“No matter what or how you ride, read this book and remind yourself just how enjoyable cycling can and should be.”—Eben Weiss, author of The Enlightened Cyclist Just Ride is a revelation. Forget the ultralight, uncomfortable bikes, flashy jerseys, clunky shoes that clip onto tiny pedals, the grinding out of endless miles. Instead, ride like you did when you were a kid—just get on your bike and discover the pure joy of riding it. A reformed racer who’s commuted by bike every day since 1980, whose writings and opinions appear in major bicycling and outdoor magazines, and whose company, Rivendell Bicycle Works, makes bikes for riders ready to opt out of a culture overrun by racing, Grant Petersen shares a lifetime of unexpected facts, controversial opinions, expert techniques, and his own maverick philosophy. In 87 short, two-to-three page chapters, it covers: Riding: Count Days, Not Miles; Corner Like Jackie Robinson; Steer with Your Hips, Shift with Your Legs Suiting Up: The Shoes Ruse; Ponchos—the Ultimate Unracer’s Garment Safety: #1 Rule—Be Seen; Helmets Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up to Be Health and Fitness: Why Riding Is Lousy All-Around Exercise; Saddles Don’t Cause Impotence; Drink When You’re Thirsty—Not Before Also includes chapters on Accessories, Upkeep, and Technicalities, and a final chapter titled “Velosophy” that includes the essential, memorable thought: Your Bike Is a Toy—Have Fun with It. Winner Silver Medal 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards
"...with plenty of tips and advice for those who want to get back into biking even after decades have passed, "The Practical Cyclist" is a read many readers will embrace for fitness and the environment." - James. A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review "Dust off the bike, put some air in the tires, and discover a new world that has been waiting for you. that's an easy-to-accept invitation from the author, who is a bicycle enthusiast, commuter, and self-described all-round "neighborhood bike guy" from Clearwater, Florida. the text addresses the transition into a two-wheeler mindset in an easy-to-follow format. His writing style is light enough to convince a reluctant reader to take that first spin around the block and do so eagerly and confidently. The advice is sound, too. The author encourages first-time bike commuters to resist the temptation of taking the same route they take with an automobile. "There are many roads that all, eventually, lead to the same place if you're willing to work at it,"he writes. "You want, poetically speaking, to take the road less traveled. It will make all the difference." And this book will make all the difference for a bicyclist with an open, resourceful mind and a willingness to step outside the box for an adventure on two wheels."- ForeWord Magazine "This introductory book is an easygoing ramble through the basics and joys of cycling for anyone who has just mastered riding or is returning to the bike after a long hiatus. Haynes, a commuter cyclist in Florida, aims to encourage more regular local riding and commuting with practial tips on selecting from various types of bikes; basic bike mechanics; gear and accessories. This practical, low-key approach eases the reader into integrating cycling more often into their life for pleasure or health and as an affordable, flexible, local transportation option. - Jean Chong, Momentum Magazine "First off, here's what this book is NOT; a comprehensive guide to training, repair, nutrition, racing strategy or any of that other in-depth stuff. What his book IS is a very simple, very practical and extremely humorous guide to bicycling for everyday purposes. Seasoned cyclists and hardcore commuters probably won't get much out of The Practical Cyclist other than a lot of laughs...frankly, it's just not written for the accomplished cyclers among us. But for someone just entering this wonderful world of bicycles, this book is a must read. Let's hope this book sells a billion copies!!! - Jack "Ghost Rider" Sweeney, bikecommuters.com Riding a bicycle is something you never forget—even if the last time you owned a bike, it had playing cards pinned to the spokes. People are coming back to bicycling in droves; propelled by rising gas prices, expanding waistlines, or the allure of fancy gear, bicycling for all ages has never been more popular. The Practical Cyclist is for those who have not been actively cycling for years, or perhaps are new to the sport; it is bicycling for real people. The author recognizes that not every cyclist cares about fancy equipment and competitive riding. The book’s low-impact approach is uniquely geared to people who would like to come back to cycling but don’t know where to begin. There are many reasons for hopping back on a bike—becoming healthier, saving money, saving the environment, but mainly to have fun. The Practical Cyclist provides simple, basic information that takes the intimidation out of visiting a bike shop and includes: How to choose equipment Proper riding technique Safety tips Accessories Easy rules on where, when, and how to ride As this book says, anyone can ride a bike and look good doing it. You don’t have to go fast, and you don’t have to go far. You just have to go. Chip Haynes has been a year-round commuter for a decade, and he owns too many bicycles. He writes about bicycling for The Wire Donkey and is known as “the neighborhood bike guy” in Clearwater, Florida.
Women are built differently, ride differently, train differently, burn different macronutrients as fuel, and have a different relationship with their bikes than men do. It's only natural they should need their own comprehensive cycling book. The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Women is an instructional manual geared specifically toward women. It breaks down the sport of cycling into easily digestible sections, beginning with the history of women's cycling and progressing into equipment, lifestyle, technique, training, and fitness goals. The book also includes a women-specific section that covers cycling while menstruating, cycling while pregnant, how menopause affects training, and how specific parts of the female body are uniquely affected by cycling. The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Women will serve as an indispensible, lifelong guide for every female cyclist.
