Anyone remember the old alt bike book for kids?
12-09-10, 08:23 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Anyone remember the old alt bike book for kids?
When I was a kid about 25 years ago, I had a fascinating book called something like "the Great Kids Bicycle Book." It came out about the time the tens-speed road racer bike boom of the 70s was ending and before the proliferation of BMX bikes and mountain bikes. It had rough plans in it for turning an old 20" standard bike into a BMX bike or taking an old cruiser and building it into a mountain bike. (Only the book had a different name for them - the word "mountain bike" hadn't yet been applied to the bikes that Gary Fisher and friends were cobbling together for each other) It was prescient - I recall that it said that someday in the future they'll stamp [mountain bikes] out of titanium for $800 a copy, but until then, you'll have to build your own. 
It also had plans for a ski bike and other stuff. It was published by Consumer Reports publishing.
Somewhere along the line since then, I or my parents decided it was time to get rid of that book. It has stayed with me in my mind all these years, but so far my searches on the net and in library catalogs have not produced it yet. Does anybody remember this book, have a copy, or know where to get it?
It also had plans for a ski bike and other stuff. It was published by Consumer Reports publishing.Somewhere along the line since then, I or my parents decided it was time to get rid of that book. It has stayed with me in my mind all these years, but so far my searches on the net and in library catalogs have not produced it yet. Does anybody remember this book, have a copy, or know where to get it?
12-10-10, 03:00 PM
#2
Pedaled too far.
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Never saw it I'm afraid. Back then I was using Richard's Bike Book.
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12-24-10, 10:33 AM
#3
Bicycle Repairman
I still have mine!
It's copyrighted 1981. I loved this book when I was a kid and before I got it, didn't have much interest in tinkering with bikes except for whatever it took to keep my own running. I built most of the projects in there including a few "klunkers", the ski bike, and a tandem. If it wasn't for this book I probably would not be a "bike guy" today.
It's copyrighted 1981. I loved this book when I was a kid and before I got it, didn't have much interest in tinkering with bikes except for whatever it took to keep my own running. I built most of the projects in there including a few "klunkers", the ski bike, and a tandem. If it wasn't for this book I probably would not be a "bike guy" today.
12-24-10, 10:38 AM
#4
Bicycle Repairman
01-02-11, 04:48 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
kingsting,
Thanks! What a thrill to see that book again! I'll have to get another copy.
Thanks! What a thrill to see that book again! I'll have to get another copy.
