“Among the many thousands of riders in this country, says the _Irish Cyclist_, very few have any desire to improve their style or realize for a moment the vast importance of correct ankle-motion. You meet a rider plodding along, working his legs like pistons, with a heavy, lifeless motion. Remonstrate with him, and see what he will say: ‘Oh, he can go well enough; he does not believe ankle-action makes such a difference, and he does not want to “scorch” in any case.’ Now, we want our readers to grasp these facts. Any rider can acquire a tolerable ankle-action by careful practice, and the acquisition of such will increase his power by nearly one-fourth, and will enable him to ride hills never before attempted, and to keep up a better pace at the expense of the same amount of energy. This being so, the acquisition of such art should be a _sine quâ non_ to every rider. That it is so can very easily be proved. In following the pedal the foot describes a complete circle. Suppose the circle to be divided into eight segments, taken in order from the highest point.[5] With a rider who does not use his ankles, force is applicable only through segments 1, 2, 3, 4, and in segments 1 and 4, the force not being applied at right angles to the end of the crank, a large proportion is wasted, and consequently it is only thoroughly effective through segments 2 and 3, or during one-fourth of the revolution. The rider who has mastered the mysteries of ankle-action will drop his heel as the pedal approaches the highest point, and he can apply a certain amount of force through segment 8. After passing the so-called dead point, his heel being still dropped, the force is applied at right angles to the crank, or nearly so, and consequently he can utilize his full power through segment 1. By rapidly straightening the ankle when entering segment 2 an additional impetus is imparted, and, as before, full power can be applied through segments 2 and 3. Entering segment 4, the heel should be raised and the pedal clawed backward, and this clawing action will enable the rider to work past the dead point and well through segment 5. Consequently, the man who rides with his ankles stiff can only work through segments 1, 2, 3, 4, or half the whole circumference, and his work is thoroughly effective only through segments 2 and 3, or one-fourth the circumference, whereas the man who utilizes his ankles can work through segments 8, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, or two-thirds the whole circumference, and his work is thoroughly effective through segments 1, 2, 3, and 4, or one-half the whole circumference. The advantage gained in the latter case is self-evident. The acquisition of the art is often tedious and troublesome, but if cyclists only knew the enormous increase of power which results they would not be content until they had mastered it. From the