Product Description
Bicycle races present some of the most dramatic action scenes in sports. Add to that the snowy Swiss Alps, the sunflowers of the South of France, the twisted mountain roads above the blue Mediterranean, and one has a book for both landscape lovers and bicycle enthusiasts. Organized by season, the book takes readers around the globe, from the Australian championships to the Tour de France, highlighting the majesty and grit of the sport against a backdrop of exquisite, compelling scenery. The book includes some of Watson's most famous landscape shots as well as many never-before published photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Landscapes of Cycling
Fantastic collection of competetive cycling images from around the World by Graham Watson.

Even for non-cyclists the scenery is spectacular and a great book for the coffee table. ... Read more

Product Description
The Mountaineers Books Cycling The Great Divide By The Mountaineers Books ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Continental Divide Guidebook
This book is very informative and well researched.The author provides a very thorough guide to riding the Continental Divide Trail.Only downside, the maps, which are sketchy at best.Author suggests buying detailed maps from his sponsoring organization.

Has been back ordered a month
I will write a new review when I actually get this book... it does NOT ship in 7-14 days...mine has been backordered a month already.

Great Divide Cyclist
I rode this trail in the summer of 2006, from Banff to Mexico. I found this book very helpful in planning my daily rides. It briefly described potential camping spots, designated and undesignated, water sources, and trail conditions. To conserve weight while on the trail, I tore out the pages as I completed them.

It is definitely well worth the money to buy for planning and for using on the trail.

This book does not include any info on the Canada portion.

With some help from this book I only needed 40 days to plan everything.

Note: This was my first bicycle tour and I did it solo, self supported.
Cheers!

A Great Book on the Great Divide
Michael McCoy's Cycling the Great Divide: From Canada to Mexico on America's Premier Long Distance Mountain Bike Route is an essential item for those who are planning to bicycle or hike all of the Adventure Cycling route.

As McCoy notes in his well-written and informative introduction, this isn't an easy trek. Uneven terrain, adverse weather conditions, and a lack of water and essential services are often the norm.

As I found, having the book on hand better enabled me to plan ahead.For instance, my discovering that the climb over Indiana Pass would be long and difficult prompted me to begin my cycling day early, which in retrospect was fortuitious in that had I dilly-dallied, I would would have been caught in a late-afternoon snow-storm.

One the book's many strengths is that it includes a much-needed daily route synopsis. Though I am directionally challenged, I did not miss a single turn, not even in New Mexico, where many of the roads and trail heads are unmarked.

Sightseeing, points-of-interest, and photos have been included. I was often glad of this -- as I remarked to some onlookers, if McCoy hadn't pointed these things out to me, my trip would have been more of a slog than it was. For instance, if he hadn't mentioned that the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad passes through southern New Mexico, I would have missed it.

The historical information is also a plus in that it will appeal to both tenters and armchair readers. There was many an evening when (because the sun set early) I was glad I had this book on hand.

The material in this book also complements the Adventure Cycling maps. In retrospect, my trip was without incident, in part because I had both on hand.

Good luck figuring out where to go without this book
If you are riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, you MUST have this book.This is an awesome route - Mike McCoy and the gang did a great job of researching it.One comment on the writing though -- when he uses the word 'steep', he means 'extremely steep', and when he says 'extremely steep', he means 'don't even try to ride your bike up this with a fully loaded bike'.A 'respectable climb' is really a lung-buster. Just expect everything to be a little harder than he makes it sound, and then you wont feel angry because it is not as easy as he makes it out to be.I think he must have either rode it without being fully loaded, or he is a very strong man! Anyhow, if you ride the Great Divide, you will have fun.. I guarantee it. ... Read more

Product Description
Not only is it the world's largest and most watched sporting event, but also the most fearsome physical challenge ever conceived by man, demanding every last ounce of will and strength, every last drop of blood, sweat, and tears. If ever there was an athletic exploit specifically not for the faint of heart and feeble of limb, this is it. So you might ask, what is Tim Moore doing cycling it?

An extremely good question. Ignoring the pleading dictates of reason and common sense, Moore determined to tackle the Tour de France, all 2,256 miles of it, in the weeks before the professionals entered the stage. This decision was one he would regret for nearly its entire length. But readers-those who now know Moore's name deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Bill Bryson and Calvin Trillin-will feel otherwise. They are in for a side-splitting treat.

French Revolutions gives us a hilariously unforgettable account of Moore's attempt to conquer the Tour de France. "Conquer" may not be quite the right word. He cheats when he can, pops the occasional hayfever pill for an ephedrine rush (a fine old Tour tradition), sips cheap wine from his water bottle, and occasionally weeps on the phone to his wife. But along the way he gives readers an account of the race's colorful history and greatest heroes: Eddy Merckx, Greg Lemond, Lance Armstrong, and even Firmin Lambot, aka the "Lucky Belgian," who won the race at the age of 36. Fans of the Tour de France will learn why the yellow jersey is yellow, and how cyclists learned to save precious seconds (a race that lasts for three weeks is all about split seconds) by relieving themselves en route. And if that isn't enough, his account of a rural France tarting itself up for its moment in the spotlight leaves popular quaint descriptions of small towns in Provence in the proverbial dust. If you either love or hate the French, or both, this is the book for you.

French Revolutions is Tim Moore's funniest book to date. It is also one of the funniest sports books ever written.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

velo fellow
The book's an enjoyable read, if a bit implausible at first, when the author claims such total ignorance of everything cycling, yet plans a 2000 mile trip. The style reminded me of Bill Bryson, though not reported with Bryson's ultra-sharp eye. I thought it was a fair mix of reportage and humor and once the narrative got past the 'I'm such an ill-prepared novice' confessional was an engaging read with some good historical research. By the way, Tim,the English champion was Percy Stallard, not Stannard.

A Funny Story of a Tough Ride
Tim Moore has decided to ride the route of the Tour de France.The only problem is he isn't ready to do it.Not even close -- by his own admission.

