Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Good, but . . .
I have mixed feelings about this book -- there are sections which are extraordinarily helpful, and then he spoils it. The most useful sections, and ones which other touring books would be wise to emulate, are hisselections of helpful letters to various people (hotels, cycling shops,etc.) written in French for the linguistically challenged (like me).However, contrary to the remarks of the previous reviewer, my wife and Ifound that the selection of roads was not small country lanes -- even whenthey paralleled the route selected by Mr. Simpson.

We toured through theDordogne and Mr. Simpson's route both out of Bordeaux, and then later inthe trip the section from Cahors back towards Bordeaux were on major roadswhen wonderful alternatives were at hand. We found this inexplicable. Forthe first part of the book I rate it at 5 stars -- but as the routeselection is so marginal (at least where we tried to use it) I have todowngrade to 3. The best of both worlds was to use this book forpreparation, and then another for actual route planning. For that I highlyrecommend the Whitehill's book, 14 Tours Geared for Discovery.

Good, but . . .
I have mixed feelings about this book -- there are sections which are extraordinarily helpful, and then he spoils it. The most useful sections, and ones which other touring books would be wise to emulate, are hisselections of helpful letters to various people (hotels, cycling shops,etc.) written in French for the linguistically challenged (like me).However, contrary to the remarks of the previous reviewer, my wife and Ifound that the selection of roads was not small country lanes -- even whenthey paralleled the route selected by Mr. Simpson.

We toured through theDordogne and Mr. Simpson's route both out of Bordeaux, and then later inthe trip the section from Cahors back towards Bordeaux were on major roadswhen wonderful alternatives were at hand. We found this inexplicable. Forthe first part of the book I rate it at 5 stars -- but as the routeselection is so marginal (at least where we tried to use it) I have todowngrade to 3. The best of both worlds was to use this book forpreparation, and then another for actual route planning. For that I highlyrecommend the Whitehill's book, 14 Tours Geared for Discovery.

Best single book on biking in France I have seen
Jerry H. Simpson Jr. became interested in bicycling in France when he started touring France while part of the American Army stationed in France after WWII.While the book lacks glitz, the routes he has picked areextraodinarily good.Most of them utilize small, rural, lightly trafficedfarm road (tertiary roads) in excellent condition.While this waspublished in 1992, and Simpson does not plan a new edition, it, still, issimply the best ... Read more

Product Description
From a U.S. Olympic coach, physiologist, and veteran cyclist comes Performance Cycling--the ideal training manual for the several million coaches, cyclists, and endurance athletes of all ages and abilities who want to rev up their RPMs and go for personal gold. With techniques utilized by national champions and Olympians, this unique, cutting-edge guide covers the proven ways to make any body perform for maximum endurance and toughness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Modern training methods
This book changes your thinking about training.

If you learned all your training methods in the 70's and 80's and thought road bike racing required many hours of base miles then this book will show you how to get strong and powerful for racing with fewer miles.

Training for power makes obvious sense only after someone has told you. This book is very well written and the methods work.

Review of Dave Morris' - Performance Cycling : Training for Power, Endurance, and Speed
Dave Morris has written a great book for successful cyclist looking to put the final touches and take their fitness as far as it can go. I have found that his advice is SOLID for ELITE level riders. His experience will more than likely be very helpful to the upper category riders (3 and 2's) looking to upgrade and even coaches. I highly recommend it for these people but would probably tell riders that are considering racing, Cat 5's, Cat 4's and even some Cat 3's that Books from Joe Friel and Tom Chapple more appropriate to get them moving in the right direction.

Coach Peter Cummings
[...]

Not easy to read
I am married, with kids and fulltime job and compete in Masters road cycling - so time efficient training is what I want. I had discovered this book by searching google and following ashwin's blog - finally the book was reprinted and I got a copy - I am a little disappointed in it, I feel the theory of hi intensity training is covered better in both Arnie Bakers 'Hi-intensity cycling' and in Michael Ross's 'Maximum performance for cyclists' - the Ross book has copped some negative comments, and for me his recommended workouts were simply too hard, but it gives the groundwork for time efficient training - both those books I found more useful than Morris's.

Performance Cycling works
This book is easy to read, easy to follow, and best of all, easy to apply.Simple but effective workout plans will improve anyone's level of mental and physical performance on the bike.

All I can say is that the program worked for me...with some modification.
This book was a gift from my wife for Christmas 2003.I had signed up to go to the Tour de France in July with a Aussie tour group.I had heard from others from previous trips the daily rides of 70 to 120 miles always had an ultra-competitive group of Cat 1 and 2 riders.My goal was to time trial Alpe d'Huez and be able to hammer up some of the steeper climbs with the really good riders and ride 1100 miles in 10 days.When I received this book I had been doing triathlons for about four years...after cycling on and off since college.My old routine was go long on the weekends and during the work week to do a day of intervals with a day off followed by a 2 hour tempo ride followed by another day off.

This author advocates doing a big block of intensity followed by several days off which was different for me.

I did his program for the "stage race rider" and blocked high intensity days on Thu and Fri followed by a long 6 to 8 hour ride (much longer than he had in his program) on Saturday and then another 3 hours on Sunday at easy pace. Mon-Wed were off days or easy spinning.

