eckroth

For the sport of running, there are two interesting books: The Zen of Running and The Complete Runner (just two I've seen around the house from my dad). The first seems to talk about the essence of running, and the latter has chapters on the philosophy, the physiology, etc.
Are there similar books about biking, specifically road biking? I would like something that talks about the inner meaning of riding (self-dependence? economy?) and maybe some information about nutrition and conditioning.
One book that looks interesting is "Metal Cowboy: Tales from the Road Less Pedaled", by Joe Kermaskie; this book is stories (fiction and non-) from his apparently solo travel across America and other lands...
For maintenance, there is "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance", by Lennard Zinn, obviously taking the title from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig (awesome book). I don't know how good either of these books are...
And of course there is Lance's, but I'd guess that it "isn't about the bike".

I've read none of the bike books I've mentioned, so let me know if you have and what you think, and if you know of others.

gmason

Well, I come to cycling very late (and lately), but ...

I just started reading The Dancing Chain yesterday, and will love it based on what I have already read.

I like Zinn's book and Bicycling's book on maintenance. Between them, they convinced me not to buy Barnett. At least for now.

Cycling Past 50 and Serious Cycling are mostly health, training, and cyclist care books. I like both, and will probably use bits from each to help me set up my training for Ventoux.

Lastly, I have Chris Boardman's book, which is more a how and why of a pro racer. Fascinating stuff, especially that a person would be so driven by the need to succeed that he chose bicycles - which he seems not to enjoy riding - because it is the best vehicle for him to succeed on.

I am really interested in the technical (read mechanical toy) aspects of bicycles as well as riding, so any other recommendations by members would be appreciated. Books such as The Racing Bike Book, 100 Years of Bicycle Component and Accessory Design, and Bicycle Technology for example. And has anyone read any of the Proceedings of the xxx International Cycle History Conference volumes?

Cheers...Gary

ljbike

Gary, unless you are a full time bike mechanic, BARNETS book isn't worth the cost. It is thorough and complete and is upgraded every few years because of the technological changes that are taking place in bicycle equipment, but just too much info for the home mechanic. Unless he really wants to get into buying all the tools and mastering every phase of bicycle maintanence.

But if you pop for Barnet you'll have to get Sutherlands as well. They complement each other.

swekarl

This topic was discussed in some other tread, but I don’t find it and my posts there disappeared during the break. SO: I would suggest anything by the technomad Steven K. Roberts. Right now I’m reading ”From Behemoth to Microship”, which is a summary of his projects. It’s a blend of lovely nomad philosophy and geeky tech specs about his very much extra-equipped recumbents. Roberts started out biking across America in 1983 and has been on the move ever since. Very inspirating.

Buy the book

Visit his site

chewa

Very interesting site, Swekarl.

John E

I missed a great opportunity to meet Roberts when he was consulting at Qualcomm and doing some research at UCSD. He is an interesting character, and I definitely need to read his book.

I second Gary's thumbs-up for "The Dancing Chain" and recommend it to anyone with any interest in technology and/or history.

gmason

It is now nearly New Year's Eve, and I am up to page 263 of The Dancing Chain. I can not but further emphasize what a great reference this is. As such, not the easiest reading if you have a tendency to absorb everything you are reading. The only negative, and it is a small one, is that it could have benefitted from some additional professional editing to eliminate typos, etc.

Now my quest is for a similar book on the development of the frame. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks...Gary

gmason

I highly recommend 'Bicycle Design' by Mike Burrows for a good summary of bicycle technology. A very easy read, written by something of an iconoclast, but I love his style and can't argue with his accomplishments.

Finally finished 'The Dancing Chain', and it was a great book. Not exactly the read for a relaxing day in the hammock, but I would think a very valuable reference book for anyone interested in the technical history of the machine's running gear.

I am still looking for an equivalent on frame design. I thought I had a copy of 'Designing And Building Your Own Frameset' last week, but someone had just snatched it out from under me. Has anyone read that one, or Tim Paterek's manual? Comments? Other suggestions?

Cheers...Gary

MichaelW

Touring Bikes, by Tony Oliver is an instructive read. Despite its title, it deals with racing and off road machines as well. It is a bit long in the tooth regarding components and tubing sets, but had good stuff on frame design and building.

JonR

Bill Walton co-authored a book that I found worth reading several years ago. I don't have the title in front of me but suspect it's "Bill Walton's Book of Bicycling." Barnes & Noble carry it.

It's intelligently written and full of interesting lore about bicycles and cycling.

gmason

I had also asked about books on frame design on a (classic bike) mail list, and someone recommended The Custom Bicycle by Kolin and de la Rosa. It is a bit dated (1979), and out of print, but you can find copies around.

I did, and started it last night. Spot on! If anyone has read this, and knows of other books of the same ilk, I would love to hear about them.

If you have not read it, it is a good general background on frames and framebuilding (among a few other things). Of particular interest to many could be the interviews with quite a few of the leading framebuilders of the time (1979?).

Cheers...Gary

pat5319

Interesting, I used to work for De La Rosa!

Greg Lemond, Bernard Hinault and Eddy B all wrote useful books that I've read. I understand John Howard's book is good too.

Ride Better
Pat

Richard D

If you're after second-hand books (one of my obsessions ), both www.bookfinder.com and www.addall.com are well worth a visit. They do have a keyword function but it's not wonderful. Author or Title search work well. The only minor problem with both sites is that the vast bulk of the bookstores are in the US (well minor problem for us Europeans), but I've never had a problem getting a bookseller to post to the UK (generally at a reasonable rate), and I've also ordered books from Sweden, Australia, Scotland and other countries.

Richard

the ringer

Here's a review I wrote on the competition bicycle
I found it very interesting, and some of the photos mouth watering. I also have done a few other book reviews on my blog that you might find interesting.

DX-MAN

OK, nobody commented on Metal Cowboy.

Joe Kurmaskie doesn't write fiction; these books are the essence of his years of touring by bike. Metal Cowboy: Tales of the Road Less Pedaled is excellent, and his follow-up Riding Outside the Lines is very good, also. Look into Roll Around Heaven All Day by Stan Purdum if you like something a bit less wry.

jagsfanrick

Nice, nothing like responding to a post from Dec 2001..lol.

mikewille

This has to be the oldest thread resurrection I've ever seen.
I like "Urban Bikers' Tips and Tricks."

There's a lot of good stuff in the google books preview:
https://books.google.com/books?id=XYT...age&q=&f=false