Hoping that he'll ride himself into shape, the story that follows is the funny (because it's true) tale of an average guy taking on one of sport's toughest challenges.In his travels, Moore is ridiculed by club riders, freezes in the rain on France's giant cols, and is walked in on, half naked, by the woman who runs an inn where he's staying, among many other misadventures.

This book is very funny, probably funnier than I think it is because it's written in the Queen's English -- which is sometimes harder to decipher than French -- instead of American English.

One of the funniest books I have ever read
Two vignettes of my experience reading French Revolutions may help you to understand just how funny this book is:

1. Reading it on the train to Sheffield, England I was sniggering so much that the person sitting opposite me in the carriage moved to a different seat, thinking that I might just be insane.

2. Reading it in bed, I woke up my girlfriend because I was laughing so hard that the bed shook.

Moore is so flagrantly unprepared and unfit for his adventure that it's amazing he wasn't run over by a truck or carted off the hill by an ambulance. Fortunately, his mordant wit keeps the book moving at a rapid clip. Great travel reading because it allows the couch potato in all of us to imagine that we're with him, drinking and complaining our way across France, rather than stuck on a plane or train going nowhere fast.

Funniest Tour De France book ever!
This book is a bit dated by now but it is surely a classic.
Tim Moore is one of the funniest writers I've read and this epic story of his exploits in France is a real winner.
Read it, you won't regret it.

Fair Warning
Okay, okay, how do I say this nicely? This book is all but unreadable. Period. But not for the reason(s) you might think. The author is British. I am a not, and frankly, half the time while toiling through this book, I didn't have a clue as to what this writer was talking about. You see, that's because the book is written a la "British humor". British humor combined with late 20th century British slang terms, references, in-country gossip, yada, yada,yada. It's a book written by a Y2K Brit for fellow Y2K Brits. While his stories of previous Tour races are interesting and well written, so much of the rest of the book, like I said before, had me more than once thinking, "What is this guy talking about??"

All you Anglophiles can turn up your noses if you wish, but I personally would not recommend this book. I am sorry I bought it; even used, it was not worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
For serious cyclists, cycling coaches, and triathletes, the quest for a technical edge never stops. Led by two-time U.S. Olympic cycling team staff member and renowned cycling author Ed Burke, a world-class collection of cycling scientists reveal the most important, recent advances in the sport.

From heart rate monitors and altitude tents to power hubs, suspension systems, frame construction, and pedaling efficiency, this book covers every aspect of technology and technique. Additional chapters provide in-depth information on cycling nutrition, altitude training, and the physiological demands of workouts and races. Through it all you'll gain new insights how optimizing the dynamics between human and machine results in becoming a champion in the sport.

Whether you’re a serious cyclist, cycling coach, or triathlete seeking to improve your cycling, tap into the expert knowledge in High-Tech Cycling and boost your performance on the track, off-road, and beyond. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Poser
While it might be ill to speak negatively about the deceased, Burke is the last person you would want to take advice from.I knew him while working at the Colorado Springs O.T.C. in the late 80's.A lifelong poser and hanger on, Ed was physically removed from the Olympic Training Center three times for harassing athletes and staff.His information is full of self serving BS.His training techniques have been shown to be based on Eastern European techniques and schedules for use with performance enhancers (a la Eddie B. and Juri). ANY of Carmichael's books are far superior to this.

High-Tech Cycling For All
This is a very scientific publication which can escape the interest and desire of those not serious about cycling. For those that want the edge for performance and racing knowledge, this book is for you. It is full of data that compares theories and applied sciences to biking. At times this information can be dry, but for those serious about biking, it is essential.

This book gives you the knowledge to make you ride your fastest, to have the Edge over your competitors, and to have the performance over your bicycling colleages. It covers cycling equipment, body positioning, cadence, cycling biomechanics, high altitude training, and nutrition. The information is current and thorough.

So much change
Riding a lot 10+ years ago, and starting again this year, I needed an upgrade.I picked this book up to help bring me into the current era and I wasn't disapointed.

My first dive into the book focused on the peddaling, heart rate and nutritional areas.After reading this, I really felt like I could sift thru a lot more of the (mis-)information that I was hearing.I don't ever expect to be this level of a cyclist, but it was great to learn about what really makes a difference - and what (at least as far as the current studies show) doesn't.

Nicely put together!

Over the Top
This was an interesting book but not particularly what I was looking for. I was looking for a book about riding technique to improve my efficiency. With the exception of a few paragraphs here and there, this book went deep into design physics of components, etc., etc. It would be great if you were into research and development of cycling compenents. However interesting it may have been, almost every chapter ended with a phrase that went something like this, "The research is inconclusive because of...."

Amazing Information
Thanks to Dr. Burke that he'd reviewed amazing world of cycling to me.

But some chapter have too hard to understand data that lots of equation (maybe i'm to stupid to understand)


Good source for serious cycling.
... Read more

Product Description
Cycle Touring in the French Alps presents a personal selection of the most picturesque cycling routes through the mountains of South-east France. Nine tours - seven circuits plus the 'Grand Travers' from Geneva to Nice. The 'classic' high passes of the French Alps (Galibier, Iseran, Izoard, etc) and many lesser known areas of the pre-Alps and Southern Jura. Second edition includes the classic Mont Ventoux climb.Although all of the tours are in mountain areas, the scenery - from the rolling hills of the Bugey to the dramatic limestone gorges of the Chartreuse or the snowy peaks of the Ecrins - is extremely varied. Without neglecting the 'must-see' places, the tours have been designed to take you through the secret corners and forgotten backwaters of the regions described; even amongst the most awe-inspiring mountains, it is often the more discreet facets of the countryside that reveal an area's true charm. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Cycling is the most comprehensive and up-to-date cycling-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round cycling-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other cycling book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will have cyclists of all skill levels achieving quicker times with less of a chance of injury and more energy for going up hills and riding on tougher tracks. By following the programs in this book, you will increase your lower body strength, endurance, and overall speed dramatically.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good details
I bought this book for my husband.It has a very concise and detailed presentation on what to do when.There are also pictures showing the workout and that helps, too.It's hard to not make progress if you follow the plan.My hubby has been following it and is seeing improvements just weight training 2x per week.

