Cycling: general and touring Books

Book SynopsisAt a time when cycling in the United States rivaled baseball as thenation’s most popular professional sport, along came Reggie McNamara, a farmer’s son from Australia. In this humorous and exciting biography of the original Iron Man, Andrew M. Homan pulls McNamara back into the spotlight, depicting a flawed but beloved man whose success in unrelenting six-dayraces came at a price.Trade Review"Popular memory overlooks the reality that six day bicycle racing and Australian born Reggie McNamara needs to be included in any top sports list. . . . Andrew Homan has done a good job bringing both to the fore with his biography of Iron Mac."—Duncan R. Jamieson, Sport Literature AssociationIn Iron Mac, Andrew M. Homan successfully describes the life of one of America's forgotten sporting stars, Reggie McNamara. . . . The amount of previously unpublished work and Homan's valuable endnotes make this work worth reading for any historian of bicycle racing, especially North American racing. . . . Homan’s writing style and organization are fluid; the book is a delight to read. Thanks to Homan, the legend of Iron Mac lives on gloriously."—Ari de Wilde, Journal of Sport History“The story of Reggie ‘Iron Man’ McNamara is a fascinating one of not only the racer but of the history of six-day racing. Delving into Iron Man’s career, Andrew Homan also unravels some of the history of cycling politics. Tales of riders’ strikes, collusion, spectator hooliganism, and life bans will resonate in modern cycling. This story is the legacy of a hero of cycling.”—Phil Anderson, first Australian (and first non-European) to wear the Tour de France’s yellow jersey (1981) “This book brings back not only the story of one of the greatest stars, but also leaves you with a sense of the atmosphere surrounding the sport and of all the characters involved.”—George Mount, first American to compete in the Giro d’Italia (1981), winner of the Red Zinger Classic (1978), and current vice president of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame“In my years of racing professionally in the United States, cycling has been a fringe sport. Iron Mac tells of a time when it wasn’t. This story about a hero who’s easy to cheer for is refreshing and hopeful for those of us who love cycling today.”—Phil Gaimon, professional cyclist for Cannondale-Garmin and author of Pro Cycling on $10 a DayTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Rabbits and Slingshots 2. Bushes to the Big Leagues 3. A Promoter Goes to Hollywood 4. Accidental Romance 5. Safe in America 6. Politics of Racing 7. The War Years 8. The Prodigal Son Returns 9. Training Old School 10. Let the Roaring Twenties Begin 11. The Italians Are Coming! 12. Mac Strikes Gold 13. Rusty Iron 14. Downward Spiral 15. Grandpa Mac Notes Index

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Book SynopsisAn definitive cycling guide to scenic back roads in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains region of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Southern Virginia.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines existing cycling structures and the current policies and practices used to promote cycling. Its interdisciplinary analysis considers the cultural politics of infrastructural provision and connects this to questions of sustainability, citizenship and justice in cities.Table of ContentsIntroduction Peter Cox and Till Koglin Chapter 1 Theorising infrastructure: a politics of spaces and edges Peter Cox Chapter 2 The cultural politics of infrastructure: the case of Louis Botha Avenue in Johannesburg, South Africa Njogu Morgan Chapter 3 Spatial dimensions of the marginalisation of cycling – marginalisation through rationalisation? Till Koglin Chapter 4 Mental barriers in planning for cycling Tadej Brezina, Ulrich Leth and Helmut Lemmerer Chapter 5 Safety, risk and road traffic danger: towards a transformational approach to the dominant ideology John Whitelegg Chapter 6 What constructs a Cycle City? A comparison of policy narratives in Newcastle and Bremen Katja Leyendecker Chapter 7 Hard Work in Paradise. The contested making of Amsterdam as a cycling city Fred Feddes, Marjolein de Lange & Marco te Brömmelstroet Chapter 8 Conflictual Politics of Sustainability: cycling organisations and the Öresund crossing Martin Emanuel Chapter 9 Vélomobility in Copenhagen – a perfect world? Malene Freudendal-Pedersen Chapter 10 Navigating cycling infrastructure in Sofia, Bulgaria Anna Plyushteva and Andrew Barnfield Chapter 11 Cycling advocacy in São Paulo: influence and effects in politics Letícia Lindenberg Lemos Conclusions Till Koglin and Peter Cox

