Product Description
Take your road cycling to the next level with the newest techniques, equipment, and skills from the leading magazine in the sport. Check out how to:

* Ensure your bike is in tip-top shape in 8 easy steps
* Boost your efficiency with smooth pedaling and proper form
* Brake without wasting speed or wiping out
* Ride safely in wet, cold, and hot weather
* Convert your mountain bike for the road
* Master the skills of riding in traffic
* Get long-distance secrets from the Race Across America record-holder
* Train indoors with these 5 workouts
* Prevent saddle sores, numbness, and knee pain
* Motivate yourself to train harder
* Discover the world of recumbents and tandems
* Sprint like a champion
* Attack hills for maximum fitness
Amazon.com Review
Maybe you're a novice who has yet to squeeze into that firstpair of sexy Lycra shorts. Or perhaps you're a seasoned racer who isseeking ways to become stronger and faster. Whatever the case, youwill be well served by Ed Pavelka's comprehensive guide, which takesthe reader on a highly readable ride through road cycling--from thebasics of handling and maintenance to the subtle intricacies ofracing. Instead of asking the reader to take his word on everysubject, Pavelka has gathered a cast of Olympians and renownedmechanics to tackle whichever topic reflects his or her strongestsuit. Besides the basics, chapters also include in-depth advice onsprinting, hill climbing, using heart monitors effectively, trainingindoors during the wintry months, and even surviving your commute inthe concrete jungle. If that's not enough, Pavelka has devoted anentire section to medical concerns, including overtraining, soreknees, and saddle sores. --Ben Tiffany ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

serious
If you are serious about riding then you need this book. Things you might not other wise think of, to make you a better rider in everyway. Handle the bike in turns, and in traffic. Top riders sharing their knowledge, seriously.

Easy reading collection of articles
As another reviewer pointed out, this is a colleciton of articles that don't make one continous book. I look at it as more of a manual. I didn't read it in order, but just went through the chapters that I thought were relevant and returned for the others later.

I am pretty new to cycling (beyond riding my bike as a kid). Although I was not impressed with the review of fast food burritos, I did find much of the information to be useful and encouraging.

It is a primer. You'll probably want to move on to other cycling books if you are interested in the topic, but this is a decent place to start.

Light Reading
If you want to know little about not a lot then pick this book up. Yes, there is some good advice, but by no means a cycling bible. Do we really need to go over the menu and nutritional value of fast food restaurants?

Dated, but still a fun read
I'm an experienced cyclist and I found this a fun read.It's a collection of articles that were published in Bicycling magazine back in the 90's on various aspects on road cycling.There are sections on skills, training and nutrition and I found useful information throughout the book.I feel that the articles were chosen to have a timeless slant as there aren't many examples on equipment, most of the articles are on technique.
Specifically I found the few articles on training that included examples to be helpful, like the suggested trainer routines, use of an heart rate monitor, and estimating calories burned.
This type of book is what I call a bathroom book, as the short articles are perfect reading when you want something to read for a few minutes.
The book is also a success in that it helps get you in the mood to go riding.There's not a lot new here, but it's fun to read someone elses opinion on something most of us already know how to do.

Untrustworthy.There must be better books for this subject.
Some information in this book I find implausible, and some I /know/ to be false, which further reduces any confidence I may have in the rest of the information.For a subject like cycling, you need someone who understands the underlying physics as well as helpful subjective seat-of-the-pants techniques.Ed Pavelka seems to only have the latter skill, which gives his advice no firm foundation.

A case in point is the brief article on steering.His final conclusion is sound - that countersteering (see Wikipedia for an explanation) is how you steer effectively, but he prefaces it by asserting erroneously that there are 3 ways to steer.To paraphrase, he says you can steer simply by pointing the handlebars where you want to go, without leaning the bike at up to 15mph (defying the laws of physics), or you can steer just by leaning the way you want to go, or you can countersteer.

There is only one way to steer: countersteering.Most of us never realize that is what we're doing.Most of us learned to do it unconsciously on the day we first learned to ride, and from then on we muddle through with a unconscious "micro-countersteer" that starts the bike falling sideways, which we catch by turning the corner.The key to good steering is to use deliberate, active and controlled countersteering - a skill which becomes obviously essential on a motorcycle, where the increased weight makes it impossible to muddle through a turn on unconscious control.

He comes to the right conclusion - so what's the big deal?Well, to me, the big deal is he's made me read and try to understand false information which is of no use whatsoever, and /his/ understanding of the subject is flawed.How am I supposed to trust anything else he says, if it's nothing more than his assertions based on his own gut feeling?

