General Cycling Discussion - course on bicycles

Does anyone know of any college/university courses offered on any aspect of bicycling?

Which aspect? I know several people that have designed bicycles as part of an engineering program, a few more that have built them as part of a metallurgy program, and even more that learned how to wrench on them while getting a liberal arts degree. :D...some of them are STILL wrenching. ;)

Aaron :)

Actually, cycling would make a good PE program. I took archery and bowling as my required PE's in college, cycling would have been better.

Googling "physical education cycling" turns up a few hits, some for indoor cycling.

This is all I've ever seen. http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/

Does anyone know of any college/university courses offered on any aspect of bicycling?

There are universities with cycling teams and a handful of online college or trade level maintenance courses.

Brad

I know Connestoga college up here in Ontario, Canada offers courses on bike mechanics through winterborne. I think I've heard of something similar in the states but I forget the name.

Sorry, should have been more specific. I'm thinking more along the lines of the sociological aspects, maybe ecological aspects of cycling? I'm looking to do a three week intensive course with high school students. I'm already planning on some basic maintenance stuff as well as road laws and safety. Thanks.

Book recommendations are welcome too. That might be the best route is to work from a good book.

As far as books, include at least a little "Metal Cowboy". On first glance, you may think i'm joking. Not at all. Kurmaskie does a beautiful job of showing how the world can be viewed differently from a bike. I'm also a big fan of "The Art of Cycling".

Good luck with the classes.

You might look into Marian University in Indianapolis. I don't know if they offer the type of thing you're interested in, but given how big cycling is in their athletic department, it's worth a shot.

I would try a city that is proactive in cycling as an alternative like Seattle WA. They might even have a bicycle plan which means a lot of thought went into it.

I've occasionally thought about designing a course in the history of technology, focusing on the bicycle, but I haven't gotten around to doing it. A few books I would use, either as assigned reading or for my own preparation, include David Herlihy, Bicycle: The History; Frank Berto, The Dancing Chain, 3rd ed.; David Gordon Wilson, Bicycling Science, 3rd ed., Jeff Mapes, Pedaling Revolution, and Bob Mionske, Bicycling and the Law. There are others, but that's where I would start. I'd also use some standard works in the history of technology, such as George Basalla, The Evolution of Technology, and Thomas P. Hughes, Human-Built World, to provide a broader context for thinking about technology in history.