The Fitting of the Cycle to its Rider

Abstract

I HAVE read Mr. Hutchins's communication (p. 368) with considerable interest. Mr. Hutchins is at the head of the Forest Department which has been recently established by the Cape Government, and the improved method of riding that he has adopted, in accordance with the views expressed in my recent paper, have evidently been of service to him in traversing the very rough country to enable him to carry out his duties. Mr. Hutchins's experiences so closely agree with my own that I can-say little in criticism of his letter. I think, however, that he will find that the gain from the lengthened crank advocated by me cannot be explained by the very simple formula that he gives. My son and I went very carefully into this matter at the time I prepared my paper, and I think if Mr. Hutchins refers to it he will find, if we consider the mechanical advantage apart from the gain in nerve waste, the mathematical analysis of ankling given by lengthened crank both give the only explanation which would be satisfactory to a mathematician. In our explanation the weight of the leg plays a very important part, and it follows therefore that a heavy legged man gets most from our system of riding.