Commuting - Anyone know of any good books...

on bicycle commuting or a car-free lifestyle in general? Thanks-

Sorry for the generic answer but I've found TONS of great books at the local library, I usually check out at least 5 at a time and sift through them to find out what I want to know.

Effective Cycling by John Forrester.

on bicycle commuting or a car-free lifestyle in general? Thanks-

There's quite a few on this board living a car-free lifestyle (myself included), maybe you're better of asking specific questions here.

get some of them bucket panniers... (what was the web address for them?)
cobbworks.com

Cool yeah I've been reading the posts on this board, tons of helpful info. I'm moving out of Southern California in a month to go to Vermont and, if things go well, planning on selling my car and commuting by bike year-round. I do a couple hundred miles/week of biking right now so I'm not worried about that aspect of it, but more the specifics of living car-free (or rather car-lite, as my girlfriend will still have hers): biking in inclement weather, making time, doing errands, etc. A lot of it will depend on where exactly I end up living in relation to work. My situation is still pretty up in the air at this point so I don't have any specific questions yet (but I'll be back!), so I was just looking for any good reads to get myself informed in the meantime. Good call on the library thing, btw: I went to my school library today and picked up Asphalt Nation and Divorce Your Car. Thanks for the great board.

biking in inclement weather,

This just takes proper attire. Concentrate on keeping warm more so than keeping dry (I've ridden in downpours that a concrete wall wouldn't keep out). Once that is sorted, you may find that you prefer that kind of weather. I know I do.



making time, doing errands, etc.

This is actually the main reason that I am car-free at present. Given the way cars are totally susceptible to whatever the traffic is doing, they just aren't reliable around here. On my bike I know to allow 30 minutes for my ride to work, and invariably, 30 minutes is what it takes. Other people can take up to 2 hours to cover a similar distance some days.

Cool yeah I've been reading the posts on this board, tons of helpful info. planning on selling my car and commuting by bike year-round. I was just looking for any good reads to get myself informed in the meantime.Thanks for the great board.

When you sell your car and bike everywhere you will either be able to work far less and have time to read every post that interests you that was ever written, or you'll be rolling in the dough and will be able to pay someone to sift through what was written here, while you're touring Europe on some fancy-shmancy new set of wheels. If you do read books that impart Great Knowledge about Biketopia or the like, post your findings here, for your less litterate breatherin. Good luck, and have fun!

Haven't read it, but seen it around:

Urban Biker's Tricks & Tips by Dave Glowacz

I can heartily recommend my all-time favorite book about bicycles and cycling:

Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book by Richard Ballantine

and of course, not a book but a classic website:

Ken Kifer's Bike Pages (http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/)

Urban Biker's Tricks & Tips by Dave Glowacz[/URL]

I've met Dave a number of times. He's an all around great guy.

Furthermore, even 5 years of commuting and pleasure riding in Chicago traffic didn't impart the knowledge his book provided.

If you pick up a copy and want it autographed, let me know, I'm sure he'd sign it if you cover postage.

Better yet, google the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, call them and ask for him. He may be able to sell you an autographed copy and you'd only have to pay postage one way.

Read "3 Men on a Bummel" by Jerome K Jerome. Published in 1900. It is about touring through Germany, but has some good comments on the latest scientific advances (brakes and seats) and bike advertising in general.