Frequently, theory alone is insufficient, very occasionally practice trumps theory, but best of all is practice based on theory._Sound_ theory. ... Read more

Product Description
This fully updated guide in the popular Bicycling theBackroads series presents information on 39 scenic bicycle loop toursin Whatcom, Skagit, Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Island, King, andSnohomish counties, plus several tours in British Columbia. Longtimecycling enthusiasts Erin and Bill Woods provide the cycle touring buffwith an expanded choice of day, weekend, and longer rides throughlow-traffic, rural, and semi-rural areas.Each tour description includes information on trip length, roadconditions, starting point (usually a public parking area such as apark or school), lunch stops on the route, points of interest, ridecomplexity, and private property. Detailed mileage logs, maps, andelevation profiles, plus Dale Martin's humorous cartoons makeBicycling the Backroads of Northwest Washington, 4th Ed. a must-havefor all Washington cyclists. ... Read more

Product Description
A guide to a region where spectacular scenery, gently rolling hills, and fascinating history combine for the perfect cycling experience.

When you think of Kentucky, Daniel Boone and horse farms usually come to mind. What most people don't know is that the area's easy accessibility from major cities, quiet backroads, gentle terrain, and stunning river views make it an ideal place to explore by bicycle. Whether you're going out for a day trip or two-day ride, cyclists of all abilities will find many opportunities to explore this beautiful state.

With detailed maps, mile-by-mile directions, and fascinating historical commentary about what you'll see along your ride, author George Garber will lead you along winding rivers and through covered bridges and pastoral farmlands, in addition to such places as:

• Frankfort, the state capital
• Lexington and horse country
• Kentucky Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
• Harrodsburg, the first Anglo-American settlement west of the Alleghenies
• Camp Nelson, a Civil War site
• Kentucky River Gorge
• Big Bone Lick State Park, home of fossilized woolly mammoths

Product Description
A brand-new addition to the Backroad Bicycling series, featuring rides on quieter, less-traveled roads and byways easily accessible from New York City.

Renowned for sprawling rural townships, quaint agricultural villages, and tucked-away mountain hamlets, the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions are idyllic destinations for cycling. From the dramatic Hudson Highlands, through the little towns along the river that Henry Hudson called a great "Arm of the Sea," this guide will introduce you to the both the Hudson's gentler, scenic river routes as well as the hilly back roads of the Catskill, Shawangunk, and Taconic mountain ranges.

Intriguing facts about the historical, cultural, and natural gems you'll find along each ride, detailed mile-by-mile directions, and clear maps guide you along you dozens of never-before described bike routes, many of which pass through recently-designated National Heritage Areas. 25 black & white photographs, 26 maps, appendix. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Some good routes - poor technology
I picked up this book to add to my routes in the Catskills.While it has some good routes, it misses others.The Catskills section comes up far short of the Litchfield Hills section of the Connecticut book. The statements about elevation & mapping technology are at least misleading even in 2000.Google maps, Google earth, topo DVDs, and bicycle mapping websites provide a wealth of information on routes, elevations and terrain.

Backroad Bicycling....Wonderful!!
It is clear to me that the authors have a real passion on top of knowledge of the "lay of the land" in the Hudson Valley.
I would strongly recommend this book as it is easy to read and hugely informative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Information
Lots of great information in this book, it's been very helpful and interesting at the same time. We are in training to bike ride the Trace in Oct 2011.

Great resource for drivers or bikers
Warner's guide is the premiere resource for bikers who are contemplating the Natchez Trace Parkway. We just finished an abbreviated tour (you can't plan the weather) and found the guide to be a reliable resource for historical sites, terrain, lodging, and the miscellaneous details important to the long-distance biker. There have been some changes in the cities in regards to lodging and dining options but overall there are more options, not less. This guide is highly recommended and we look forward to using it again for our next adventure.

A good book
The book is well written with a lot of important details about the trail.

The Natchez Trace is a great trip for neophyte bicycle tourists
The terrain and weather are benign, and the logistical issues are straightforward.

Others have commented that the author assumes readers will know how to pack a bike and how to undertake simple repairs. I think Wanner's omission is a positive feature--there are other books that do these jobs thoroughly.

Bicycling the Natchez Trace excels with the great number of side trips described, which will be most useful for locals who are able to periodically re-visit the Trace.

For all of that, Wanner's book doesn't "speak" to me as a cycle tourist; his rhythms and pace do not closely approximate my own. Experienced tourists will understand my comment, and I would encourage beginning bikers to read other books by other authors to discover which ones work best them. For me, Nadine Slavinski works well.

top of the line
Well written, accurate usable advice for bikers.The historic facts as well as geography ( mileage to stores, attractions, facilities) were right on the money.I used the book to do the northern 125 miles of the trace.I am preparing for a southbound ride next and will use this book.
john ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

MEH.
I quickly learned to take with a grain of salt the few acme sentences preceding any time our beloved author refers to himself as "Uncle Chippie". There are a few interesting tidbits in this book, but someone new to cycling who reads this book and follows it verbatim will likely end up looking like a post-apocalyptic Eric Staller.

