feet off the treadles and place 

 tin-in on each side of the rest, and when your legs are up in this way, you 

 will find that you can let go the handles and fold your arms, and thus 

 actually ride without using either legs or haml*. 



In progressing thus, the simple fact is that you overcome gravity by 

 motion, and the machine cannot fall until the momentum is lost. 



This should only be attempted by an expert rider, who can get up a 

 '1 of twelve to fourteen miles per hour, and on a very good surface and 

 with a good run ; and, in fact, from this position you may lean back, and 

 lie flat down, your body resting on and along the spring. 



AT REST. We are now come to the last and best, or, we may say, the 

 most useful feat of all, and this is to stop the bicycle and sit quite still 

 upon it. 



The best way to commence practising this is to run into a posit ion 

 whnv you can hold by a railing or a wall, or perhaps the assistant will 

 stand with his shoulder ready for you to take hold of. 



N.iw gradually slacken speed, and when coming nearly to a standstill, 

 turn the front wheel until it makes an angle of 45 dcg. with the l>aek 

 whr.-l. and try all you know to sit perfectly still and upright. 



Of course thifl is a question of balancing, and you will soon find tlie 

 knack of it. \Vhrn the maehirir inclines to the left, slightly press the left 

 Mr ; and if it rvinces a tendency to lean to the ri^ht, press thr ri 



and so nil. until, sooner or later you achieve a correct equilibrium, 

 wh'-n you may take out your poekrt -honk and read or rvrii write ler 

 without difficulty. 



not think that there is anything further to be said as to 

 learninir to ride the l.icyelr. and wr ran onl\ a hop,- th;r 



follow the advice and instruction we have been al-le t will 



line an BXperi rider, ami be able to be^in praeti^in-- on the " Mol.-rn 