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Book SynopsisWith cities across the country adding miles of bike lanes and building bike-share stations, bicycling is enjoying a new surge of popularity in America. It seems that every generation or two, Americans rediscover the freedom of movement, convenience, and relative affordability of the bicycle. The earliest two-wheeler, the draisine, arrived in Philadelphia in 1819 and astonished onlookers with the possibility of propelling themselves “like lightning.” Two centuries later, the bicycle is still the fastest way to cover ground on gridlocked city streets.Filled with lively stories, The Mechanical Horse reveals how the bicycle transformed American life. As bicycling caught on in the nineteenth century, many of the country’s rough, rutted roads were paved for the first time, laying a foundation for the interstate highway system. Cyclists were among the first to see the possibilities of self-directed, long-distance travel, and some of them (including a fellow Trade ReviewA bright, enthusiastic cultural history. * Kirkus *[A] dazzling cultural history of the bicycle . . . Guroff peppers these historical accounts with lively quotes from primary documents and her own sharp, modern insight. As she makes plain, it’s not just cyclists who have bicycles to thank for the way they get around—it’s everybody. And that makes The Mechanical Horse worth a read for the most avowed drivers, too. * CityLab *Fascinating . . . Guroff does an admirable job reminding us of the bicycle’s lasting influence . . . [Her] book provides a colorful and helpful map of where we’ve been, and where we all might go from here. * The Wall Street Journal *A narrative rich in history and based on formidable research . . . But what comes through most strongly in this nicely written, fast-paced narrative is Guroff’s love for her subject. If you adore your bike, you’re curious about where it came from, and you’d like to read about how it’s changed the world, then buy this book. It’s that simple. * Washington Independent Review of Books *Guroff has penned a fascinating account of how such a seemingly simple invention could have such a global impact. * Baltimore Magazine *Guroff defty tells how cycling grew, literally, from the iron drasine and wooden-wheeled velocipedes in the early 19th century to giant-front-wheel penny farthings. * The Examiner *Guroff is a confident social historian who allows her eye for the colorful detail to lead the way while never neglecting to think through the chain of incidents and inventions that paved the road from the early 19th-century draisine, two wheels and a seat but not much else, to the battery-assisted fat-wheeled wonders of today. . . . Good stories abound in Guroff's account. * The Weekly Standard *Who knew that besides representing a marvel of mechanical efficiency, the bicycle also has a fascinating social history? It turns out that its story is a very readable tale of social change in America. * Minnesota Star Tribune *Margaret Guroff’s survey of the role the bicycle has played in America’s social and cultural development covers a lot of ground at a necessarily rapid cadence. We learn that America’s relationship with the bicycle is an on-off romance based partly on fashion and partly on utility… Today, while cycling enjoys rising popularity in prosperous urban area, overall ridership has decreased especially among children. Guroff speculates that computers, smartphones and heightened protectiveness may mean the bicycle is no longer a suburban kid’s birthright. Let’s hope not. * Times Literary Supplement *Guroff looks at bicycling from its early days to the present, offering fascinating insights that connect the earlier years with the present. * AETHLON: The Journal of Sport Literature *The Mechanical Horse is first-rate popular history that ought to interest professional historians of business, capitalism, and technology. * Business History Review *An exceptional example of an empathetic historical imagination, and fantastically good at making history accessible to all. * Great Plains Quarterly *Table of Contents Introduction Chapter One. The Birth of the Bike Chapter Two. The Need for Speed Chapter Three. The Wheel, the Woman, and the Human Body Chapter Four. Paving the Way for Cars Chapter Five. From Producers to Consumers Chapter Six. The Infinite Highway of the Air Chapter Seven. The Cycles of War Chapter Eight. The King of the Neighborhood Chapter Nine. The Great American Bicycle Boom Chapter Ten. Bike Messengers, Tourists, and Mountain Bikers Chapter Eleven. Are We There Yet? Acknowledgments Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDiscusses the power of the bicycle to impact mobility, technology, urban space and everyday lifeTrade Review"One Less Car is a serious update and expansion of the social and political history of bicycling. I would own this book for the notes and bibliography alone." —Robert Hurst, author of The Cyclist's Manifesto and The Art of CyclingTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 1 Introductions and Intersections 2 Becoming Auto-Mobile 3 Vélorutionaries and the Right to the (Bikeable) City 4 Critical Mass and the Functions of Bicycle Protest 5 Two-Wheeled Terrors and Forty-Year-Old Virgins: Mass Media and the Representation of Bicycling 6 DIY Bike Culture 7 Handouts, Hand Ups, or Just Lending a Hand? Community Bike Projects, Bicycle Aid, and Competing Visions of Development under Globalization 8 Conclusion, or "We Have Nothing to Lose but Our (Bike) Chains" Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRiding up hills is the ultimate challenge for a cyclist. This guide is a compliation of some of the best hills in London and the South East. It's not just a definite list of the Top 50 toughest climbs; instead, author Adrian Bond has selected some of the most iconic, the most thrilling, the most interesting, varied and, of course, toughest, hill climbs that this region has to offer. Hopefully, there's something here for everyone, whether you're a 'Weekend Warrior' or a serious road racer. Just get out there and enjoy the ride.