At first this was very difficult!The very first weekend, I felt wiped out by Sunday (after 4 hard days in a row) but took three days off the bike and on the next thursday I felt really strong.I repeated the program the next week...same feeling by Sunday..kind of wiped out and wondering if I was going to burn out (which is a concern with this program)...three days of easy spinning followed.Well, on Thursday (two and half weeks into program) I was a animal on my interval ride.Holding 29 mph for about 4 minutes before poopin out. I didn't have a power meter running but it was on the flats with no wind. Some guys can do that for an hour - I'm not one of them.But before this program I couldn't come close to doing that.So I started to see results after a few weeks.

By the time the Tour de France came around I was as strong as I've ever been on a bike.Being a Cat 5 rider I was now doing training rides with Cat 3's and they were telling me "wow, you're really hammering today...way to keep up with us."I could never keep up with this group in years past.

Why the success?Two things.I think the back to back intensity that the author advocates is KEY and ONLY if you allow enough rest after.I would almost always bounce back from my three off days with increased power.The second thing is the modification to my weekend rides.I agree with some of the reviewers that the mileage can seem scant compared to previous training (I was doing about 800 miles per month before this book).What I did is shorten my weekday workouts per the author's program...but kept some really long LSD rides on the weekend.So I would be riding for only 1.5 hours on Thu and another 1.5 hours on Friday followed by a 120 mile hilly 8 hour ride on Sunday (thanks to my wife for the hall pass!) and another three hours on Sunday.That single Saturday LSD ride built up a lot of endurance for me that seemed to last.I rode 100 miles almost every day for 10 days in France without problem....and felt amazing time trialing up Alpe d'Huez.That summer was the best cycling shape I've ever been in and I had so much power compared to previous years.



... Read more

Product Description
The essential guide for anyone who wants to cross the American continent on a bicycle. Describes a route that's both manageable to ride and historically and scenically interesting. With detailed route maps and descriptions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Decent info, dull writing
If you are looking for information about a potential route to ride across North America, then this book is decent. There are small maps that are likely useful (although a bit too small), and admittedly very detailed descriptions of a route that is completely possible for an average cyclist. There are additional comments about the areas you are passing through, tips for food and lodging, and some advice about things like fixing saddles and replacing tires when they wear out.
However, if you are looking for an interesting narrative of a trans-American journey (which is what I was looking for when I bought this book), keep shopping. I have given up reading halfway through the book. The writing is banal and full of tired cliches and overused phrases, and the whole book is badly in need of an editor. Here's a couple of winners from around page 110, where I finally gave up:
"The vastness is almost mind-boggling for a city person." (This is what they mustered up to describe New Mexico near Albuquerque.)
and "It's truly a window into the golden era, giving you a 'deja vu' of a time warp from a Star Trek episode." (I mean, what does this sentence even mean?)
The book is full of stuff like this. You get the feeling that they made some notes in a notebook, with a side comment saying "more detail later" and when it came time to write the book just couldn't remember exactly how things felt. So, good enough, huh?
I don't want to criticize too much, because the book has some value as a detailed guidebook with passable maps (did I mention they really are a bit small to be useful?). And I do envy the Christians for what they accomplished - something that I hope to do sometime soon, although following a more meandering route. But the book really could have been published as a series of maps with some side notes and not lost a thing.
As for me, I'll be looking elsewhere for either a better narrative or a decent set of maps with a bit more detail.If I find either of those - and I'm pretty sure I will - I'll be recycling this book pretty quickly.

Great details a great guided how to guide
Cycling accross country is something I plan on doing some day. This book gives you a detailed route on where to go. The authors are alot older thenI am which gives me hope of doing this in the next couple of years. Over all the book has great information, equal to anything you can find on the web. Which is one of the reasons I bought it. The only comment I would have would be to add even more editorials and personal ramblings on the things they saw and did.

A "must" for cross-country bikers & armchair travelers.
Lue and Shannon Christian's road trip adventure, published as Cycling Across North America: A Leisurely Route From Coast To Coast, begins in Fresno, California and picks up Route 66 to Illinois, and then travelsthrough Indian and Michigan, then on into Canada, finally finishes up inQuebec City. The Christians averaged 53 miles a day, totaling over 3700miles in all, and with very little climbing. But it is much more than justa pleasant travelogue adventure, it also services as a superlative planningguide for others seeking their own sense of wonder in a cross-country tripby bicycle. By following their established routes, fellow travelers canenjoy the sights and pleasures the Christians found when they made theirthree month journey. Cycling Across North America is valued and pleasurablereading for armchair travelers, and a "must" for anyone seeking asuccessful and memorable cross-country bike trip of their own.

Inspiration to follow in path
At age 36, I would love to be able to do a ride such as this, but would never have the time to plan it.But, now I have the dream of one day doing this ride with the help and inspiration of the Christian's guide.Hopefully, I won't have to wait 'til my spouse is 60...maybe we can takeour passel of kids and see America sooner than that.