Ultimateweignt lifting for cyclist
To be in shape hammering strong on pedals is important to train with weight lifting. This book is the best guide to be in shape when bycling is not always possible and/or you want performe always at the best level...Try it! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're a novice rider or a championship racer, Bicycling Medicine shows you how to prevent and treat all kinds of bicycling-related aches and pains. Coach Arnie Baker, M.D., explains how to diagnose minor and major problems, offers do-it-yourself solutions, and alerts you to conditions that require a doctor's attention. A special section on bicycling physiology illuminates the demands cycling puts on your body, and thorough discussions of diet, exercise, and nutrition reveal the best ways to keep your performance at its peak. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A little out dated
It is a good book and helpful but you have to keep in mind it was writen about the time the first power meter came out so it has been a while. There are newer books with more up todate information. I'll keep it on my book shelf but won't use it much.

Excellent!
Great book!
May not be the best in the field, but it covers all the bases. Provides great insight from the author and is a good foundation for expanding in the sports medicine field!

enthusiast123
A nice book.Easy to read and well-laid out.Not much to say about impotency controversy but virtually every basic cyling issue is otherwise covered.It helped me figure out my knee pain which I appreciated!

Outdated Bicycling Medicine
The author makes statements that are no longer valid, current, or that are flatly inaccurate.One diagram stated that muscles attach to bones by a ligament. This is not true.Muscles originate and insert into bones via a tendon, with some tendons longer or shorter than others, and with muscle/tendon transitions having different anatomies.This is important in understanding injuries and how to treat them.Arnie also opens up the topic of nutrition with the USDA Food Pyramid, another problematic scheme, since we now know that a high percentage carbs diet of breads, cereals and pastas is a source of stripped-down carbs, not good quality carbs.The medical advice for treatment of painful conditions is outdated.NSAID medicines are now known to have deleterious effects on our bodies.Current research suggests that NSAIDS interfere with the healing of tendons.And, especially for neck and back pain, chiropractic should be the first choice, since it has been demonstrated in several studies over the years to be safe and effective.Lance Armstrong couldn't have performed well without his chiropractor...
The author seemed to have a boiler-plate approach to presenting information.Hopefully his next edition will be more current and clinically accurate.

A No-Nonsense Approach
Anyone who rides can benefit from the great information and tips found in this book.You'll also learn about common bicycling injuries. ... Read more

Product Description
Begin a smarter cycling lifestyle with this no-nonsense training philosophy. Edwards and Reed are the authorities on training with a heart rate monitor, and Heart Zones Cycling takes the proven advantages of heart zones training one step further. You can build a plan that works for your specific body type, your unique abilities and limitations. And equally important is life off the bike meaning your training plan must be realistic, adaptable, and challenging. Whether you are training for a big race or simply a fitter lifestyle, you ll find the program you need and plenty of inspiration along the way. Features over 50 outdoor training rides and the latest cycling technology. Paperback. with charts and tables throughout. 7 3/8" x 9 1/4", 288 pp. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Resource
This book is a great resource for all types of training!The information provided within will motivate you to use a heart rate monitor to track your heart zones.The result will help your performance or help you reach your goals!

The heart is in it
Written by the people who walk and run the talk this book has transformed my cycling plan from going hard, going hard again then feeling unwell to now becoming more educated, healthy and faster for longer. I will see how I go at the world indoor track championships for the next 3 years in Sydney to see the fruits of this wise book.

Not bad, just not that good.
This book was a fairly interesting read, although I don't think it adds much that hasn't been said elsewhere.I've read a couple books about cycling and heart rate zone based training.This is a fairly simple and decent overview.It just seems a little light compared to the rest.Still, it covers all the basics.I recommend finding it at the local library.You can get through it in a couple of days.

(Heart Zones)
this is a great book.I am getting ready for an olympic tri.Great for work outs

12 step plan for cycling
I was really disappointed with this.I was looking for a book that would explain the use of heart rate zones and help me use it to improve my cycling.This is a 12 step program to zen cycling!It is overly complex and involved way too much "process."Almost every paragraph introduces a new idiosynchratic piece of jargon - microcycles, mesocycles, and macrocycles - give me a break!This book outlines an entire plan without detailing the plan!You must make a goal and write it down.You must decide whether you want to use "threshold" heart rate or maximum heart rate.You must calculate your zones.You must then periodize your training and then personalize the periodization (or maybe you personalize first and then periodize).It is simply too evangelical to be of any use unless you buy into the zen program.For someone who has a specific goal, this book may help you achieve it.If you just want to be a better cyclist, this is a waste of time. ... Read more

Product Description

Bike the best of the West Coast.Cruise California's world-class vineyards and hip cities, discover Washington’s spectacular North Cascades and explore Oregon's wild Columbia River Gorge.Choose from 42 rides, ranging from leisurely day trips and weekend escapes to challenging long-distance adventures.

• 116 days of the region's best cycling
• Border to Border feature ride — cycle Canada to Mexico in 37 days
• where to stay — the best campgrounds, cozy B&Bs or comfortable hotels
• where to eat — donuts, diners or fine dining
• on-the-road maintenance tips and recommended bike shops
• what to see and do, in and out of the saddle

Customer Reviews (4)

an awesome companion for west coast biking!
i bought this book a few years ago in preparation for a seattle to san francisco bike trip i was planning. i did not make it all the way, only about 300 miles due to an old bicycling injury acting up (my trip ended in manzanita, oregon) but i was pretty shocked at how easy this book made all my travelling, especially if used with a bike computer. i'd never used a cycle computer with a book and was pretty skeptical about how accurate they would work together. happily i only got lost a couple times, which is amazing for a trip of this stature.

there are many accurate and helpful maps and endless notes on places to stay and eat and see whether you want to rough it or not. there are even some terrific sections on bike maintenance and healthy eating habits for avid bicyclists. i'm planning another trip this year to finish the journey i started last year and i'm definitely using this guide again simply because i know i can trust it for all my needs. don't even think about biking the west coast without it!

the only reason i gave it four stars is because they haven't updated it since it was first published in 2002 so i'm sure there are a few things out of date. lonely planet discontinued this series for some odd reason, which is a shame considering how helpful i've found them. good luck!

