ars, thus avoiding the
"wriggling" of the wheel, which is so tiresome and so deadening to a
steady road gait.

The position of a man who is racing is, of course, quite different, and
it has a parallel in horse-racing. A jockey when he is riding a racing
horse in a big race rises in his stirrups, leans far forward, and
crouches on the horse's neck: but because a jockey does this in a
race--and advisedly so--is no reason for a gentleman to do the same when
he is out for a jaunt on his cob of an afternoon. The two seats are both
correct, but each belongs to its sphere. So it is with the bicycle. The
racing or "scorching" position is a difficult one to represent in a
photographic reproduction, because each man has his own particular
ideas, and as most men who race make a study of the subject, the result
is that there are many different ideas. The general principle is,
however, to get a strong purchase on the handles in order to give
yourself greater power in thrusting down on the pedals, and at the same
time to curl up the body in order to give as little resistance to the
air as possible. Any one who has ridden against the wind will realize
what an enormous difference the air makes on his speed, and this is, of
course, multiplied when the rider is going at a record-breaking speed.

[Illustration: CORRECT SCORCHING.]

[Illustration: INCORRECT SCORCHING.]

But there are correct and incorrect racing positions, and the two
illustrations on the subject will give you a suggestion of these. A
"scorching" position cannot be taken on a bicycle where the saddle and
handle-bars have been arranged for the upright road position. This can
be easily seen by referring to the illustrations again. In the correct
scorching position the handles are very low down, and the seat is raised
and tipped forward, so that the rider, while pulling up strongly on the
handles, is practically only leaning against the saddle, and putting all
his weight on the pedals. The back is curved rather than straight,
because a much greater purchase can be obtained in this way; and indeed
the curved back makes a much more vigorous and symmetrical attitude.

The important point to remember is, however, that you cannot assume the
scorching position and the upright road position on the same bicycle
without putting on different handle-bars. Hence, when you see a man
trying this portion with high handles you know he is wrong. On the other
hand, to start out for a plea