A user's guide to the most cutting edge knowledge in cycling science. If you're a keen cyclist but want to know more about the science behind the bike, this is the book for you. Get the practical application of this knowledge to give you the performance edge and put you ahead of the peleton. Performance Cycling: The Science of Cycling is written by world renowned cycling authors alongside scientists working at the cutting edge of cycling research. Learn about: the latest training methodologies; how to implement pacing strategies; optimising nutrition; how to effectively set up your bike; and how to mentally prepare for optimal performance. Whether you are a novice or pro cyclist, Performance Cycling is the essential user's guide to guarantee you reach your full potential.
Whether you’re looking to hit the open road, scream down the side of a mountain, or simply take the kids out for a ride, Cycling For Dummies, UK Edition, covers all your needs. Topics include choosing the right bike and accessories, staying safe — around town and on the trails — training to improve speed and endurance, making adjustments and repairs, and much more (including answering the basic questions you may be too embarrassed to ask in your local shop). Cycling For Dummies, UK Edition is the perfect place to start when you want to take up this great sport.
In eight chapters representing a cycling team's eight sessions with a sports psychologist, this book teaches athletes how to cultivate the thoughts, feelings, and insights necessary for optimal cycling performance. It includes breathing techniques for power and emotional control, tips for handling pressure, and four types of imagery.
“After training with CINCH for the past three years, I’ve learned the cycling-specific techniques that make me a better rider and racer; healthier and injury-free; and more effective and positive off the bike.” -- Lilburn Shaw, 2018 Masters Road National Champion Cycling on Form reveals the pro approach to cycling training. Riding a bike faster takes more than just fitness. It takes skills that you can master to become a faster, stronger rider. In his new guide, former professional bike racer Tom Danielson shows how to transform your cycling from amateur to professional level with the fitness and time you have now. Danielson reveals how the pros go beyond the modern standards of interval workouts, base-building, and recovery to train the whole athlete, mind and body. Danielson shows how to truly ride and train to the fullest through: Fitness: Self-tests to identify your riding strengths and weaknesses then focus on custom training to address them. Mental focus: The pros know that winning means using your head and your legs. You’ll get pro tips on big-picture goal setting and mid-ride concentration strategies to help you stay focused. Execution: Cycling is hard and executing a great ride when it matters takes practice. Danielson shares on-the-bike skills, efficient and powerful techniques, strategies to stay in the race, ways to finish with the lead group, and how to excel on a ride you’ve never done before. Nutrition: Pro riders put sports nutrition into daily practice. Danielson distills the facts of diet, food as fuel, and fueling to recover. Too many cyclists train by trying to set new Strava PRs, only to get frustrated by the limited gains. There’s a better way. Cycling On Form unlocks a pro method for riding faster and stronger.
Imagine a bike that has been made from plant-based materials or reused and recy cled parts. Imagine that the material wearing from your tyres or brake pads is biodegradable. That the lubricant washing down from your chain no longer pollutes the forest you are riding through, but provides valuable nutrients for the plants in it. You no longer discard your old bike as if it were a piece of rubbish, but return it to the manufacturer so that parts and materials can be reused to make new bikes. Or, alternatively, you could plant your old bike in your garden for it to become part of the circle of life again. You would be living in a world with a circular economy. A world where you ride your bike in an environment without pollution. Through forests larger than today, inhabited by ever more varied species of plants and birds. A world where CO2 emissions no longer contribute to climate change and we no longer dig up finite resources from the Earth, but use our 'waste' or renewable natural sources to make new products. To make the transition from our current linear take-make-waste economy to that circular economy, marginal gains are not sufficient. To get there, we need a revolution. This book is a practical guide to help the world of cycling make that transition. Erik Bronsvoort is a bike nerd, engineer, entrepreneur and trailblazer. Founded Circular Cycling with Matthijs to test circular business models in the cycling industry. Matthijs Gerrits is a bike nerd, historian and IT expert. Founded Circular Cycling with Erik to make sustainability an issue in the cycling industry.
The Pain-Free Cyclist takes you through the most common cycling injuries, lets you know what exactly they are, why you get them and what you can do to do get rid of them and get you back on the bike pain free. It's not (just) about the bike. Ride your bike long enough and even with an optimal bike fit you're likely to get injured. It's not what cyclists want to hear, but it's the hard truth. Cycling is a rapidly growing sport, and as numbers increase, so do the amount of injuries. What do you do if you get injured? Rest? Continue to ride? These questions need answering – to avoid confusion, further complications and more harmful injuries, resulting in substantial time off the bike. We want more riders out on the road, enjoying their cycling, pain free. Foreword by Sir Bradley Wiggins and featuring interviews with pro-cyclists including Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Dan Martin, Tyler Farrar and Andrew Talansky.