A broad survey
I was looking for something with more depth.This scratches a very broad surface of the more popular rides.One can get much of this info on the Internet, perhaps making this book obsolete.

Cycling USA west coast
Interesting guide book.The routes are well explained and detailed enough to not let you worry about getting lost.Well worth the money

A gem -- especially for Southern California
I don't know how well this book handles Oregon and Washington, but the Southern California section is outstanding -- meticulous attention to detail both in terms of road info and in terms of background on towns and accommodations. Also, there is tons of fascinating stuff here on local natural history, place-specific cultural lore, and interesting goings-on, all worth many times the price of the book. The writers seem to be in love with this part of the world, and their enjoyment of it is contagious. For anyone planning to ride along the part of the coast south of San Francisco (including Catalina Island), you will be missing out on a lot of useful information if you don't get hold of this gem. ENJOY!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent guide -- a cycling tool box "must" while in Japan
Bryan and other contributors did a great job in capturing the sights, energy and flavor of riding in Japan.I have had the book for several years, and for one living in Japan it has proved in-dispensable.More thanjust routes and places to stop, it covers such topics as taking your bikeon the train, lodging and food secrets, repair shops and cyclingorganizations.And lastly, you can learn a little Japanese cyclinglanguage!

Comprehensive guidebook on cycling anywhere in Japan.
Well written and entertaining narratives covering dozens of bike trips throughout Japan; several hours to several days.Well organized by region with detailed maps of routes with 2-3 pages of information regarding terrain, points of interest, accomodations.Invaluable and extensive introduction covering language, map usage, gear to take, food/meal suggestions, lodging and camping, and cycling psychology. I personally used this unique, one of a kind book to prepare for a 3 week/1,000 mile solo trip of both Shikoku and Kyushu Islands (Japan's 3rd and 4 largest) and thouroughly enjoyed myself and found rural Japan to be a fascinating and enchanting place to travel.The dozens of Japanese people I encountered were extremely helpful and courteous and Japan lived up to its reputation of being one of the safest countries in which to travel.And, surprisingly, rural Japan was no more costly that touring in the U.S.; I enjoyed a budget trip.I highly recommend both the book and cycling in Japan. --Tom Crossland (June 1997) ... Read more

Product Description
Four years ago, discouraged and depleted from his illness, Lance Armstrong traveled to Boone, North Carolina, in a last-ditch effort to get his cycling career back on track. Through fog and chilly rains, Armstrong attacked the rugged hills of the High Country. After a grueling climb to the top of Beech Mountain, Armstrong knew he was back.

In his autobiography, It's Not About the Bike, Armstrong said, "Boone began to feel like the Holy Land to me, a place I had come to on a pilgrimage. If I ever have any serious problems again, I know that I will go back to Boone and find an answer."

If you've biked in the Blue Ridge High Country, it's no surprise that the mountains helped turn Armstrong around. Here, road cyclists can find natural beauty, challenging climbs, and exhilarating descents, if they know where to go. Road Cycling the Blue Ridge High Country now makes this information available for everyone.

In this guide, Murphy gives detailed descriptions of more than 25 routes that cover six mountain and foothill counties in the northwestern corner of North Carolina as well as counties in southwestern Virginia and northeast Tennessee. The terrain on these rides varies from nearly flat to almost wall-like. Elevations on the rides range from 5,500 feet above sea level down to 1,000 feet.

With each tour, you'll find a short synopsis of the ride, an in-depth description of what you'll encounter, detailed directions, information about road characteristics and cautions, elevation details accompanied by an elevation chart, a map of the route, a list of food and services along the route, and other options for outdoor activities nearby.

Whether you're a visiting cyclist looking for routes suitable for your abilities or a resident cyclist in search of some new favorites, Road Cycling the Blue Ridge High Country is the perfect guide to an area that Bicycling magazine says offers "some of the best road riding in the world."

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Routes to the Best Road Cycling in the U.S.
This is THE guide for some of the most beautiful road cycling in the United States. My husband and I have spent hundreds of hours enjoying the North Carolina high country thanks to this book. Additionally, the author's website gives timely updates on road conditions and closures for the rides in the book (bridge replacements, etc.). You don't need to go to Europe to enjoy world-class cycling when you can ride along the top of the Blue Ridge! I should also mention that the national collegiate champions are from the area and we see many pro teams train here, so you won't be alone on the roads and most locals are very respectful of cyclists. A favorite local restaurant in Blowing Rock keeps a bike pump by the door. If you're a real roadie and climbing doesn't scare you, you won't regret spending time in the high country!

Excellent overview of the NC High Country
I live in the area this book covers, and was curious to see if the book was a good overview of this area's riding.I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to quickly discover some of the road ride gems in the NC High Country.A great, and more efficient, alternative to asking at bikes shops or lurking on local internet biking forums. ... Read more

Product Description

High-Performance Cycling is all about going faster and pushing the limits of your ability. If you want the latest training, equipment, and technique used by the best cyclists in the world, then this is the book for you.

High-Performance Cycling presents the latest applied research on cycling biomechanics, aerodynamics, testing, training, injuries, nutrition, equipment, and racing from top cycling experts from Europe, North America, and Australia. Everything in the book will have a direct effect on your performance. You'll learn how to

- test your potential,
- design a program to meet your racing goals,
- monitor your training progress and program effectiveness,
- improve the aerodynamics of your riding position,
- fuel your body properly for better racing performance, and
- stay-injury free and avoid the pitfalls of overtraining.

You'll also learn which aspects of cycling are most important—and which improvements will most directly affect your cycling performance. High-Performance Cycling gives you a better idea of what the pro teams do so that you can improve your own performance!