This guidebook hasso much detailed information on what the ride is like, where to stay andwhere to eat.I half-way expect to have the names of all the hostfamilies.

A long needed guide for the recreational cyclist to make asafe journey across a great country!

An expert cross-country guide for all!
This new book by the Christians is well written, easily understandable, with their special form of dry humor laced throughout. I am not a cyclist,but am interetested in cross-country travel and their book, complete to afault, also works well for people who would like to explore America by car,motorcycle or Motorhome.

The wisdom of their preliminary scouting trip asdescibed paid off in this being a usable carry-along whenever one heads outacross America. The Route 66 information makes it valuable for junkies ofthat historic highway.

The maps are detailed and understandable, and theelevation changes are marked so those on two wheels can plan theirdays.

This will make a good bookshelf reference for all travelers! ... Read more

Product Description
Dysentery, drunken soldiers, and corrupt officials provide the background for Neil Peart's physical and spiritual cycling journey through West Africa. The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through photographs, journal entries, and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the reader that this is not just another travel book—it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.Amazon.com Review
Neil Peart cycles his way through West Africa and brings usalong with him, dysentery and all. The Masked Rider details hisphysical and spiritual journey, through photographs, journal entries, andtales of adventure. Peart's "masks" are the masks that wewear--culture, psychology, labels, expectations--and his bookreveals how traveling in a very foreign land allows us to peer behindthem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (123)

excellent book
This book was great reading for me not as a Rush fan, but as a fan of travel books and intricate stories entailed therein.

Riding Shotgun with Neil
If you're looking for tour notes, stories from the road, or even a chapter about his bandmates. This isn't for you.
This book is about americans cycling in africa. It is very descriptive, the people, the places, sights, sounds, smells. The small taste of what Neil is thinking, and going through. You feel like you're there with them. I have read the other three Neil Peart books, and this one last. (out of order I know). Not what I expected, but pleasantly surprised. This is where the travel writer came out and honed his craft. Makes me want some rice with junk on it.

Never look too closely at an artist you admire...
...or you may learn that he's a self-centered, holier-than-thou, intolerant, egotistical jerk. Whew! I heard "Ghost Rider" was even worse; good thing I didn't read it or I'd probably never go to another Rush concert.

A lot of this "journey" is filled with the author's arrogant, impatient ramblings...a more unpleasant person I would not want to spend four weeks with! He decimates his fellow cyclists shamefully, and is so petty it's sickening. He mentions several times how he'd had better trips where he'd bonded with the people he met...crying out loud, write about those, then - don't expose us to this pointless, mean-spirited drivel!

One more thing - I work in the publishing industry, and I can tell you quite positively that, much as Mr. Peart would LOVE to believe otherwise, there is NO WAY this crap would EVER have been published if he had not had prior name recognition. It's a shame it got published anyway - what a waste of paper! And of my time...there's a few hours of my life I'll never get back.

It might say Neil Peart on the cover...
...but really it's written by just a guy who rode his bike for a month through Western Africa.I think this is Peart's best literary work (I've read Ghost Rider and Travelling Music so far).The descriptions were so clear that I could envision what he was seeing from the saddle of his bike.

He tells the reader what he saw, he describes the people along the way and his travelling companions as well.He holds nothing back and is honest about his observations--which might put some readers off.

This book will also appeal to the non-Rush fans as well, because it's about the trip.He barely mentions Rush in the book, so those who aren't already fans from his other life (the drumming life) can easily pick this up and follow along.

Wonderful and Disappointing
I have finally finished reading The Masked Rider, by Rush drummer Neil Peart. It was both wonderful and disappointing.

Wonderful, because of the story that he tells, of the journey that he took across some of the hardest, as well as most beautiful, land on earth. For reasons that were apparently not even clear to himself, he biked across Cameroon with a handful of other North Americans, staying in all manner of hovels and hotels, meeting peasants and chieftains, and enduring difficult (and non-existent) roads and roadblocks. But, wow, what an experience.

Disappointing because in so many places Peart's contempt for the portion of humanity not himself, comes through loudly. Much of the book was a tirade against his fellow travelers, or with the people around him, or with the pointlessness of West African inefficiencies. One wonders why someone would choose to bike across Cameroon if one wasn't expecting abject poverty, terrible road conditions, and long stretches between running water. I'd love to see the marketing brochure.

Strangely, for his grim painting of the experience, I came away from it wishing that I could do it myself. Always a junkie for an experience, I would *love* to see the things that he describes, even at the expense of the physical difficulty it took to get to it. And in many of his disgusted tellings of interpersonal turmoil, I found myself siding with the person he was berating. He is *so* completely goal-oriented, that even when describing the beauty around him, he seemed to miss out on the experience he was complaining about - a bit of a paradox, I suppose.

Peart remains my favorite lyricist, writing song lyrics that actually mean something. But I have, so far, found his books frustrating - a wealthy traveler expecting the world to be a place of luxury when he arrives at his destination, and not get in his way getting there. I, on the other hand, love the journey more than the destination. For me, the experience is the thing, and actually arriving is less interesting.

Or, to quote my favorite lyricist:

From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of a journey
Is not to arrive

Anything can happen...

