Recommend any good books on bicycling?
06-30-20, 08:44 AM
#1
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Recommend any good books on bicycling?
I've recently read a book on bicycling I didn't care for (In Praise of the Bicycle: My Review Here), so I'm hoping for some recommendations of good books. History, philosophical ruminations, bicycle culture are all interests. What's your favorite?
06-30-20, 09:13 AM
#2
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Originally Posted by eyemkeith
I've recently read a book on bicycling I didn't care for (In Praise of the Bicycle: My Review Here), so I'm hoping for some recommendations of good books. History, philosophical ruminations, bicycle culture are all interests. What's your favorite?
Wheels of Chance is a book by HG Wells. It’s essentially a guy meets girl, guy loses girl, guy get girl back story set in the English countryside of the late 1890s. It’s a bit dated but not a bad read.
Bicycles in War is a very good book about bicycle uses since the Franco-Prussian war to the mid60s.
The Quotable Cyclist has a bicycle quote for all occasions.
Bicycling Science and The Dancing Chain are two extremely nerdy bicycle books but have their own charm. Bicycling Science is about the science of bicycles with how and why they do what they do. The Dancing Chain could be a horror book, depending on how you feel about derailers. It’s about the development of the derailers that have vexed so many cyclists.
Major Taylor: the Extraordinary Career of a Champion is very good as well.
Iron Riders is a fascinating story about an 1890s experiment with the 25th Infantry to put soldiers on bicycles instead of horses.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
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Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
06-30-20, 09:32 AM
#3
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Slaying the Badger, by Richard Moore - a must read if you have a competitive bone in your body
Rough Ride, by Paul Kimmage - the truth about pro riding
Half Man, Half Bike, by William Fotheringham - the life and career of Eddy Merckx
Major, by Todd Balf - another fine book about the times of Major Taylor, every bicyclist should read this book
The Giro d'Italia (1949), by Dino Buzzati - translated from the Italian language, it's a compendium of daily entries. Vague, poetic, romantic, frustratingly verbose - it's torture to read. About Coppi vs Bartali, though, so there's that.
Rough Ride, by Paul Kimmage - the truth about pro riding
Half Man, Half Bike, by William Fotheringham - the life and career of Eddy Merckx
Major, by Todd Balf - another fine book about the times of Major Taylor, every bicyclist should read this book
The Giro d'Italia (1949), by Dino Buzzati - translated from the Italian language, it's a compendium of daily entries. Vague, poetic, romantic, frustratingly verbose - it's torture to read. About Coppi vs Bartali, though, so there's that.
06-30-20, 09:34 AM
#4
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Dude, these are good suggestions. Thank you!
I've heard that H.G. Wells did a handful of bicycle books, so I'm interested in reading the one you suggested. And both Major Taylor and Iron Riders -- which I sadly only recently learned about -- are definite interests, too. Both those nerdy tomes look good too. Man, thanks for the list.
And Phil, I'll definitely check out that book on Major Taylor. Thanks, man.
I've heard that H.G. Wells did a handful of bicycle books, so I'm interested in reading the one you suggested. And both Major Taylor and Iron Riders -- which I sadly only recently learned about -- are definite interests, too. Both those nerdy tomes look good too. Man, thanks for the list.
And Phil, I'll definitely check out that book on Major Taylor. Thanks, man.
Last edited by eyemkeith; 06-30-20 at 09:38 AM.
06-30-20, 01:50 PM
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Journey Across a Continent by David Gidmark chronicles his cross Canada ride in the 1970s. Out of print but still available via the internet.
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06-30-20, 02:05 PM
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06-30-20, 05:14 PM
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Dividing The Great, a light and fast read about an Englishman's trip down the GDMBR, about twenty years ago.
Bike Snob Abroad, about recent cycling culture
Bike Snob Abroad, about recent cycling culture
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06-30-20, 05:22 PM
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Around the World on a Bicycle by Thomas Stevens. Volumes 1 and 2 are available through the Gutenberg Project. Stevens made his journey on a Columbia Ordinary in the late 1800's.
Last edited by Moe Zhoost; 06-30-20 at 05:26 PM.
06-30-20, 07:10 PM
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One I read few months ago that I found entertaining although more a touring/adventure type read than a hardcore cycling book.
50 Shades of the USA: One Woman's 11,000 Mile Cycling Adventure Through Every State of America
Another one with a similar theme is published in 1990 is.
Hey, Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country
50 Shades of the USA: One Woman's 11,000 Mile Cycling Adventure Through Every State of America
Another one with a similar theme is published in 1990 is.
Hey, Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country
Last edited by August West; 07-01-20 at 09:48 AM. Reason: Sentence structure for clarity.
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06-30-20, 07:55 PM
#10
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Two I’ve enjoyed:
Round Ireland in Low Gear, by the travel writer Eric Newby
Three Men on the Bummel, by Jerome K. Jerome, a cycling sequel to the more famous Three Men in a Boat.
Round Ireland in Low Gear, by the travel writer Eric Newby
Three Men on the Bummel, by Jerome K. Jerome, a cycling sequel to the more famous Three Men in a Boat.
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06-30-20, 08:06 PM
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Fat Tire Flyer by Charlie Kelly. Great perspective from one of the founders of mountain biking. A little bit of self promotion, but a good read.
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06-30-20, 09:04 PM
#12
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Sorry if slightly off topic... I don’t know of any cycling books but feel compelled to mention Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
07-01-20, 07:21 AM
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One of the best books I've ever read. You're always right to mention it, no matter where!
07-01-20, 07:58 AM
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Read "The Tour According to G" a couple months back and would highly recommend. Part bio on Geraint Thomas, part inside look at his 2018 win (where he took the team lead from Froome) - thought it gave a great look at all that goes into racing in the TDF. Also really cool to hear Geraint's take on all the big moments in the 2018 race. Remember watching so much of it on TV and this gives you a whole new perspective.
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07-01-20, 06:21 PM
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Re: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
I can’t help but jump in here. When I was teaching Math in the Peace Corps (Ghana, 1974-77) I picked this book up somewhere and really enjoyed reading it. Then as per normal procedure I left it at someone else’s house. Many years later my daughter was in the Peace Corps in Madagascar and returned in 2012. While she was unpacking I noticed the same book. It had the marks that I had made on the back cover way back when. So I read it again and enjoyed the lessons about quality etc. all over again. Then carrying on the tradition I donated it to someone else. I wonder where it is now? Thanks for the memories.
I can’t help but jump in here. When I was teaching Math in the Peace Corps (Ghana, 1974-77) I picked this book up somewhere and really enjoyed reading it. Then as per normal procedure I left it at someone else’s house. Many years later my daughter was in the Peace Corps in Madagascar and returned in 2012. While she was unpacking I noticed the same book. It had the marks that I had made on the back cover way back when. So I read it again and enjoyed the lessons about quality etc. all over again. Then carrying on the tradition I donated it to someone else. I wonder where it is now? Thanks for the memories.
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