If you could pick one cycling book...
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If you could pick one cycling book...
If you had to recommend one road cycling book to someone, what would it be? I'm trying to learn as much about the sport as I can and my eyes hurt from looking at forums and internet sites all day. I'm an old-school reader. I prefer an actual book.
I picked up cycling primarily as a substitute to running. I do it for the fitness aspect of the sport...but I'd really like to do some road races eventually. I'm interested in training programs, cycling skills, and equipment maintenance. Not real interested in cycling personalities or race stories.
I picked up cycling primarily as a substitute to running. I do it for the fitness aspect of the sport...but I'd really like to do some road races eventually. I'm interested in training programs, cycling skills, and equipment maintenance. Not real interested in cycling personalities or race stories.
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easy...The Rider, by Tim Krabbe
maybe not the best read for your intended purposes, but the best nonetheless.
as an alternative, i'd recommend Roadie. it will teach you a lot.
maybe not the best read for your intended purposes, but the best nonetheless.
as an alternative, i'd recommend Roadie. it will teach you a lot.
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i liked "french revolutions" by tim moore. funny, interesting, great book i think. i know it's not what you are looking for, but it is still a great book about cycling.
what you are looking for is the cyclists training bible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...SIN=1934030201
or serious cycling
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073...SIN=073604129X
but they aren't as interesting.
what you are looking for is the cyclists training bible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...SIN=1934030201
or serious cycling
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073...SIN=073604129X
but they aren't as interesting.
Last edited by pablosnazzy; 12-01-10 at 09:41 PM.
#6
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I'll be honest. I read Krabbe's "The Rider". It's good in its own realm, but it's not something you can give to a new rider. There's so much nuance. A new rider has no frame of reference. We point to it because it speaks our language deeper than most. But if you don't know the language...
By the way, I love this type of thread.
By the way, I love this type of thread.
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i liked "french revolutions" by tim moore. funny, interesting, great book i think. i know it's not what you are looking for, but it is still a great book about cycling.
what you are looking for is the cyclists training bible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...SIN=1934030201
or serious cycling
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073...SIN=073604129X
but they aren't as interesting.
what you are looking for is the cyclists training bible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...SIN=1934030201
or serious cycling
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073...SIN=073604129X
but they aren't as interesting.
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If you had to recommend one road cycling book to someone, what would it be? I'm trying to learn as much about the sport as I can and my eyes hurt from looking at forums and internet sites all day. I'm an old-school reader. I prefer an actual book.
I picked up cycling primarily as a substitute to running. I do it for the fitness aspect of the sport...but I'd really like to do some road races eventually. I'm interested in training programs, cycling skills, and equipment maintenance. Not real interested in cycling personalities or race stories.
I picked up cycling primarily as a substitute to running. I do it for the fitness aspect of the sport...but I'd really like to do some road races eventually. I'm interested in training programs, cycling skills, and equipment maintenance. Not real interested in cycling personalities or race stories.
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I'll be honest. I read Krabbe's "The Rider". It's good in its own realm, but it's not something you can give to a new rider. There's so much nuance. A new rider has no frame of reference. We point to it because it speaks our language deeper than most. But if you don't know the language...
By the way, I love this type of thread.
By the way, I love this type of thread.
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Roadie was the most fun read.
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#13
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#14
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I really love the "The Rider" book. One of the best books I have read, cycling related or not. But it is best if you read the Roadie first then a lot of terms in the Rider will be self explanatory. Not to mention that it makes watching bike races on TV more enjoyable.
I have let my friends and co-workers borrowed these two books and whether they ride or not they thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
I have let my friends and co-workers borrowed these two books and whether they ride or not they thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
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I really love the "The Rider" book. One of the best books I have read, cycling related or not. But it is best if you read the Roadie first then a lot of terms in the Rider will be self explanatory. Not to mention that it makes watching bike races on TV more enjoyable.
I have let my friends and co-workers borrowed these two books and whether they ride or not they thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
I have let my friends and co-workers borrowed these two books and whether they ride or not they thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
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A) Thanks to the OP for this thread. I've been looking into picking up a good cycling book to read.
B) I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this movie...
(not a book, I know, but it looks like it would've been a great "read" on it's own):
B) I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this movie...
(not a book, I know, but it looks like it would've been a great "read" on it's own):
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"The United States of Delirium: A Book About The Race Across America"
(I think I've found my book along with all the other suggestions here)
(I think I've found my book along with all the other suggestions here)
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Lots of good suggestions here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=must+reads
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=must+reads
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+1. The Bicycling Magazine maintenance guide is pretty good as well. I would say it is a toss-up between Zinn and Bicycling, except that Zinn has torque specifications at the back of his books.
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Yeah, sorry about that. Couldn't be bothered with actually reading the rest of the OPs post. Saw book recommendation, made one. FWIW, I find Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You'll Go to be an excellent read as well.
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THE RIDER is by far the best bike-racing allegory out there. Not a training book, but one that tells the story about a race and how it unfolds. You can re-read it dozens of times and still get stuff out of it. Incredibly, it's excellent even from a literary standpoint, and would hold up to scrutiny even in a literature-type class (not that you want that) despite being accessible.
I read ROADIE - probably good for a newb, but I was bored silly as even an intermediate-beginner cyclist, especially after having read THE RIDER. But as a newb, it's good.
I still haven't found a training oriented book I've liked. Probably a lot of this is because most cycling training books revolve around the use of PowerTaps ($$$) which I don't have, and thus end up being insanely complicated to translate to non-PT using.
Ironically, using your running routine and swapping time/intensity for cycling is probably your best bet for starters. Once you get used to pushing hard on the bike, a sprint-type DVD like Spinervals is excellent, as cycling does require leg power/strength that isn't emphasized in running.
And weirdly enough, running itself crosses over excellently to cycling. If you're strong on the run, you will definitely be strong on the bike. I think the weight-bearing nature of running and lack of coasting keeps it honest. Not to say cycling is easier than running (it's not) but there's more room with cycling to ease off and still cover distance.
I read ROADIE - probably good for a newb, but I was bored silly as even an intermediate-beginner cyclist, especially after having read THE RIDER. But as a newb, it's good.
I still haven't found a training oriented book I've liked. Probably a lot of this is because most cycling training books revolve around the use of PowerTaps ($$$) which I don't have, and thus end up being insanely complicated to translate to non-PT using.
Ironically, using your running routine and swapping time/intensity for cycling is probably your best bet for starters. Once you get used to pushing hard on the bike, a sprint-type DVD like Spinervals is excellent, as cycling does require leg power/strength that isn't emphasized in running.
And weirdly enough, running itself crosses over excellently to cycling. If you're strong on the run, you will definitely be strong on the bike. I think the weight-bearing nature of running and lack of coasting keeps it honest. Not to say cycling is easier than running (it's not) but there's more room with cycling to ease off and still cover distance.
#25
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Lemonds book is a good read for old school training that holds up very well by today's standards. I never heard of 'The Rider' but your review has sparked my interest.