... Read more

Product Description
This book, rich in anecdote and history, explores in words and pictures the world of uphill cycling. Recreational cyclists can ride the same roads, compare their own efforts with those of masters like Coppi and Merckx and Armstrong, and come away with an understanding of the heroic feats that made these greats so great. Dozens of photographs add to an engaging look at this amazing sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Uphill Battle, Cycling's Great climbers
Mountains weren't added to the Tour de France until 1905. Tour boss Henri Desgrange added them only because a staffer incessantly hounded him until, finally worn down, Desgrange capitulated. At first, the mountains in the Tour de France were the more modest ascents of the Vosges and Alps. In 1910 the Tour added the giant pyrenean climbs; the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and the Aubisque. A year later came the high Alps.

The addition of hard climbing transformed the Tour. The men who have the ability to bound up the mountains (the Italians have a special word for these riders: Scattista) have fascinated cycle race fans since that race in 1905. Sometimes they are specialists who can only climb, but do not have the complete set of cycling skills to win the Tour (Rene Vietto, Jose Manuel Fuente and Andy Hampsten are in this category). Others have so much power, are such magnificent athletes that they can climb with the specialists and also time-trial and ride cobbles with equal ease. This group would include Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.

Owen Mulholland takes them all on (including episodes from both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France) and tells their stories well.What makes this book a pleasure is that Owen writes as if he were talking to you. His enthusiasm comes across every page. He is a man mad about bikes and bike racing and I love everything he has ever written about the sport.

There are 39 chapters, each about a particular climber and each is a gem
-Bill McGann, author of "The Story of the Tour de France: How a Newspaper Promotion Became the Greatest Sporting Event in the World".

Uphill Battle is worth it
A good review of cycling's great climbers, this book is a window into many of the great climbing by bike performances.As you read many of the heroic uphill battles that have taken place within cycling's major tours, Mulholland has you on the hill, feeling the rider's pain.Many of these accounts will be unknown to all but the most rapid cycling fan and deserve to be told.While only including major European climbing exploits, this account is a good addition to a cycling library.For a collection of American climbing exploits (along with the most difficult hillclimbs in the U.S. and other climbing information) see the book 'The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)' from Extreme Press.

Against Gravity
Owen Mulholland is known as a writer of cycling history and "Uphill Battle"is a worthwhile addition to the specialized genre of books for bike nuts.While there has been a recent torrent of books on the Tour de France, this book also describes some interesting and exciting stages of the other great stage races, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta in Spain.

The book is arranged in chronological fashion as a series of brief biographies of climbing cyclists.The stories really begin in 1905 when mountains were introduced into the Tour de France for the first time.It is a never-ending amazement to me how incredibly difficult the early Tours were, with terrible roads, fixed gear bicycles and gargantuan stages.For example, the 1926 Tour, Mulholland informs us, was almost twice as long as the current version!

It is true that many of the stories have been repeated for decades-what fan of the Tour does not know of Eugene Christophe and the broken fork, or poor Rene Vietto turning around for his team leader, or Merckx's virtuosity in seemingly everything?But there are a lot of other good stories here about riders who had their moments of glory in the mountains and then, over time, slid out of sight.Some riders were not known for their climbing at all, including Rik van Looy, but still managed to go for the prize when it beckoned.

The chapter on Lance Armstrong is the longest single one in the book and is a good recapitulation of Big Tex's career to his fifth Tour de France victory in 2002.While Mulholland does not fawn over Armstrong, it is clear that Lance Armstrong is a rarity in pro cycling as a rider who is not only superb at time trialling but one of the very best at climbing as well.

The book could have used better editing in avoiding the occasional repetitions.As well, the Modern Era is represented by allrounders, such as Fignon, LeMond, Indurain and Roche instead of the pure climbers one would expect to see.That said, the chapters on the Columbian star Luis Herrera and the Basque Roberto Laiseka are illuminating, and the chapter on Marco Pantani captures the very ambivalent record of this Giro and Tour winner.

The book could have been improved with more on other races with difficult climbs but as it stands it is an entertaining and enjoyable account and worth recommending.There are some very good pictures, including a great one of Anquetil and Poulidor elbowing each other like sprinters as they climb the Puy-de-Dome in 1964.Bikes of steel, men of iron.

Mediocre stories, poorly told
This book reads more like a series of magazine articles than a coherent history.

Mulholland has some grammatical quirks - mostly his pronouns get out of whack - making me read many sentences several times to sort out who he's talking about. He is fixated on Franco and torture in Spain; this gets somewhat boring.

Other quirks that really made me want to put the book down even though I wanted to know the stories were his repeated parenthetical explanations of things like the fact that 'Giro d'Italia' is the Tour of Italy. If he thinks his readership don't already know this, he could explain it once and then leave it alone. Lavishes praise on Armstrong, bags out Pantani, and ignores Virenque.