Very good for casual riders
If all you want to do is ride around town and you aren't trying to ride 200 miles per day, this is the book for you!All the other books I've read try to make a road cyclist out of me, when all I want is to ride around town safely and efficiently, and to be able to repair my bike.For anyone else like me, this is a great book.Tons of info, but I have to agree with the other reviewers that the author tries much too hard to be funny.The Art of Urban Cycling does irreverent a bit better, and is also a great resource for casual riders.

For those who are a little afraid of bicycles
The author tries WAY too hard to be disarming and benevolent to first-time bicyclists through constant humor blurbs.There is probably a market for such a book, however, the title ought to be something more like "My first bicycle - A primer for adults"...

Also, I wanted to see more "Practical" suggestions for riders in colder climates - the author lives in Florida and rides in cutoff jeans...

Not Very Practical
The author spends too much time trying to be cute, providing very little practical information for the new cyclist. Better is the Hurst book "The Art of Cycling."

Great Inspiration for Beginners
I bought this book because I am trying to develop a practical cycling culture in my hometown, and was seeking inspiration for those who are too overwhelmed to start cycling.I am a veteran commuter who has done a decently long tour, so after looking over the table of contents and reviews I was not expecting to buy the book for my own use, but to help others.This book does exactly what it's supposed to.While it didn't really teach me much that I didn't already know (and believe me, that's not because I know everything about cycling; it's because the book contains basic level information), it is a wonderful inspiration for beginners and will truly make you believe that nearly anyone can use a bike for practical transportation if they put their mind to it.It is easy to read (and enjoy), and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who falls into the demographic for which it is intended.Even if you are already a practical cyclist, it's a fun read for some downtime. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

A Wealth of Knowledge
I heard about this book from a fellow cyclist when seeking clarification of rights and responsibilities of cyclists. Mionske has written what I consider to be a wealth of knowledge for a cyclist concerned with legal issues. He explains difficult subjects in language that is both easily understood and interesting. This book is an important tool for arming even everyday cyclists with knowledge for discussing topics with those who have misconceptions about cyclists and their rights to the road.

Essential reading for regular cyclists
This book should be on the bookshelf of every commuter and recreational cyclist. It's a treasure trove of information on every conceivable legal topic, coupled with insightful and interesting looks at the history and evolution of cycling law.

Stop guessing! Learn the facts and ride more effectively.

Essental information and a good read too.
This is a book with vital information for any serious cyclist. As more cyclists take to the streets and conflicts with automobile drivers increase, "Bicycling and the Law" give you the tools you need to survive and fight back against discrimination against cyclists. Practical, with down to earth examples that make it an easy read.Mine keeps getting loaned out, so get your own.

Especially helpful book explaining your cycling rights.
I was hesitant at first but did eventually purchase this book. I wished I had this book a couple decades ago. Very informative about the abuse and bias towards cyclists, and also very helpful concerning the cyclists rights when on the receiving end of the abuse and bias. If you commute by bike or just ride for pleasure, this book contains some helpful insights should things go wrong, or even how to explain the effect of the annoyances so many cyclists have learned to tolerate. This book explains you do not need to tolerate many things accepted as normal when out cycling. I found some information explained in the book that is especially helpful when harrased by a potential road rage motorist that yells "get off the road", or simply being cut off by someone passing you too closely. Readers may find some of the history of the laws a bit much, but some of that dry history really helps explain the legal issues. A worthwhile read, especially since more and more people will hit the streets with pedal power as fuel prices increase. If I experience what I have in the past while cycling, this book will have paid for itself during the first minor incidence. I will be very glad I purchased this book the day it is necessary to put this information to use.

Great for all cyclists
This book is perfect for anyone who gets on a bicycle.Although you would think the subject matter would be boring at times, the author discusses everything in an interesting context.Must read for cyclists.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

best book in the history of Western Civilization
This is the most important book in history of Western Civilization. Just ask Detlef Schrempf.

This cycling guide covers it all!
Bill Walton's book is the "bible" of bicycling books. Haseverything about bicycles used for fun, fitness sport or transportation thayou would ever need to know. Covers some history of bikes; has good blackand white photos; and many useful tips. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive bicycling guide to Vermont—completely revised with hundreds of miles of new riding and more information about history, geography, and special places.

This long-awaited fourth edition of 25 Bicycle Tours in Vermont is packed with new tours and major revisions to old favorites. Bicycle touring pioneer John Freidin once again shares his favorite rides through historic villages, along sparkling lakes, and through lush countryside in his delightfully readable new guide to bicycling in the Green Mountain State.

Following the quietest, least-traveled back roads, these tours range from easy rides for beginners and families, to challenging routes for the most hardy cyclist. Every tour includes stunning views, charming villages, and special places to swim, eat, and visit. Whatever part of Vermont you choose, you will have clear, accurate directions, ensuring your finding your way with confidence on nearly traffic-free back roads.