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Book SynopsisThe last quarter of a century has seen major developments in the world of cycling. Heart-rate monitors, GPS and smartphone apps are all used by riders of all abilities up and down the country as part of their training programme, but it is the power meter that really stands out as the ultimate tool for any cyclist who wishes to train to their full potential. Power has become the common currency of training discussions amongst the growing number of cyclists who have splashed out on a power meter. But does the average cyclist fully understand the figures displayed on their bike computer screens and, even if they do, can they use that information in the most effective way? Professor Louis Passfield was the first scientist in the UK to work and study with power meters. In this book Professor Passfield shares some of his vast experience and shows that you don't have to be a pro cyclist, triathlete, or coach to reap the benefits of training with a power meter.Trade ReviewOne of the major factors in British Cycling's success has been its strong coaching and scientific input and the use of pwer meters has been central to this. Louis was the first person I knew to start working with a power meter. In this book he uses this scientific and coaching experience to explain clearly and simply how to get the best out of yourself by training with a power meter. -- Rob Hayles, winner of two track cycling World titles and three Olympic medals.

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Book SynopsisBicycling Through Paradise is a collection of twenty historically themed cycling tours broken into 10-mile segments centered around Cincinnati, Ohio. Written by two longtime cyclists—one a professor of history and one an architect—the book is an affectionate, intimate, and provocative reading of the local landscape and history from the perspectives of cycling and Cincinnati enthusiasts. Tours, navigated by Smythe and Hanlon, take cyclers past Native American sites, early settler homesteads, and locations made know through recent Ohio change-makers as navigated by the authors. With extensive details on routes and sites along the way, tours between 20 and 80 miles in length are designed for all levels of cyclists, and even the armchair explorer. Riders and readers will visit towns called Edenton, Loveland, Felicity, and Utopia. Along the journey, they’ll encounter an abandoned Shaker village near the Whitewater Forest and a tiny dairy house called “Harmony Hill,” the oldest standing structure in Clermont County, Ohio. They’ll also take in the view from the top of a 2,000-year-old, 75-foot tall, conical Indian mound at Miamisburg. Riders can follow the Little Miami Scenic Trail and take a detour to a castle on the banks of the Little Miami River. Other sights include a full-scale replica of the tomb of Jesus in Northern Kentucky and the small pleasures of public parks, covered bridges, tree-lined streets, riverside travel, and one-room schoolhouses. And if all this isn’t exactly Paradise, well, it’s pretty close.