Some good stories, but I found the grammatical and stylistic problems greatly distracting. ... Read more

Product Description
EVERY WOMAN\'S TRAVEL JOURNAL

Customer Reviews (1)

Weenie No More
I bought this book soon after I bought the first bike I've owned and ridden in 16+ years. Alot has changed since then, including the whole macho-ization of the sport. It was kinda scarey getting started. But this book explains things well, is spiced with nice, believable stories about people's biking experiences and it has a sense of humor -- something really necessary if you're gonna saddle up and get out there on the road with all the yahoos and gonzos. I especially liked the advice on essential clothing. Certain items really WILL make your rides more pleasant. (And I always thought 'bike clothes' were an affectation!)Weaver really loves her sport and it shows -- she wants to win converts and she's got me hooked. The streets of Dallas will never be the same, now!! ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the story of the making of a cycling champion. It follows Roche's growth from home-town Dublin boy into a young European, famous in every city where cycling is a major sport, and the astonishing series of wins in 1987 that were to make him a sporting legend. "The Agony and the Ecstasy" takes us behind the scenes of triumph and into the mysterious world of cycling, showing us what life for top professionals is really like. It covers the roads, the races and the riders themselves - how they live and train, their battles with the elements on great marathons, the crowds and their role in morale, the dangers of the sport, and the elation or despair when the finish line is reached. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An entertaining biography of a professional cyclist
This book tells the tale of the rise of one of Ireland's greatest professional cyclists, Stephen Roche.It is co-authored by David Walsh, who also wrote the definitive biography of Ireland's other greatprofessional cyclist, Sean Kelly.

Roche describes his humble beginningsas a milk man apprentice for his father through his rise through the ranksto become only the second cyclist to win the "Triple Crown," theTour of Italy, The Tour of France and the World Championship in1987.

Packed with details only an insider would know, Roche and Walshhave written a highly entertaining and informative book about the world ofprofessional cycling, the greatest sport in the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Cycling the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg leadscyclists through these extremely bicycle friendly countries on twowheels. The routes meander along canals, past windmills, throughrolling hills and quaint villages. Included is information on weather,terrain, sightseeing, rentals plus practical information on places tostay and eat.

For the person planning to cycle for two days or two months, thisbook, the only English language cycling guide to these threecountries, is the ideal companion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

the best book on cycling in the area
This is a gem of a book for people looking for comprehensive suggestions for biking in the area.Given that local maps and guides in the Netherlands are usually published in Dutch, this book is a great help to English speakers.I was impressed when I followed a route in this book how it took me through especially beautiful areas that I wouldn't have found otherwise.Although it's already a few years old, this book is still worth seeking out.

Plan your trip NOW!
What is wonderful about this book is that not only do you get detailed maps with good directions, but there are also overview maps so that you have a sense of where you are in the countries.Everything that you needfor a great cycling trip is included, transportation to and within thecountries, a few accomodations (and especially where there are noaccomodations), noteworthy sites, restaurants and prices.The routes aregenerally circle routes with side trips and also connect with each otherwith both total mileage for the whole circle and sectional mileages.Because this book is well organized with excellent maps - I will definatelygo to Benelux for a leisurely cycle tour - and probably more than once. ... Read more

Product Description
Lonely Planet knows Australia

The coasts of the wide brown land are perfect for cycle touring, and we've chosen the best rides for every interest and ability level. It's a continent's worth of great cycling experiences - from the wildernesses and superb coastal scenery of Tasmania, to the historic sites and gourmet highlights of Victoria, and World Heritage rainforests in Queensland. Whether you want a short ride through a cool eucalyptus forest or a wild 10-day outing through the country's most dramatic coastline, this guide gives you the best of Australia on two wheels.

In This Guide:

Everything you need to know to get prepared
Bike maintenance tips to keep you on the road
Comprehensive listings for sleeping, eating and facilities along the way
... Read more

Product Description
With more than 30 combined years of experience in competitive cycling, Phinney and Carpenter have written an insightful and informative training handbook for cyclists of all abilities. It teaches cyclists everything they need to know to improve handling skills, raise confidence, and increase competitiveness. 50 photographs.Amazon.com Review
If you want to learn how to reach peak cycling performance,listen carefully to Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter. Phinney, atwo-time Tour de France stage winner, was named the winningest racerin U.S. history by VeloNews, and Connie Carpenter, an Olympicgold medalist, is no slouch either. Together they have compiled acomprehensive guide to cycling that will not disappoint. Chaptersinclude specific instructions for everything from basic training tocycling nutrition to the nitty-gritty of racing tactics. The guide iswritten in the first person, and because it is authored by two people,this can sometimes lead to confusion. But when milking the gurus forknowledge, a little confusion will seem well worth it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book gave insights and time saving experiene!
I enjoyed this book's insights into the world of Pro and Amerature bicycle racing.This book is wonderful for someone who wants to improve their cycling beyond just riding.Connie and Davis share their numerousfacinating experiences that can save you valuable time by not having tolearn them the hard way.I especially enjoyed the chapter on juniorracing, because I am one. ... Read more

Product Description
Bicycling Magazine's Cycling for Women:Savvy Advice from the Sport's Leading Women Writers

This cycling guide is written by women, for women. Taking into account issues that set women apart from men, it provides tips and information for you--the female cyclist.