Based on his 33 years bicycling in Vermont and his deep knowledge of its history and topography, Freidin's graceful writing takes even seasoned Vermonters to new places in a cycling paradise. 25 black & white photographs, 25 maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent cycling tour book for the perfect cycling location
My husband and I are avid road cyclists, and we found this book to be a perfect guide for our recent vacation in Vermont. Rides are in all geographic locations across the state. The author features great rides with extremely clear directions, as well as tourist-focused descriptions for each of the towns that he takes you through. The rides are incredibly scenic, and the information on places to tour and eat along the way were invaluable to us. The only very minor complaint I have is that the charm of a few of the listed attractions are sometimes a little too enthusiastically stated - although all information was factually accurate. Make sure that you're getting the latest (2006) edition! ... Read more

Product Description
This new guidebook features rides for both road and mountain bikes on paved roads, dirt lanes, and mountain trails.

The hills and valleys of western Massachusetts are a prime destination for cyclists of all persuasions who seek tranquil, rural areas and challenging, enjoyable rides on roads free of traffic and congestion. The 30 rides collected here follow scenic country roads with a variety of terrain that also feature geographic, historical, and cultural interest.

The rides range in length from short jaunts to challenging multi-day tours. Each tour description includes directions to the start as well as distance, terrain, road or trail surface, approximate riding time, and the recommended type of bike to use. Along with mile-by-mile directions, author Andi Fusco provides fascinating commentary on the history and culture of the region. Also included are listings for bike rentals, repair shops, and lodgings for overnight tours. 25 black and white photographs, 30 maps , index.
• Perfect for recreational cyclists and families looking for low-traffic rides on scenic roads, both dirt and paved.
• Suitable for both road bikes and mountain bikes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not so back backroads...
I have just received my copy of this book and wanted others to know that the roads described as 'backroads' are not necessarily so.Route 116, Damon Road in Northampton, Old Deerfield, Route 9 through Williamsburg...they are all fine roads, but some are actually quite heavily traveled.These are not the dirt roads shown on the cover!Though the rides may be fine for some (even most) they are not as quiet and safe for children as you might be expecting. ... Read more

Product Description
The first and only guide to bicycling the national parks and adjacent wild lands of Arizona and New Mexico. Bicycling is becoming an increasingly popular way to experience our national parks as many are restricting access to private vehicles. This complete adventure guide to the national parks of Arizona and New Mexico features more than 80 road and mountain bike rides through the parks' most spectacular natural areas. The outstanding variety of natural environments and terrain found in the Southwest, coupled with its rich cultural and historic heritage, make the national parks of Arizona and New Mexico a cyclist's paradise. With this book as your guide you can ride to a secluded overlook of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim; glide through the Sonoran Desert in the company of massive saguaro cactus; or pedal among the ancient ruins of the Anasazi at Chaco Canyon. The routes and trails in this book are suitable for both road and mountain bikers from novice to expert. They traverse the beautiful and enchanting landscapes of the desert Southwest, while taking you to some of the region's most fascinating historical and archeological treasures. Each ride description includes a detailed map, tour directions, information about the trail or road surface, the length and difficulty of the ride, and sights you'll see along the way. A trip-planning appendix for each park tells you where to stay or camp, do your laundry, eat, buy supplies, and repair or rent a bike. More than 80 rides in 28 national parks are described and mapped in detail. Heavily illustrated: Includes 25 professional color photographs of the parks, 75 black and white photographs and 60 maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

surprisingly good
I bought this book expecting it to be a useless gimmick--especially since I've hated Alley's other mtb guide books.Lo and behold, it's a gem with a specific and useful purpose: if you're going to visit the national parks in these states and want to ride in or around them, this book is essential.I ride and my partner doesn't, and she loves National Parks, where good riding can be hard to find, so this book saved our lives--she would visit the park and I would head out to find a nearby ride.The trail and road choices are good--the treatment of trails/roads around the south rim of the Grand Canyon is the best I've found.Alley casts her net widely around the parks--anything within 60 miles or so of the park counts.Thus the "trails in and near Tuzigoot Natl Monument" is really little more than a short list of trails in Sedona, 40 minutes away.Trail info is good, background info is fascinating, and the maps are the usual.Each park or monument begins with a handy one-paragraph summary of the riding opportunities, e.g. "Near this park you have a choice of two nice road rides, one beautiful dirt road, and three challenging single-tracks."One inexplicable gaff: the book omits Canyon de Chelly, so you're on your own, but you only have two paved roads to choose from there anyway. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you crave the pavement or off-road action turns you on, you'll find it all in this jam-packed guide to the best cycling in the state of Florida. Including information about cycling laws, safety issues, and even where to stop to see the best scenery, this book has everything you need.

Divided by region, each of the 58 rides include complete directions, maps, and important information particular to the ride, such as where to find facilities, whether there are fees, and the condition of the terrain. Names and addresses of area bike associations are featured after each ride, as well as a helpful glossary of cycling terms at the end of the book.

