THIRD I.KSSnN. 199 



when running beside the bicycle at a good speed, you were merely to 

 place the left foot on the step without giving a good hop with the other, 

 the right leg would be left behind, and you would be merely what U 

 called u doing the splits." 



You will see at once that as the machine is travelling at good speed, 

 you have no time to raise one foot after the other (as in walking up stairs), 

 as when you lift up your foot, you are as it were, " in the air," and noth- 

 ing but a good long running hop will give time to adjust your toe on the 

 as it is moving. This is, of course, difficult to describe, and we need 

 not say, requires a certain amount of strength and agility, without which 

 no one can expect to become an expert rider. 



But in the high racing machines, no one would think of trying to mount 

 without the assistance of a friendly arm, and a stand or stool of suitable 

 height. 



Having now mounted the high machine, you will find that the reach of 



the leg, and the position altogether, is very different from the seat on the 



" bone-shaker ; " but when you get some command, you will find the easy 



gliding motion much pleasanter, as well as faster. You are now seated 



much higher, in fact, almost on the top of the wheel: and, instead of 



n-ing the ball of the foot, you must use your toe; and when the treadle 



t the bottom of the throw of the crank, your leg will be almost at its 



tent, and nearly straight. 



Now you must pay a little attention to the process of alighting. 



In getting oft by tin- step, all you have to do is to reach back your left 

 t'o<,t until you feel the step, and, resting upon the handles, raise your 

 up, and throw the right leg over the seat on to the ground. 



Hut we consider getting oft by the treadle much the preferable way 

 when you can manage it ; but you must be very careful when first trying 

 not to att'-mpt it until the machine is perfectly at rest. Get some one to 

 hold you up, the bicycle bring stationary, and practise getting oil' in the 

 following manner: First, see that the left hand crank 18 at the bottom, 

 with \n\ir left loot on that tivadle practise swinging your right leg 

 backwards and forwards, in order to get used to tin- movement. Now 

 while in position, throw your right I.- with a swing backwards. noting 

 as much as you can of your weight upon tin- handles, and rnise you; 

 with your right, foot into positin, continuing your swinging movement 

 until you an- oil tin- -.at ami on the ground. 



\Vli- re well able to get oil' in this way. with the bicycle at rest, 



: may att.-mpt it when slackening -peed to stop. As it is, of OOU1 



the dower yon \,.u must come almost to a 