Discover how to:

Select the most comfortable athletic clothing and gear
Follow the do's and don'ts of ridingduring pregnancy
Lose weight by combining cycling with healthy eating
Increase upper-body strength for maximum bike control
Make roadside repairs
Choose the bike that's best for you
Play it safe on the road
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I am NOT the editor
I am not sure why my name is associated with this book, which obviously has some reporting issues. Let me be perfectly clear: I had NOTHING to do with this book. Yes, I have edited other books in Rodale's cycling series, but I HAVE NEVER LAID EYES ON THIS BOOK. I have contacted Rodale and they are working to get my name removed from this page.

What a surprise! from one of the authors
As I am one of the featured authors in this books ("the sport's leading women writers!") you'd think that the publisher would have bothered to tell me about the publication of this book. No, I discovered it, three years later, accidentally in a web search. I was still more surprised to find in the chapter entitled "Riding with Confidence" that I supposedly changed my first flat tire while riding with a friend named Ann and tried to get someone named Eric to drive out and help us. A nice little tale, and maybe it happened to someone, but not to me. The day that I would have asked someone to help me fix a flat tire, let alone drive to do so - well, I would have had to have had two broken arms. You can ask my mom.
So maybe this book is great. Seeing chapters with my name on them with chunks of stuff I did not write (I did write the stuff after the long intro, for a Bicycling magazine article) makes me wonder how the rest of the book holds together and how many more cute little tales didn't really happen at all. ... Read more

Product Description
The Canal du Midi in France's sunny southern Languedoc is a UNESCO world heritage site. Its 240km route meanders through lush, beautiful countryside rich in history and culture, linking Toulouse and Sete. An ideal cycling route for most abilities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Cut and paste travelogue
This is, at best, a pretty hum-drum recounting of a long bicycle trip by the author and two women (first, his girlfriend, and then, a woman he met mid-trip after he sent his girlfriend home in the middle of the trip). I think the author clearly intended this to be a rollicking, wild-and-crazy over the top trip, but it just reads like any other bike tour travelogue.

One of the problems with the book is that the author cooks up a "cause" to promote on the ride (something about protecting the environment), and then attempts to leverage this cause as an excuse to basically panhandle his way across the U.S. Rather than learning to be self-reliant, the journey is basically a trek from handout to handout, and from one free bed (and often free meal) to the next. In some cases, the author shows appreciation to his benefactors, but in many others he belittles or makes fun of the people who take him in. Also, in several instances, he criticizes folks who refuse his pleas for a handout (like the bike shop mechanic who "had the nerve" to charge him $7 to replace a broken spoke, or the "greedy" chiropractor who wanted to charge $46 to relieve his girlfriend's back pain). The whole tone of this becomes "I'm entitled to a freebie because I'm promoting peace, love and the environment"; it gives hospitality a bad name.

I paid a penny for a used copy of this book, so I guess I got what I paid for, but I wish I had the 3 hours back that I spent reading it.

Disappointing
As an avid cyclist, I looked forward to sitting down with this book.Unfortunately, this book is just "OK."This guy takes off on a trip with some gal he barely knows (and ends up with another girl he barely knows) and almost no money.He calls it an Enviro Ride to raise awareness about the environment.It should have been called the Freeloader Ride. People who give him money and/or agree with his views are angels.He speaks negatively about most everyone else.He could have called it the Woodstock Ride as he promotes sex, nudity, peace, love, and freeloading. I just didn't get any warm fuzzies reading this book.
Sue B
Lake Forest, CA

Worth It
I found this book just by chance in a used book shop in Kelowna (B.C., Canada). I found Ted's outlook and observations very interesting. When I started reading it, I thought it is meant to be a funny narative of Ted's adventure on his bike across North America. But there is more to it. I find Ted's perspective on the cookie-cutter lifestyles and values of most of us living in this continent very thought-provoking. I must say that I disagree with the previous two reviews below.

A third-grader could write a better book...
I purchased this book after a friend recommended it. Let me just say she is no longer a friend. Ted Schredd might love life but he clearly hates taking the time to learn how to write. Not only that, but the story is lacking. Here it is in a nutshell, but written better...A guy rides his bicycle with a girl he just met. He cheats on her and finds another girl. The two of them then continue the odyssey and and beg anybody and everybody for: a) a place to stay, free of charge b) meals, free of charge c) bicycle equipment and support, free of charge. The end. I rated this book 1 star, but only because Amazon.com doesn't have a ZERO star rating.

Certainly not the best travel book I've read
I love travel adventure books, and The Cycling Adventures of Coconut Head had the potential to be a great read. However, I found Ted Schredd's writing to be childlike and lacking in substance, and I would have preferred a lot more detail about the landscape and scenery. Parts of the book were enjoyable, but I had a difficult time getting past the fact that Ted does not come across as a very nice person. (I do realize that I am apparently the only reviewer who feels that way.) For example, how could I root for Ted and Deanna's relationship after the way it started? (They had sex almost as soon as they met, in spite of the fact that Ted still had a girlfriend, who, by the way, had already ridden a bicycle from BC to California alongside him.) On top of that, he called people who had opened their hearts and homes to him "hateful" just because he didn't agree with their views. In spite of this book's intended positive message about environmentalism and realizing your dreams, it left me with a bad feeling. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Really great insight in Brailsford and the whole Brit Cycling push.
It is a great read if you are a track cyclist, but it is ALSO a really good read to get the door kicked open on the British Cycling culture, Brailsford and how they have produced such incredible results and cyclists in such a small amount of time. These people are smart, snarky and it will be no big surprise when SKY kicks butt and takes names this summer.