So pump up your tires, top off that water bottle, and grab a copy of this book. Whether you're a novice or a veteran road warrior, you're sure to find the right ride for you. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover all Cuba has to offer in this complete cycling guide.

Wally and Barbara Smith spent 6 months cycling 8,000 miles in Cuba to provide detailed directions for 50 days of cycling. The rides vary in length, many combining to create multi-day loops. Detailed directions describe rides leaving Havana to the west and east. Subsequent rides are clustered in the three best regions of Cuba for cycling: Pinar del Rio, Central Cuba, and the Oriente. A final section contains advice on connecting the regions for a long tour of the entire island. In addition, the authors provide information on getting to Cuba, equipment and accessories, food and water, safety considerations, overnight accommodations, and more.

Exploring this fascinating country on two wheels may just be the best way to fully appreciate its history, people, and culture. 50 black and white photographs, 12-page color insert, 15 maps, index.

• Most detailed routes of any Cuba guidebook
• Well written narrative gives travelers a feel for the island ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A good help for plan our trip to Cuba
As I said, this book is a good help for plan our trip to Cuba next August.
There are a lot of details, descrpctions, not only about the kilometeres between the villages, as the places we can eat something or the places we can buy something... Than you, and I have a nice live!!

Recuerdos a Enrique

Buy This Book
If you are visiting Cuba in the near future, BUY THIS BOOK. If you think you might tour Cuba,BUY THIS BOOK. If you don't plan to visit Cuba but enjoy reading travel narratives by those who have traveled to exotic places, BUY THIS BOOK.I have just returned from a two week bicycle trip with two friends and can report from experience that Bicycling Cuba is spot-on about everything.The Smiths have many years experience leading bike tours for a large bicycle touring company, so their guide book and route directions are presented as cyclists need and use them.Their routes cover the entire country, and the routes we follwed along the South Coast out of Santiago were accurate to a fault. Everything the Smiths wrote about the terrain, historical sites, social mores, laws,lodgings, and Cuban culture and society proved enormously helpful because everything is written clearly and, most importantly for cyclists, accurately. Anyone planning to tour Cuba by car, train, or bus will also find the book useful. I can't think of anything the Smiths left out, except maybe Fidel's personal telephone number!Europeans and other nationals should not pass up this book because it's in English.Even though written in English they will find the book invaluable.Now that I have been home for a couple of weeks I find myself picking the book up and reading about the places I have been and enjoying them all over again. Bicycling Cuba is about as close to Plato's Ideal Travel Guide as we are likely to see.Congratulations to the Smiths, and if you are thinking about a trip to Cuba, buy Bicycling Cuba.I'll bet you go.

Cycling in Cuba made Easy and Enjoyable
Having never done any cycle touring, speaking very little Spanish and being a middle aged women travelling alone, I thought a few tips and hints and route advice would make my trip a little easier. I found it all and more in "Bicycling Cuba" by Wally and Barbara Smith. Their advice on what to take, where to go, where to stay, and gems to see was unsurpassed.

I had spent three weeks in Cuba previously and had used two guide books. The Smiths' advice, while not replacing a guide book, was the best: succinct, accurate and introduced me to friendly and helpful people. Their three main cycle tours, west, central and eastern Cuba cover the most scenic areas as well as the historic gems of this wonderful country. The route descriptions were accurate, easy to follow and contained good advice about difficulty, water availability, traffic problems and special sites.

The Smiths obviously love Cuba and this comes out in their writing. They include inserts about various social issues, economics and politics -- each fascinating.

I thoroughly recommend "Bicycling Cuba" with no reservations. My only wish is that the Smiths would produce some more books for other countries.

Averyuseful guide
Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on the best maps available. The authors' way of describing the routes kilometer by kilometer was of great help because very often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems in choosing the right road. The book also contains a lot of other useful information, for example, on accomodation.
We warmly recommend Bicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba.

A very useful guide
Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on thebest maps available. The authors way of describing the routes kilometerby kilometer was of great help becausevery often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems inchoosing the right road.The book also contains a lot of useful information, for example,on accomodation.

We warmly recommendBicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba. ... Read more

Product Description
Here's how to get your machine in top shape for maximum time on the roads and trails. In this easy-to-use handbook, you'll find everything you need to make repairs, maintain your bike, and keep it running year after year.

Discover how to:
- Design a unique yet practical home repair shop.
- Silence mysterious bike noises.
- Maintain and repair caliper, cantilever, and parallel-pull brakes.
- Keep your mountain bike in great shape for all types of terrain.
- Expertly handle the newest suspension forks.
- Inspect and repair your bike after crashes.
- Quickly fix roadside breakdowns.
- Tune up front and rear derailleurs.
- Overhaul bottom brackets and hubs.
- Service cartridge cranksets.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Tad Bit Confusing, There!
If, when you were a toddler playing on the floor with some of your pals, and your mother sat at the coffee table talking to her friends, and she momentarily looked over, watched you, and then forlornly turned her head and said, "Well, he's a happy child even though he isn't the sharpest pencil in the drawer," this book isn't for you.