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Book SynopsisDiscover all Cuba has to offer in this complete cycling guide.Trade Review"In this delightful and very practical guide, they outline, kilometer by kilometer—for all the Canadians and Europeans whose governments actually let them vacation in Cuba legally—the best places to eat, sleep, sightsee, and even avoid." -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe inspiring, heart-pumping true story of soldiers turned cyclists and the historic 1919 Tour de France that helped to restore a war-torn country and its people.On June 29, 1919, one day after the Treaty of Versailles brought about the end of World War I, nearly seventy cyclists embarked on the thirteenth Tour de France. From Paris, the war-weary men rode down the western coast on a race that would trace the country''s border, through seaside towns and mountains to the ghostly western front. Traversing a cratered postwar landscape, the cyclists faced near-impossible odds and the psychological scars of war. Most of the athletes had arrived straight from the front, where so many fellow countrymen had suffered or died. The cyclists'' perseverance and tolerance for pain would be tested in a grueling, monthlong competition.An inspiring true story of human endurance, Sprinting Through No Man''s Land explores how the cyclists united a country that had been torn apart by unprecedented desolation and tragedy. It shows how devastated countrymen and women can come together to celebrate the adventure of a lifetime and discover renewed fortitude, purpose, and national identity in the streets of their towns.

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Book SynopsisA hilarious and essential illustrated field guide that breaks down the tribes of the bicycling community: from the spandex-clad weekend warriors to the hipsters on street bikes who love to laugh at each other (and themselves) Anyone who rides a bike knows the bicycling world is made up of tribes. From tattooed messengers to pretty urban hipsters to grouchy shop owners, they may look like they live on different planets, but they are united by their abiding love of bikes—and often their total disdain of other members of this insular world. Bike Tribes is the Preppy Handbook of bicycling, replete with one-of-a-kind illustrations that taxonomize the special habits, clothing, preferences, and predilections of cyclists. Mike Magnuson, an avid rider, bicycling expert, and longtime contributor to Bicycling magazine, covers the basics of racing, etiquette, and apparel and gear, including running commentary on cycling culture, poking holes in practically every pretension in the cycling world. Bike Tribes is a fun romp through the various subcultures in the bike community—bound to appeal to newcomers and grizzled cyclists alike.

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Book SynopsisIn The Road Less Taken, Kathryn Bertine takes readers through her journey of striving to become a professional cyclist in her mid-30s. Her essays explore the twists and turns on life’s unexpected roads via bicycle, but also the larger meaning of what it means to heed one’s inner compass and search for a personal true north. With her signature wit and humor Bertine’s essays travel far beyond the bike lane, resonating with anyone who has ever dared to try and turn their dreams into a reality.