Interesting, but overly focused on Hoy
Chris Hoy is a great cyclist.But I was hoping this would focus more on the details of how British Cycling became so dominant.No details about the bikes, helments, gear, etc. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (11)

Campagnolo 75 years of Cycling Passion by Paolo Facchinetti
Campagnolo 75 years of Cycling Passion by Paolo Facchinetti is a very poorly written book. The aurthor in my opinion just found articles on Campagnolo and threw them together in order they occured. Not a complete history of Campagnolo. I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase.

Slightly above average
I'm not a frothing Campy nut, but I do know a fair amount about the brand having been cycling since the mid-70s and working in a bike shop for 5 years in the 80s.
I'd really hoped for more than the book delivered; I know it was important to Tullio having racers use his equipment and provide feedback, I just didn't need to know the month-by-month details of how racers would use Campy, switch to Simplex, then back to Campy in the 50s. I wanted more of the technical details about the equipment - especially from post WWII to the present; where the designs came from, what the manufacturing processes were, what decisions drove the development of the Record brakesets, Super Record, C-Record, the ill-fated Triomphe, Victory gruppos and then Campy's return to the pinnacle of component design, style, and execution with the current product lines.
And as mentioned earlier, couldn't someone have found a NOS 1979 version of a Super Record rear derailleur and not the one that looked like it had been on a Gulf Coast region bike for 6 years?

That said, it's a book still worth having, just know in advance that the authors didn't attain the heights of excellence that their subject has.

Just Awful!
As good as "Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell" is, this book is bad. Indeed, the ONLY recommendation I can offer about the book is that the layout/graphic design is competent. Every other aspect -- photography, product selection, content, tone, writing -- is pitiful. As a Campagnolo aficionado, I suggest that if this book had been subject to the same quality evaluation as the namesake components, it would have been deemed fit only to paper a shop floor. Written more like an English-as-a-second-language press release by an Intern, there's endless laudatory puffery about "the genius of Campagnolo" at the expense of meat and potatoes information about the storied products. There haven't been that many generations of groups. Omitting detailed pictures and descriptions of them is unforgivable.

High-end bike components are BEAUTIFUL. They are FUNCTIONAL ART. This book is not not bike porn. Even the Huret Allvit managed to redeem itself with ball-bearing pulleys. This, absent almost any redeeming qualities, is just plain bad.

...Sigh...

A Tribute to the best in cycling
Is a well done job, for those who know the Campagnolo's influence in the top ranks of professional cycling.

Every Campagnolo fan will want this!
I looked forward to the release of this book after I saw a copy at a bicycle trade show.They had two copies and I believe one of them was stolen!I waited for mine and it was money well spent.If you're a fan of the components from Vicenza, you'll want this book.A few errors don't tarnish the read for anyone but the fanatic who expected this to be the "Encyclopedia of Campagnolo" complete with Tullio's fingerprints and DNA.My only real complaint is the book was printed in CHINA!I would have gladly paid twice the price for a book printed in ITALY where they still do some of the nicest printing in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Better than Most
This is one of several books of the type; a general overview of the sport/hobby of cycling.Aimed at the beginner, it nevertheless provides maintenance, training, nutrition, and gear types for any level of rider.I found that this one offered a bit more than usual (at this level) in the physical training category.Like most DK books, the photography is bright, sharp, and abundant.Offers a specific training program (hence the title) if you are interested in following it, but the info is generally helpful for the freelancer.Worthwhile if you are looking for getting into biking.

7 week cycling for fitness
If you know nothing about cycling its good. But if you have spent a whisker of time in the saddle its a little boring.

GOOD GRIEF - A FITNESS BOOK THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!
I will start by saying that, in general, I despise fitness workout books.Most of them are semi-useless and simply boring.Not so with this one.It actually works!And, as a added bonus, it is actually fun.I have been involved in competitive distance running since 1959.I am older now and to be frank, my knees have simply betrayed me.How to stay in shape?I dislike walking and really dislike workout tapes and the like.I turned to cycling.I soon found I was clueless.I purchased several (well, actually more than several) books on the subject, learned a bit, but still could not find a program that fit my needs.Then I discovered this work.

The author has given us a well designed, well written and logical program to fitness through cycling.The text is this book is informative and the color photographs are accurrate and a pleasure to the eye.The first chapter gives a good fitness overview, basic and not so basic infomation about bikes.This is all very helpful information to the beginner, like myself.Wish I had had this work when I purchased my first bike, which, by the way, was a complete disaster.Then the author begins a wonderful suggested fitness regimen using the bike.

This structured program uses many of the same techniques used by runners to get and stay fit.The nice thing about this program is that it can be modified in so many ways in order to fit the needs of just about anyone at any fitness level.