Over the years I had dreamed about retirement and fantasized about biking from San Francisco to Los Angeles.But as we all know, life can throw you some curveballs and last year, I had to go home to LA on some family business.As a result of this unexpected trip, I had to shrink my plans.So I decided to ride from Santa Monica to San Diego.As this was all unexpected, and I had left everything back in Alabama, including my bikes, I needed to buy a relatively good quality bike and the equipment that goes with it.With that done, I planned out the trip . . .

I spread out a map and I have to admit, I couldn't tell if I was looking at the roads in Southern California or the technical schematic of the cockpit of a 747.Undeterred, after all I was a graduate of the Los Angeles public schools who had proudly earned a D in geography, I decided to simply stay parallel to the ocean, figuring that eventually, after bicycling past Venice, I would eventually hit San Diego.Oh, I forgot to mention, don't try this at home, folks.

Now, I gotta admit, neither my wife nor I are the most mechanically inclined people in the world, although several years ago, rather than having a flat repaired at our local Trek store, we decided to do it ourselves.Our living room was covered with maintenance books, owner's manuals, and internet information.It looked like we were planning the D-Day invasion, but after several hours, success!We had changed a flat.Let me tell ya sports fans, I ain't making this up as I go along . . .

Anyway, remembering our little experience, and knowing that on this trip I could be on the road until at least midnight, I decided to get a little book that I could use in the unlikely event that something went wrong.Looking over the books at a store near the Third Street promenade, I found Bicycling Magazine's Basic Maintenance and Repair with a subtitle that said, "Simple Techniques to Make Your Bike Ride Better and Last Longer."That looked like just the ticket so with book in hand, at four in the morning, I set off on my Excellent Adventure . . .

Did seventy miles and thirty the next.That got me to Camp Pendleton.At the Marine base, the bike trail ends and if you turn right, the Marine's will let you go through the base where you will emerge on the other side right at the trail head.I had turned left.As it turned out, that was a pretty stupid thing to have done.The only place that goes is to the entrance of the 405.Having no choice, and reading that incredibly, bike's were allowed, in pitch darkness I rode along the side of the freeway with cars speeding next to me at eighty miles an hour.

Well, momma didn't raise no fool and it was pretty clear that if I continued, I could easily become a grease spot.So I got off the road and walked in the brush parallel to the perimeter fence of our nation's amphibious assault force.Now write this down:If you walk in the brush, little stickley things can flatten your bike's tires.And if that happens, you have a ten mile walk to the first exit in Oceanside.

So for the first time ever, I got two flats.But the walk was enjoyable.Really, truth be told, just the thing that I needed.And at the exit, a cab took me to the Hilton.There, after having removed the tires, over a glass of wine, I took out my handy Basic Maintenance and Repair book and turned to the index.

"Let's see," I said to myself, "T for tires' . . . and looking further down . . . `repairing, 25-28.'"
So far, so good.On page 25 there was a caption, "Remove the Wheel and Tube."Actually, I was getting pretty good at this . . .
"Before rolling to a stop, shift to the smallest cog," the book started out.
"A cog?" I asked myself, "What the heck is a cog?"
"Insert the flat, spoonlike end of one tire lever between the tire bead and the rim about 2 inches from the valve."
"A bead?"
"Insert the second lever under the same bead about 4 inches farther from the valve.Pull the lever down, prying off more of the bead . . . If the bead is too tight, hold the dislodged portion and move several inches farther along with the second lever.You don't need to unseat the other bead from the rim."
"You don't need to unseat the other bead?"Well, really, I had already figured that out.I wasn't stupid after all.And with that, I decided to skip to the end to see how this all turned out . . .
"The last section of bead will become tight and hard to get onto the rim.Deflate the tube completely to minimize its size, than use your thumbs or palms to force the bead into place (see photo)."
That was a black and white photo, showing, I think, a guy holding a tire.
"Inflate the tube to about half of the pressure listed on the tire sidewall.Hold the hub axle in your hands so you can spin the wheel and watch the bead line that's molded into each side of the tire . . . If it bulges up, let out the air and work that section with your hands to get the tube out from under the bead.If it dips below, continue inflating to maximum recommended pressure and you'll probably hear it pop into place."
"Probably?"

The book, which I'm sure is simple to follow if you're not dense, isn't for someone who is . . . well . . . challenged.At home, I have a simple to follow repair book that is fully illustrated with colorful photographs.For dummies, that's a much better book and that's what I'd recommend for people whose mothers' used to look at em' funny.So I put Basic Maintenance and Repair away.