Customer Reviews (6)

a book that breaks biking into quantifiable terms
I found this to be a good book. It took different elements of bicycling and put them in quantifiable terms. for example there is a formula for relating speed, power, aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and other parameters.The book speaks of various elements of biking: training, equipment, nutrition for example.

Just a collection of reports
This book manages to say nothing definitive about training, racing, or cycling equipment.It is a nice collection of reports on recent research, but provides little practical information.

On another note, the cover looks really cool in my bookshelf!

Excellent book for the bicycle science-geek
This is a great book in the same line of cycling science and high-tech cycling.

It's an collection of many scientif studies of several matters, like aerodynamics, powermeters, weight influence, hydration and other bicycle related subjects. They are in very clear language.

If you like physics and math, have the curiosity and ask many WHYS when riding your bicycle, you are going to love this book! When I finished reading it I felt like I wanted more!

I think it will be too scientific for most people.
It is written/edited by someone with a PhD, in a reporting style which may annoy some people. It is well-referenced, though I think most people will not care less for seeking out the various journal articles. For example, it often starts a paragraph in this manner: "one study shows that..."

A quote: "Our baseline modeling condition has used a coefficient of rolling resistance (Crr) value of 0.0032, which is representative of an average racing clincher tire (Martin et al. 1998). Kyle (1986) has reported the Crr for high-performance road-racing tubular and clincher tires to be 16 percent lower (0.0027) when measured on an asphalt surface. Some road-racing tubular tires, however, exhibit Crr values as high as 0.0059 (Kyle 1986).

Now what is the point of that? The findings (on whether tubulars or clinchers offer lower rolling resistance) seem to be inconclusive. It doesn't tell us which brand + model tubulars had the higher rolling resistance, so you'd have to look up the article by Kyle if you really wanted to know which tubulars to avoid. At the very least it can be gleaned that the chapter concerning equipment isn't much help.

This book creates a very small niche for itself, perhaps too small. It seems to be aimed at coaches or deadly serious cyclists. I can't imagine there are too many of those in the world. But if that is the case, why bother defining the terms "prologue", "criterium" and "stage race"?

I'll be honest -I haven't read the entire book- but I still didn't find the three chapters on body and machine very useful, nor the chapters covering performance assessment. The nutrition & recovery sections were of assistance, as was the chapter on training in extreme conditions (for me at least).

However, I was disappointed that two very important "tips" were not mentioned regarding training in extremely hot climates, namely: avoid black or dark clothes, as they absorb a LOT of heat; and consume icey cold fluids as they are absorbed into the body faster than tepid fluids. Furthermore, although hypothermia was discussed, there was no mention of the dangerous condition that may arise if extremely frigid air is rapidly inhaled by athletes - the trachea (i.e. your windpipe or whatever) freezes. Absolutely no mention of these important facts, in a book that purports to discuss training in extreme climates!! (...)>I just can't imagine that a large proportion of the considerable number ofamazon customers (229,000) of this book own their own hypobaric chambers (or else would have the time and money to train and live at separate altitudes), so I can't fathom how the chapter on altitude training is going to be beneficial to the majority of readers.

On the up side, the book contains many helpful graphs and tables throughout, and the end of each chapter also contains brief summaries.

I didn't buy this book to be able to improve at competition, I bought it to become a better cyclist. My advice, for what its worth: if you're not a scientist with a PhD like I've almost got, and you don't intend on reading a thesis to get some pointers, don't buy this book! Don't get me wrong, it is a helpful book (in its own way) I just think it could be a little more palatable for the average reader.

Performance Cycling for Elite Male Road Racers
Summary Conclusion

In High-Performance Cycling, 28 authors combine to review the science of modern-day cycling. The book is full of important and useful information. Considering the many authors, there is only modest overlap of material.

Although most of the information available in the book has been previously published-either in trade or scientific press, the book nicely brings the lay reader up-to-date with one package. There is also much to be gleaned by the savvy cyclist with a scientific academic background.

Subject Matter

The book is divided into five parts:
* Training
* Performance Assessment
* Body and Machine
* Nutrition
* Conditioning and Recovery

The book title may be misleading to some. The puff below the book's title promises to "give you an edge in technique, training, equipment, racing."

Although the book does touch on improving the reader's own performance, especially the last chapter, the book is principally about elite male road cyclists. There are a few references to track riders. There is little specifically about women, masters, mountain biking, BMX, ultra, or other cyclists.

The elite male road cyclist paradigm may put off some readers.
* "Most cyclists can reach peaks of up to ...1200 watts in a single sprint." The author means most high-performance cyclists, and is not referring to the general cycling population.
* "Most cyclists have small computers that display their speed." While many do, most overstates the overall cycling community.
* "In cycling competition there are two types of races: road race and time trails." What about BMX; ultras; mountain biking (many disciplines including cross country, short track, downhill), track racing (sprints, kilos, pursuit, points racing, Keiren)?

Editor's Organization

The organization and general editorial work of Asker Jeukendrup is good. He has organized and tied together the writings of his co-authors well. The editor prefaces each of the five parts of the books with unifying remarks. Only chapters 7 and 8 have appreciable overlap. Chapter cross-references are good. The final chapter, written by the editor, summarizes the book's material well.

There are occasional lapses in consistent terminology that will prove confusing to some readers. For example, the power that an athlete can generate in a sprint is referred to as maximum power. In the case of a top track sprinter this might be 2300 watts. The power that an elite athlete can sustain in a progressive (graded or ramped) test, about 500 watts, is also referred to as maximal power. It would be helpful to the reader to consistently have these values referred to as peak anaerobic power and maximal ramped aerobic power respectively.

Reader Level

As is frequently the case, readers will appreciate the information provided on different levels. Only sophisticated readers will understand some of the points being made. This is therefore a book for most readers to return to and reread as their general cycling experience and knowledge increases.
In some cases, prior knowledge is required and the author needs to be more explanatory.