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Book SynopsisThis is the same amazing story as the current version, but with an updated cover and foreword. If you'd like to read Barbara Savage's two-year around the world bicycle trip now, you can order the current version here. Miles from Nowhere is the story of Barbara and Larry Savage's sometimes dangerous, often zany, but ultimately rewarding 23,000-mile bicycle odyssey, which took them through 25 countries in two years. Along the way, these near-neophyte cyclists on their ten-speeds encountered warm-hearted strangers eager to share food and shelter, bicycle-hating drivers who ran them off the road, various wild animals (including an attack camel), rock-throwing Egyptians, overprotective Thai policeman, motherly New Zealanders, meteorological disasters, bodily indignities, and great personal joys. The stress of traveling together constantly tested yet strengthened the young couple's relationship and as their trip ends, you'll find yourself yearning for Barbara and Larry to jump back on their bikes and keep pedaling. Originally published in 1983, Miles from Nowhere has provided inspiration for legions of modern travel-adventurers and writers.Trade ReviewOriginally published in 1985, this book has stood the test of time and is considered a classic of biking literature. It takes an author like Savage to captivate readers in a way that makes them feel as if they are pedaling right along with her and husband Larry Savage. The couple spent two years biking through 25 European, African, and Asian countries, traveling over 23,000 miles, graduating from novice riders to hardened road warriors. Ironically, the conditions today in many of the countries they biked through in the late 1970s either have not improved or have remained the same. Readers should know that the author was tragically hit and killed by a car soon after concluding this grand adventure while training on her bike for a triathlon just before the original work was published. While this edition offers a new foreword and an interview with widower Larry, the advanced copy did not contain the maps or pictures of the first book. A must-have for all libraries without a copy of the original, especially those with active biking communities seeking entertaining adventure stories. Savage also provides practical touring advice relevant to any bike traveler.-- "Library Journal" A long, long time ago, I read this book and went straight out and bought myself a $250 Specialized bicycle and started my first bicycle tour. Changed my life. I came home and wrote a book about the experience and gave credit where credit was due: Barbara and Larry Savage inspired me, giving me the courage for that first step. A lifetime has now passed, but Barbara's words are still fresh to me, as stirring, thrilling, and humorous as the first time I read them. Many things may have changed since their round-the-world journey, but our human hopes and fears haven't. We are all so much richer for preserving the gift Barbara left us, Miles from Nowhere.--Andrew X. Pham A valuable reissue, reminding us all about the joys (and sometimes sorrows) of seeing the world by bike.--Susan Spano As with much of the best travel writing, it's the voice that makes readers want to stick with a writer over a long journey, and Barbara Savage's voice is that of the best kind of travelling companion: honest, unpretentious, brave, and funny. She talks frankly about challenging aspects of cycle-touring, especially couples cycle-touring, that are usually played for laughs or omitted altogether from these kinds of books. The petty fights in the ditch, the unabashed yelling, the temper-tantrums. But she also describes the small acts of kindness, the making up, and the profound intimacy of living within a few feet of one's partner for most of over two years. The passages where she casually mentions 'lovemaking' (how 70s!) in their tiny tent are utterly disarming. In another writer's hands, they'd be corny, but not Barb's. The magic of this book is how, in her telling, the Savages come across not so much as cyclists or adventurers but as genuine human beings--adventurous, vulnerable, yet resilient--who happen to be riding bicycles.--Dave Buchanan From the swampy Everglades to the snowy Himalayas, Barbara's love of travel shines through. If you enjoy pedal-to-the-metal adventure, you'll find it here.--Rick Steves I cried until I laughed, and laughed until I cried at Barbara Savage's gorgeously written story of her cycling tour with her husband, Larry. Miles from Nowhere is the best of the best, a grand exploration of the world and its people by two wildly adventurous hearts in love with each other and life itself.--Gail Storey I read Miles from Nowhere by Barbara Savage in 2010 while on my own bike tour across America, which I think says at least something about how good it is--that I still felt like reading about biking even after I'd ridden a couple thousand miles. It's another book that's great because of both the writing and the scale of the adventure it captures.--Brendan Leonard If there's a timeless intimacy to be found in long-term bike touring, then it's multiplied by Barbara Savage's words. She takes us along on her two-year adventure and instantly we are her trusted companions. As we ride with Barbara, she doesn't waste time romanticizing the landscape or looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Instead, she gifts us the privilege of her honesty. And with that, we lucky readers gain a window into the struggle, triumphs, and laugh-out-loud moments of human-powered travel in unexpected places. It's no surprise that Miles From Nowhere has lived on these past 30-plus years and inspired others to take to the road on two wheels. In these pages, Barbara lives on, too. I'm left with the unshaken belief that there's real, unfiltered life to be found out there, and, perhaps most importantly, true kindness.--Gale Straub Inspiring--a masterpiece of bike-travel literature!--Claude Marthaler Told with grit and good humor, this charming travelogue is a testament to why it's worth hitting the road--whether on a bicycle, or through the pages of a book.--Kate Harris

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Book SynopsisFor recreational cyclists everywhere, the Finger Lakes region is a must-visit hot spot. Not only are the lakes themselves a sight to see—closely grouped, deep, cool streams meandering through the hills—but waterfalls, gorges, wineries, museums, cities, and farms are all found along these cycling trails, as well. 25 Bike Rides in the Finger Lakes provides clear and detailed mile-by-mile directions for each trail, labeled maps with cues, and notes on the history and culture of the area. 25 Bike Rides in the Finger Lakes (with 5 bonus rides!) is a complete tour of both the wildlife and cultural life of the Finger Lakes region, offering something for every type of cyclist.

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