This program though, like any program, must actually be followed and done to be of any use.Simply reading the book will not get you fit (even though the reading alone is rather fun).You actually have to go out and do some road work!I have found that using this book, along with a mild weight program, fits my particular life style and needs perfectly.

All in all, recommend this one highly.It is one of the few fitness books that I would actually recommend you plunking your dollars down for.

Best fitness routine I've ever used
I used this book to get in shape - it is the best fitness book I have ever used, and I've tried plenty. The book beautiful, with high quality photos and layout. There are introductory chapters that explain fitness and heart rates, help you evaluate your fitness level, and explain different types of bicycles.

The workouts are great, and include many different varieties, all geared toward increasing your fitness level in 11 weeks. Each workout has three levels, beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Each workout also contains bike riding techniques to work on and other tips. The workouts include intervals, active recovery, sprints, hill sprints, corner acceleration, long rides.

I have purchased three copies of this book for friends - it is that good! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A great guide for those considering a RTW trip
I am days away from starting a bicycle tour around the world. I have read many articles, product reviews, and books on various aspects of my intended trip. This book was an excellent addition to my reading material.

I have no experience with bicycle touring. As such I have to rely on the advice of others to make my trip as safe and enjoyable as possible. I have frequently felt bombarded by the heavy use of cycling terms that I was not familiar with. I also found conflicting advice from many sources. This book eliminated much of my confusion. It is written in a clear and concise fashion. It explains why one particular course of action is better than another.

When I recieved and began reading the book I was surprised to find that it offered information on all parts of adventure cycling. This includes: what you should look for in a bicycle, recommendations on what to carry, descriptions of traveling in different parts of the world, what camping gear you should take. After explaing, very clearly, why you would want to bring this or that each technical section is followed with a list of items that hold up well considering what you hope to undertake.

The book is also full of referrals to great sites that will further help you find everything you need from gear, to lodging, to visas. It also includes a section of tales from the saddle. I found this helpful because it gave me a better idea of what to expect.

My favorite part of the book is that it was compiled from people who are in the process of doing or have done exactly what I am about to do. Better yet each of them helps to write the different sections that cover differet parts of the world.

This book is a great place to start. I would recommend it to a friend.

Awesome resource for daydreaming or trip planning
We may not cycle in far flung places around the world anytime soon but it's on our list and this book is a great resource for daydreaming and trip planning! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're a serious cyclist or simply ride for fun and fitness, you'll appreciate the expert advice, wide range of workouts, and helpful sample training programs in Fitness Cycling. Inside you'll find

• tips for starting a cycling training program, from choosing a bicycle to determining your present fitness level;

• six color-coded workout zones containing 56 workouts (45 on-the-road and 11 indoor) that allow you to train at the pace and distance you prefer; and

• six sample cycling programs that show you how to organize the workouts into a safe and effective training plan that meets your needs.

Written by Chris Carmichael and Edmund Burke, two of the world's foremost cycling authorities, Fitness Cycling is part of the Fitness Spectrum Series—a new collection of books from Human Kinetics that offer fitness enthusiasts and sport participants of all backgrounds a practical and flexible approach to training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for beginners
Easy to get more improvement with great recomment training ideas,
from easy to extremely hard, from beginners to elite cyclist.

Get its, and make you fit!

Good books for person who interest in cycling sports

Excellent choice to build up cycling fitness
This book has excellent, easy to follow fitness routines for anyone new to cycling or people who have been cycling for some time but have never seemed to get any fitter. The colour coded workouts are easy to follow and moreimportantly give a variety of routes of differing intensity so you neverget bored with the same old route. I did not realise I could have boughtthis book on-line. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Don't Waste Your Money!
We purchased this book for our tour from Rome to Barcelona and found it absolutely useless.The route follows major highways while missing quiet backcountry roads.The author completely misses the true beauty of Franceand Italy in bypassing the Amalfi coast, Umbria, Tuscany and Provence.Myadvice... save your money for maps and a Lonely Planet guide.When everyounce counts, this is not a book you need to lug up a 1000 meter pass.

Maybe he used a car...
After following this book from Malaga to Florence, it seems almost impossible that the author actually rode this route.He says that the trip can be taken by a person of any experience level, but realistically only anexperienced rider would enjoy his route.He is consistantly incorrect withrespect to elevations, distances, and major road names.After about amonth of cycling we began to plan our own routes. We found that we coulduse a map and guess better routes than he could suggest in his book.Donot waste your time and money.Buy a good set of Michelin maps and payattention to the topographical marks on the maps and you will be fine. Nothing is more annoying than to rely on incorrect information.

Good book for general planning.
Used the book as a guide for a cycle trip from Barcelona to Rome.Mapsfrom local tourist offices were required for more detailed road andcampground information.

A good book to outline a trip with.
My wife and I used this book to plan our 8 week tour from Barcalona to Athens.We found the book's recomendations on route to be invaluable. The roads recomended provided some of the best riding I have done anywhere in the world. However this book is not a compleat trip guide, it is light on deatail (how to get from one road to the next in a town) and does not have logging or food recomendations. We used other books for campgrounds and tourist information and good maps are a must. ... Read more