For example, in Chapter 11, page, 138, we are told that "saddle height [should be] 98% of leg length." That perhaps sounds okay, until the reader tries to follow this advice. Is leg length determined by the book-under-the-crotch-against-the-wall approach? In stocking feet or wearing cycling shoes? How does one account for different cleat/pedal axle distances? Or is leg length determined by the common medical method-measuring the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus? Or perhaps (in elite athletes) by a scanogram X-ray? Is saddle height measured from the pedal or from the center of the crank axle? If measured from the pedal, is it with the crank oriented in the direction of the down tube or with the crank in the 6 o'clock (vertically down) position? Is seat height measured to the nose of the saddle or to where the rider generally sits? In other words "saddle height [should be] 98% of leg length" isn't likely to be helpful advice.

Another example, page 61: "Another method is the so-called Dmax method. The intensity is marked that has the minimum distance (d) from the lactate curve to a line connecting the first and last point of the graph." Unfortunately, the text does not describe any particular graph, no graph accompanies the text, and most readers will have no idea what the author is talking about. ... Read more

Product Description
A gripping story of endurance and adventure, this is also a spiritual journey with poignant insight into life in some of the world's toughest corners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Perseverance on a Bicycle
PERSEVERANCE ON A BICYCLE
Reviewed by Nigel Skermer

"Cycling Home from Siberia" by Rob Lilwall, Hodder & Stoughton, London 2009,349 p.

"Go west young man" it used to be said.In a circuitousroute through Australasia, Rob Lilwall did just that starting in 2004 from Magadan, Siberia and 3½ years later, after a bike ride of 30,000 miles, arriving home in London, England.This is a remarkably well-written account of his spiritual, as well as geographical journey, much of it carried out alone.

Reading through the book one feels drawn to analogy.At first glance the skeptic might think our traveller is yet another gung-ho, born again Victorian.A review in the Guardian by Ken Rushby had compared Rob Lilwall to Candide, but my first thoughts turned to T.E. Lawrence and "the seven-pillared worthy house".But again the analogy fails.He wasn't trying to earn the freedom of any folk except perhaps the extremely vulnerable children around the world to whom he donates funds raised during his trip via the charity Viva - www.viva.org.uk).His route takes him to the slums of Manila where he visits the children's projects linked to Viva.

The journey starts with a ride, epic in itself, of over 3000 miles through Siberia in winter.It takes him over the "Road of Bones" built by the inmates of the Gulags, the work camps instituted under Stalinism.The silence of the Siberian wilderness, just as in the Canadian and the Alaskan North, drew forth the thoughts which he quotes from Psalm 46 ... "Be still and know that I am God."

Such experiences of course contrast sharply with the glitter of the new Asian cities he peddles through later on.Throughout the book he writes frankly on his thoughts, beliefs and emotions.The book is very humorous in parts.He gets through the Russian exit border post with the wrong passport after agonizing over it for weeks.Mr. Bean on a bicycle he sees himself at one point in China, and on another occasion in Japan he spends a comfortable night in a commodious public washroom.A fascinating account of Lhasa is given with the Potala palace on the hill surrounded by a bang-up-to-date tourist fringe.It reminded me of the castle in Salzburg, Austria with Mozart's birthplace on the street below next door to the McDonalds.

At times he takes breaks and enjoys himself in the luxury of places such as Hong Kong and Queensland.But then he crosses the Nullarbor Plain before landing in Perth.Some of the places he travels through were, and still are, quite dangerous... Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Afghanistan (which he decides upon after much debate both external and within himself).His prior connections, may even have saved his life in the latter country.

The question that keeps coming up while reading the book is "Why did he do it?".At one point a possible explanation was offered by an Australian policeman.... "if you wanna know what I think, I'd say you were a crazy bastard."But such a question is unanswerable, and serves no useful purpose, although as Dr. Faust said ... "Human beings, though their purpose is obscure, of the right way will always be sure.(Der Mensch in seinem dunklen Drange ist sich des rechten Weges wohl bewusst)."And one senses that for the most part Rob Lilwall was indeed quite sure of the way ahead.

This reviewer strongly recommends the book.It comes for less than the price of dinner for one.It might be one of the best Cdn $21.95 worth you'll read in a while.A DVD is also available from his website - [...].

... Read more

Product Description
Covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, this travel guide includes information on: history, culture, politics, architecture and the arts. It also features an Irish-English language section and an activities chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Useful, even if you don't stay on route
Last summer my brother and I went to Ireland.Using this as our only guide we were able to easily get around.The maps were good, the adivce was great, and I'm planning on going back next summer with the same book(unless they release a new edition).

Lonely Planet Cycling Ireland
I bought this for my sister who reports to me this guide is excellent.
Very informative, well laid out and a great guide.

very helpful
This book gave a great overview and some routes through Ireland via bicycle.As I still have not totally planned my trip, I cannot tell how the recommendations are, but Lonely Planet guides are usually been excellent, in my experience.I wish it had more information on choosing between a guided and a DIY tour, as I am now trying to decide whether to do all the work in carrying luggage, making reservations and finding bikes B&Bs myself, or spending a little extra.It has good information about bicycles and the gear to bring along as well. ... Read more

Product Description
The use of bicycles by police, EMS, and security personnel continues to grow along with increased awareness of the benefits of an extremely mobile team of first responders. While the reasons for implementing a bicycle unit may vary, the goal of each agency is the same: to provide assistance to those who need it as quickly, safely, and effectively as possible.In the past, officers and agencies seeking to get a public safety bike unit rolling had to look far and wide to assemble the necessary information.The Complete Guide to Public Safety Cycling is the single comprehensive source of in-depth information on starting a bike unit or enhancing an established bike unit with tactical and technical tips on everything from basic equipment needs to detailed insights on policy, maintenance, training, legal issues, and much more. ... Read more

Product Description
Since its invention in the 1860s, the bicycle has had a fascinating history. Author James Witherell has spent years collecting the essential, the trivial and sometimes just downright odd facts that make up the story of the bicycle. Instead of composing a narrative history, he's arranged them in chronological order, painting an informative, fun and irresistible picture of what might be mankind's greatest invention. Witherell has given special emphasis to the Tour de France. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

What else is there to know?
One of the happy things about this world is that people devote their lives to the improbable: and make it better than you suspected.

