158 THE THEORY OF THE BICYCLE. 
last very easily, the second, not so easily, and the first, 
only with considerable difficulty. 
The heavier the load on a bicycle, other things being 
equal, the more easy to keep it from falling to either 
side. ‘Therefore when a rider carriesa load on his shoul- 
ders, the weight really helps him to keep his wee 
position. 
I have a cap of lead weighing four or five pannel 
which I slip on the top of each of these rods, in succes- 
sion. In every case, the stability is increased, but most 
so upon the longest rod. 
Experts in their exhibitions, sometimes put both legs 
over the handle-bar, and ride with safety. But there 
is nothing remarkable in this, for their legs, placed 
on the bar, raise the centre of gravity, and hence add to 
the stability. It is only necessary that, in some way 
they should be able to turn the bar, and they can ride 
until the momentum is exhausted. 
A much more difficult feat is to ride on one wheel. The 
small wheel—the rider holding the other in the air—is 
most easily managed. It is merely a case of supporting 
on a small base some long, upright body. One keeps 
moving the point of support soas to Keep it under the 
centre of gravity. It needs only a quick eye and a 
steady hand. Itismuch more difficult when the ’cyclist 
uses only the big wheel, the other having been removed, 
for he is liable to fall forward, or backward, or to either 
side. To avoid the first and second, he leans forward a 
little beyond his base, and would pitch headlong, but 
that he drives the wheel forward by the treadles just fast 
enough to prevent it. We all do the same thing when 
we walk. Welean so far forward that we would fall, 
did we not keep moving our feet fast enough to prevent 
it. On the single wheel, most of us would fail, because, 
from lack of experience, we would make the wheel go 
too fast, and so would fall backward ; or else, not fast 
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