“If, as ‘Crawler’ says, it is a very great improvement to have the saddle well over the pedals, how comes it that the contrary is now so universally advised, and as much as four inches recommended between the line of saddle-peak and the line of crank-axle? There never was a greater mistake made than when the saddle was generally placed in advance of the crank-axle. Apart altogether from its effect on the steering or easy running of the machine, there are two very strong reasons why the saddle should be kept well back. In the first place, it is quite impossible to sit upon the tuberosities designed by nature to carry the weight of the body unless the legs are flexed at the hip-joints. The parts resting upon the saddle are, otherwise, soft and delicate structures, liable to injury from the violence of the saddle. Were it for no other reason, this is enough to determine the position well to the rear of the crank-axle. But another reason: it is not a fact that one has greater power with the saddle, as suggested by ‘Crawler.’ One may certainly throw his _weight_ alternately upon either pedal readier, because he is nearer a standing position; but, on the other hand, with the saddle well back and the handles well forward, the purchase so obtained gives far greater power from muscular contraction than the mere weight of the body gives, and, indeed, many more muscles are called into action when the saddle is kept back.—+Warrior.+” “With regard to gearing, I consider that the position of the rider has much to do with this also. A rider sitting well back can use his ankles much more effectively than one right over the pedals, and can consequently exert a driving force through a considerably greater part of the stroke, whereas the vertical rider depends chiefly upon the weight of his body during a comparatively short portion of the down stroke for propulsion, and upon the momentum of the machine to carry him over the dead centre. It will be found, therefore, that the rider using his ankles properly will be able to drive at least three inches higher with the same amount of force, and, at the same time, there is much more equable strain on the machine.—+Semi-Racer.+” The quotations show one great trouble in writing a book: such a long time elapses between writing and publishing, that new facts and opinions come up in the mean time which demand attention and suggest alteration, as, for instance, my former paragraph in regard to the swimming attitude should have been expanded. “Warrior” carries his theory to extremes. He is all right in cautiously avoiding an unduly-forward saddle, but when he places the front tip back of the vertical through the crank-axle, he goes too far and is utterly wrong.