By then, it was night, night time so it was off to bed.The next morning, a cab company wanted to charge me thirty to forty dollars to go to a bike store one mile away!Give me a break!Thirty to forty dollars!Fortunately, one of the Hilton's assistant managers saw me arguing with the dispatcher over the phone and came up to me.A flat?No problem.He was a cyclist.Within ten minutes, at the most, he had me changed and on my way.He had really helped me and I wanted to give him a tip.He refused, simply saying, "Just pay it forward, bro."I will certainly do that, dude . . . thanks! . . . and God bless.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Very Useful Information
I read the book and found lots of good information. It reads like a story book which I read every night at bed time and will make you wish there was a part 2. By showing her weekly riding log and her brothers weekly log. I was able to see by her brothers log that it really don't take much to ride a century. Her log shows how she over trained and what she did to get back on the bike. The book is full of tips and pointers and how to use your heart rate monitor. Good book.

Exactly what I was looking for, and needed
I used this book to train for my first century last fall.Both the book, and the century itself, were outstanding.The stories she tells turns this training plan into something much more, a real book.If you just want a dry spreadsheet full of numbers and graphs to help you train, look elsewhere.If you want that information, plus tons of helpful advice and stories from someone who has the same problems as you do (Marla's brother), then get this book.I'll be using the training plan again this summer, and will no doubt re-read the book just because I like the narrative.Enjoy it and good luck on your own century!

All you need to know about riding a century
You don't need a book to teach you how to ride a century. I rode a century from Paso Robles to Hearst Castle, to Morro Bay, and back to Paso Robles. Started in the cold of the morning, and rode up 6 degree inclines for 7 miles in 105 degree heat. You know what I did to train? I rode my bike to work approx. 12 miles each way between 3 and 4 days a week for 2-3 months. Not sure how long, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is you keep hydrated and you keep yourself fed.

Cycling jersey with 3 back pockets, and put powerbars with protein in your pockets. Have a water bottle or two on your bike. If you have one bottle, big deal. Fill it up at a convenience store with water or a mix of water/gatorade. I have one bottle cage on my bike.

Keep yourself from getting thirsty. Nibble before you get hungry. As long as you keep yourself fed and watered, you won't get cramps in your legs. 8 hours later, you're home and you've ridden 100 miles. You don't need to build up to it. You're on a bike, for God's sake. This isn't the equivalent of running a marathon.

waste of time and money
this book is just filled with personal stuff. its more like a diary. it has very little useful info. i cant believe bicycling magazine allowed this to get published. dont waste your time with this book and get something else with actual cycling info

A lot of fluff, little substance
Most of this book is taken up with little personal stories and anecdotes and narration that I simply found boring and useless.Only two pages were really useful: those that contained the suggested beginner training program.But that is easy enough to find online, so overall, I consider this purchase to be a waste of money.

If you want to learn more about Marla and her brother, this book is for you.If you want to learn more about training for a long bike ride, you will be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
For adventure-loving cyclists as well as anyone who has ever daydreamed of pedaling the open road or trail . . .

Imagine a bike trip through California wine country, a nature tour of Vermont in autumn, mountain biking the north rim of the Grand Canyon, climbing Mont Ventoux during the Tour de France! There's nothing quite like the exhilaration of a bike tour vacation if it is done right-not to mention the fitness benefits it provides. Backed by nearly two decades of experience from the most authoritative magazine on cycling, this book shows the way. Written in a quick, easy-to-absorb style, it tells you:o How to buy the right touring bike and gearo How to find a good touring companyo How to plan your own touro Training programs for any length of touro What clothing to choose for specific weather conditionso How much and what to eat and drinko Cycling Dream Trips-the 10 places you have to ride

Complete with maintenance tips and 12 emergency repairs you should know how to do, advice on riding in bad weather and in heavy traffic, and the ultimate packing checklist of what you need to take no matter where (or how long) you go, this handy, helpful guide is designed to make your bike tour an invigorating, rewarding experience you will never forget. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Returned this book immediately
If you are preparing for touring, you are surely familiar with the most elementary, basic elements of fitness and cycling that this book covers.The content is superficial at best and often appears hastily prepared.I bought this book in the morning at a local bookstore and returned it in the afternoon, it's simply that terrible.

Don't waste your time or money on this one...
"BICYCLING's Guide to Bike Touring" is an okay book if all you are looking for is generic information on riding a bike, or training to ride a bike.If you are looking for useful details on bike touring, how to select, set up, and use touring gear such as panniers, cargo racks, or even simple hints on bike camping, route selection and planning, or simply being out on the road traveling by bike, it's not here.As the other reviewer has noted, 99% of this book is pure fluff, not specific to touring or camping, and you won't find the information you need to start enjoying this activity in this book.For example, only three paragraphs are devoted to the issue of cargo racks and panniers, and there is little useful info in those three paragraphs. You'll be much better served with "The Essential Touring Cyclist" or the Sierra Club "Bike Touring" guide.

