Construction of bicycles is covered on pages 340 to 400, meaning high-wheelers to page 378. Don't expect too much, but the section on wheels does seem to say (in a convoluted fashion) that the "spokes below the axle" might go slack under the rider's weight (page 373).
The plodding style is suggested by the existence of a 57-page "Introductory" section, but there are some interesting details elsewhere about such things as the overhand versus underhand grip on the handlebar, with the "grasshopper" style mentioned (elbows sticking back like a grasshopper's legs while the rider leans forward).
I liked the cautions about the 'safety bicycles' and how difficult it is to learn to ride them.
I suppose if I were to attempt to learn to ride for the very first time on an Ordinary, then I'd make up my mind very fast - say, in about one third of a second - if I was going to stick this out or not. Otherwise, I'd be on my face on the ground next to my wheel.
