Spalding's Official Bicycle Guide (1898)

Reviews the 1897 American racing season, highlighting middle-distance match racing led by Jimmy Michael, the national championships and circuit, and the leading amateur and professional riders.

F. J. Titus explains the methods of long-distance racing, stressing the importance of skilled multi-cycle pacing and detailing how a rider should train for a record attempt.

Sets out the principles of training for general health and racing, with detailed rules on rising, bathing, diet, exercise and the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol.

Describes the bevel-gear chainless bicycle, particularly the Spalding model, explaining its mechanism and arguing for its cleanliness, durability and ease of running over the chain-driven type.

Advises cyclists on touching up chipped or worn enamel on a machine, noting that original high-class enamel requires heat but several preparations answer for repairs.

Gives the beginner instruction in learning to ride, recommending first lessons on a tandem under a guide so the novice can master pedalling, then steering and braking, before riding alone.

Explains the difference between the novice's plunging stroke and the expert's continuous ankle motion, and how the proper saddle height and pedalling technique are acquired by practice.

Counsels the rider on how far it is wise to travel, advising the absolute novice to limit early rides to a few miles to avoid stiffness and soreness.

Offers practical advice on dealing with hills, both ascending and descending, which the beginner soon finds more challenging than level roads.

Discusses the stiffness and soreness common to beginners and at the start of the season, recommending a warm bath and a rubbing-down with an embrocation as remedies.

Advises that the cyclist not in strict training may eat much as he pleases but should not eat too heavily, and recommends avoiding indigestible pastry before riding.

Argues that the best cycling work is done on non-alcoholic drinks, warning that even mild alcoholic beverages leave the rider jaded, and that the less one drinks while riding the better.

Weighs the relative merits of hard and soft tires for speed and comfort and discusses how riders test and judge the proper degree of tire inflation.

Presents scientific experiments and reasoning to demonstrate that cycling is the easier of the two exercises, so that a trained rider can cover far greater distances than on foot.

Cautions against lending one's machine, advising that the loan of a bicycle is a serious matter not to be granted unless the borrower is known to be fully competent.

Addresses lady riders, noting that nearly all the manual's advice applies equally to them, and adds counsel on not riding too fast or far and choosing a suitable machine.

Dr. Sanger Brown sounds a warning about the health dangers of an unsuitable seat or saddle, explaining the physiology of sitting and the harm that may result to the rider.

Dr. G. Frank Lydston examines the pathological effects of cycling in relation to saddle form, addressing the genito-urinary disturbances that may arise from the practice.

Presents tables of bicycle records compiled by Chas. W. Mears, listing world's competition records by distance with riders, tracks, dates and times.