James Witherell could have written a murder mystery or taken up barbershop singing or become a breeder of prize cats. Instead, he has written a chronological history, a list, of just about everything that has happened in cycling from 1860 ("Ignaz Schwinn born in Hardheim, Germany") - and there I was not even knowing there had been a Ignaz Schwinn - to news that riders climbing Mont Ventoux in the 2009 Tour de France had to weave through fire engines coming down the other way.

His mother would have said: "James, is there nothing more useful you could do in life?" Which only shows that mothers don't know everything. Because Witherell's book, his list, becomes fascinating merely by existing.I had no idea that the French cycling federation once made a bicycle for President Eisenhower. Nor that in 1953 the Bicycle Institute of America (of whom, equally, I confess I had never heard) published a book of "bicycle play" with "hundreds of ideas for lively two-wheeler games, hikes, races, stunts and similar activities."

It's all there, along with the birth date of champions, the names of the greatest winners, the events of the Tour de France. The very serendipity takes on a humour of its own, a wish to see what other bizarre factoid could lie further down the page. James Witcherell's mother was wrong: her son has made a major contribution to cycling history. An improbable one, it's true, but delightful and worth a place on your book shelf.

Tons of Interesting Facts
Instead of a typical narrative of the history of the bicycle, the author instead provides lots of brief, interesting tidbits -- in kind of in a trivia type of format -- to take the book's readers on an informative ride through the history of this great invention.
But Bicycle History is about more than just the machine itself; the book also looks at the interesting characters involved with the bicycle and tells about its uses in sport as well as during times of war and as a tool of the Great Depression.The author also keeps the reader udated with the advances in technology involved in the evolution of the machine, and its use in races ranging from the grand tours of Europe to many lesser-known events.He also does a very good job of keeping track of almost evey English-speaking rider ever to race professionally, paying paticular attention to the Tour de France.I found it to be a very well-rounded look at the bike and its people.Hard to put down. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A jolly read
Well worth buying.Try to read 'Wind in my Wheels' first though as you get a better background to the author.Josie's books are fun, jolly and easy to read. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Mulholland knows his cycling history
This book on the history of cycling is a must read for cycling afficionados.Mr. Mulholland's passion for the sport and his knowledge are well diplayed by his writing.a very enjoyable read!

Must have for all cycling-lovers
This is exclusive book which all cycling-lovers must have. The best thing in it are fantastic pictures of past-time memorabilia, but author also in very fluid way tells interesting stories about past-time champions.

beautiful pictures
great book, especially for fans of the tour de france.i bought it for my husband for christmas and he has commented about how cool the book is.

Exceptional Historical Cycling Book
I bought this book for my husband who is an avid cyclist. He absolutely loved it! It has a great collection of memorabilia and stories about the great cyclists of the WWII era. The pictures are amazing!

Cycling's Holly Monsters
I found this book a trip back to vintage and historical era of heroism in cycling! You get to realize how much difficult was racing those days without today's technology of bike gear and support. The pictures are really good and I found myself ''lost'' back in those days. A valuable book for the cycling enthusiast. A return to our roots... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cycling
I was very happy with the results. I received the book in record time and it looked brand new.

good start for the very beginner
I'm a 30-something adult getting into cycling for the first time, and I found this book to be a very good starting point.

It's written in a very accessible, friendly tone that makes it easy to pick up and start reading anywhere in the middle.I found myself going back to this book first whenever I pondered a new cycling topic.The breadth of coverage in this book is quite good: I found answers to most of my questions here.

Informative sections:
. discussions of the different types of bikes
. in-depth description of the different parts of a bike + maintenance procedures
. introductory information on a broad range of topics, including some tips on riding, rules of the road, nutrition and hydration, and finding the right size for a bike

Very useful sections (for the beginner):
. discussion of gears
. lists of must-have equipment

Cons:
. some missing topics (nitpicking example: nothing much on racks for your bike).I also found myself looking for more on city street riding tips.
. goes on a bit about cycling history at the beginning. (This may be a "pro" to you.)

If you're a complete newbie, you'll find about 85-90% of your immediate questions answered here, and I would heartily recommend this book.If you're going to take up cycling, you should at least know what's covered in this book.

If you're a seasoned cyclist, then you don't need this book.

Keep it simple, stupid
The complete idiot's guide to cycling is really appropriate for, well, a bicycle idiot.That's me.I buy my bikes at WalMart andTarget.I like the cool basket on the front with the flower.I don't change gears, gears are for people who can put chains back on.That is all behind me now!I know what the different sized Chain Rings (lingo alert!) do, and which ones I want the chain on while I'm gasping up some hill.I adjusted the seat!Now my knees don't slap me in the chin on the upswing.And I bought a helmet and started wearing it, IMMEDIATELY.Survival of the smartest don't you know.If you are like me, and you want to be like Lance, this is a good place to start, along with your local professional bike shop...and some bucks!

Disappointing and misleading
If you are completely, totally new to cycling, (duh Mark, that's who this book is aimed at...) this book is better than absolutely nothing....but I strongly recommend you put off buying this book and head to either --your local bicycle shop (LBS), --or local library before you spend money on this book.
At the LBS, look for bicycling books from Bicycling magazine, Greg LeMond, or Gene Sloan.Ask a salesperson what book they would recommend, (dont worry - most will not push you into buying a bike, but if they do, leave and go someplace else!).Borrow a few from the library, esp. Greg Lemond's books, and then determine what you need to learn more about.THEN, go hunting for a book addressing that topic.Better yet - GO RIDING with a local club, you will learn more on your first 25 mile ride than all the books in the world can tell you!
(You are not ready for Chris Carmichaels books, wait until you have done your first century or your bikes odometer shows 500-1000 miles.)