I bought this one based on promise, but was sorely disappointed to find that it's only a general re-hash of general recreational cycling info.I awarded one star solely because Amazon didn't have a choice for zero stars.

Good, but a little dated...
A good book that seems a bit dated without the recognition of web-based planning tools such as googlemaps and google earth.

Everything you need to know for you first bike tour
I am an intermediate level cyclist.I cycle for pleasure, but had not biked more than 40 miles at the time I purchased this book.I bought this to prepare for my first touring excursion (a measly three day trek through MA, NH, and Southern ME).This book has good insight into all the basics - what to pack, what to wear, what to eat, and, perhaps most importantly, how to train.I would recommend it for anyone thinking about touring.

pretty weak
This book comes up well short of containing, "Everything you need to know." It might be OK for someone new to biking in general. For instance, it reviews shifting, braking, and basic bike accessories, such as bike shorts and helmets. In fact, most of the book is a recycled hodge podge of general biking info padded with an unbelievable amount of filler. It contains inane questionaires and advice lists that are kind of amusing, but not really helpful. Is Easy Rider your favorite movie? Than they have the tour for you! Trying to hook up on a bike trip? Than don't ask, "Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" I kid you not. This book devotes several pages describing how to do a pushup, a pull-up, and a crunch. With all this fluff, there is very little room leftover for any touring specific information, and rarely gets beyond common sense advice (i.e., pack light). A whole chapter vaguely describes 10 dream bike trips (#10 being your own back yard). This chapter could have been so much better. In the end, it seems like very little effort was put into making this a quality book on bike touring. I was profoundly disappointed. Much better, in my opinion, is, "The Essential Touring Cyclist." If you are interested in self-supported touring, "Adventure Cycle-Touring," is probably the best I have seen, and covers camping, specific brands of touring bikes, etc., etc. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Old favorite, new cover
This book used to be titled "The Noiseless Tenor", but in this newer edition it has been retitled and given a few extra editorial words. This is a wide-ranging survey of references to the bicycle in mostly-20th-Century works; sometimes the reference is a stretch and Starrs points this fact out. Occasionally he has to piece together fragments of a scene to make the bicycling reference clear. Starrs' piecework is always in italic type -- and occasionally I wondered if he'd ever get to the author's words. But this collection is well-done, and Starrs obviously loves everything to do with the bicycle. His children show up occasionally (mostly in the form of recollections from a cross-country tour while they were growing up), and his own experience influenced the selection. Everything from Ernest Hemingway's flat observational prose to a truly fantastical five-rider cross-country race (against a locomotive) is fair game here, and this book suits its stated purpose of being a volume that can be stashed in the thinking cycle tourist's pannier. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

INSPIRING AND ENVY
THIS IS A WELL WRITTEN BOOK ABOUT A MAN TRYING TO RECONNECT W/HIS YOUTH. I AM CLOSE TO THE SAME AGE AS DARYL. I HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED SUCH A FEAT. I DO A LOT OF RIDING. MY GOAL IS TO DO A CROSS COUNTRY RIDE SOME DAY. THIS BOOK WILL GO ALONG WAY IN GIVING ME THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO ENBARK ON SUCH A JOURNEY. THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED IN THE END IS WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE AS A 40 YEAR OLD GOING BACK TO WORK. THANKS DARYL FOR YOUR INSPIRATION AND GIVING ME LONG DISTANCE BIKE ENVY.

One Great Book, Even if you don't ride
This book is enjoyable in so many ways.First it is a great bicycling read, if you ride, you will enjoy it. Second, it is a great travel book for those that have the constant "itch".It is also a superb adventure book.If you enjoyed "Into the Wild", this is another book that takes you along and you do not want it to end. For those of us that can not venture out and take the time needed, this book keeps our minds wide open.I read a review that it was "a great vacation" reading this book and I could not agree more.This book puts you along the ride and adventure with Mr. Farmer and it could have been twice the amount of pages and I would have not wanted to put it down.The West from a view few seldom will get to have the privilege.Thank you Daryl Farmer, may I someday be able to experience what you have shared with us.

enjoyable read for those interested in the modern American West
I have not been on a bicycle since I was thirteen, but no matter.This book was an enjoyable and enlightening tale of one man's second journey through the American West (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Utah) over the course of a summer in 2005.He made the same journey 20 years earlier.Great armchair traveling!

Bicycling Beyond the Divide by Daryl Farmer
Bicycling beyond the Divide: Two Journeys into the West (Outdoor Lives)

This is an adventure story that is as much about how people in all the small rural towns and parks have changed from 1985 to 2005 as it is about bicycling through the Western United Sates. This book is made up of many portraits of people met and images of the American landscape as described by a shy traveler who is a great listener and neutral absorber of everyplace he peddles through (as well as the places he doesn't make it via bicycle) as this country is no easy ride. Making this book a really interesting read. ... Read more