As an experienced cyclist, but one that *never* forgot what is was like to be a newbie, I read this book out of curiosity, hoping I could recommend it to the various people who ask me for advice on what bike to buy, whether to ride mountain vs road, what clothes and accessories are essential and what can wait, etc.I found several errors, including bad labels for parts in diagrams.I found the advice weak and general (a little too much common sense passed off as specific advice on starting out).I kept finding myself saying "...ok and what is the conclusion, what are they recommending?"and "...that's bad advice or out of date...".
This book is not in the same league as "The Idiots Guide to Running" which was written by an expert athlete who knew how to address the issues of newbie's.

Greatest "How-To" Bike Book
This wonderful book cover every aspect of bicycling---from which bike to buy to becoming an expert racer and everything in between. It leads the reader through getting a bike at a fair price, to how to ride it and enjoyonce they have it.

Just five months ago the only thing I knew aboutbicycling was that I envied the people I saw on the local trails and bikepaths; they were obviously having fun and I wanted to join in. This bookhelped me through the process of visiting the local bike shop to choose abike without feeling like, well, an idiot. It also made it very clear thatthe bike itself was only the beginning, that the array of accessoriesdisplayed around the bike shop really could make my bike experience saferand more fun.

Thanks to this book, the riders of the local Sundaymorning "bagel & coffee crew" have welcomed me to the fold.And my skills and knowledge have progressed to where I'm confident enoughto help out the newcomers.

All in all it helped me to advance from trulybeing an "idiot" about bikes, to being able to call myself a"cyclist." ... Read more

Product Description
The Urban Cycling Manual dismantles the urban bicycling experience and slides it under the microscope, piece by piece. The book's primary concern is safety, but this book goes well beyond the usual tips and how-to, diving in to the realms of history, psychology, sociology, and economics. It empowers readers with the Big Picture of urban cycling--and gives urban cyclists many useful insights to consider while pedaling the next commute or grocery run.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Answers all of your "where to ride" questions
Great book for the city rider!If you have ever wondered where on the road to safely ride, this book will tell you, and with diagrams!

The Production of Space and Subjectivity in Robert Hurst's The Art of Urban Cycling
Robert Hurst's text The Art of Urban Cycling is, by far, one of the best books out there when it comes to insights on how to move through the urban streetscape with greater ease.Written clearly and conversationally, it is a fast and easy read. I highly recommend it.

That said, Hurst's book is not without it's limitations. For a discussion of these limitations, and then some, check out:

[...]

Here you will find a sort of companion text, a "Coles Notes" or "Cliff's Notes" if you will, to Robert Hurst's The Art of Urban Cycling (now The Art of Cycling). In other words, you can get the gist of Hurst's basic ideas, techniques and strategies around riding in the city with greater ease without having to read his entire book. In addition to this basic summary, you will also find Hurst's text contextualized within larger academic, policy and popular debates surrounding urban cycling and some of its limitations discussed. If you're a little more nerdy, you might find the theory sections on space, postmodernism(s)and whiteness of interest. Check out the Table of Contents for a more in-depth view of each chapter.

Good if you want to ride like a bike messenger
OK, here's what you should know:

Hurst is writing for experienced cyclists.He makes that very clear.So if you're just starting out with urban bike commuting, this might not be the place to go.As Hurst himself says, John Forester's _Effective Cycling_ -- regardless of what you think of his opinions on bike lanes -- lays out the basic traffic principles for beginners very clearly.

If you are an experienced cyclist, then Hurst wants to teach you to ride like a bike messenger, which he is.That is, he wants you to ride like a professional.His style is graceful and flexible, but it demands constant vigilance and a high level of interest in the activity of riding itself.If you find biking fascinating from minute to minute and second to second, the Hurst philosophy is for you.

I think, though -- and this is my biggest problem with the book -- most people don't want to ride like bike messengers.Most people want to get from one place to another safely, but they don't necessarily want to put 100% intense concentration into it.Hurst doesn't have much time for commuters who aren't totally obsessed with biking.It's telling that a book called "The Art of Urban Cycling" says absolutely nothing about city bikes!That could just be the age of the book -- Dutch-style city bikes were much less available in the US in 2004 than they are now -- but I also think he's just not interested in the idea that you might want to ride upright, at a moderate pace, with your pants protected by a full chainguard.He's not interested in the idea that you might want to carry your children.He's not interested in the idea that you might want to carry your briefcase, a vase of flowers, or anything else that won't fit in a bag (his section on cargo talks about backpacks and panniers, but not baskets).Me, I'd rather trundle along safely and easily, thinking about music or food or whatever else I'm interested in, rather than treating every ride like an absorbing chess game.Sure, America's cities are "rockable," as he puts it, but are most people really ready to rock?We need a style of riding that's more like Mozart: fascinating if you want to put the attention into it, but light and easy to enjoy as the background to your life, if you don't.

Art of Urban Riding aka "Urban road Survival Guide"
I bought this book abt 4 years ago and have worn it out. I made the choice 4 years ago to dis the car for most of my normal running around but it had been over 30 years since I had done any real bike riding on regular busy roads. If you ride on the streets where you live or have a young family member considering road riding on a bike, this is a MUST READ. It is THE COMMON SENSE GUIDE to surviving on the road. The information I gained from this book has "saved my bacon" on many occasions. Friends I ride in parks and trails with are terrified to get on the streets here around DFW Airport alone but feel safe when I am watching their backs. They don't read, :) what can I say. BUY THE BOOK, READ THE BOOK, pass it on,save a life,maybe your own and have fun riding safe.

The good, the bad, and the ugly about bike commuting
I like this book because it tells it like it is. Unlike Urban Bike Riders Tips and Tricks, another book-which I also like for different reasons, this one tells you about the risks of commuting by bike-air pollution, accidents, bike jackings for example, he explore topics like wearing your helmet. Yes it's the law, but does it actually protect you?This is first bike commuting book that I've read that raises questions like this. It's no nonsense advice for those seriously contemplating bike commuting.

Don't get me wrong, the author comes across as a serious bike advocate, but this is the first book that I've seen that takes the issues above with a little more seriousness than others out there.Down Low Glow Lighting Kit - Two Tubes-Envy(green) ... Read more