I've read a few books on the Tour de France and especially like the ones about the mountain climbs but would like more information(and pictures!!) of the bikes used in these old races.

I did find a CD that contains 17 books in .pdf format. One of them is "The Modern Safety Bicycle" and was written in 1900. The author wasn't going to say much about the new fangled free wheel since it was so new and the technology hadn't been worked out. New bikes were using 22 gauge steel (~.7mm) and often breaking during the welding process. A new process introduced by the Patent Butted Tube Co. of Birmingham is viewed as a step in the right direction. (Previously, sleeves were fitted to the outside or inside of the tubes for added strength) Even back then, they had monocoque frames of cast aluminum.






Does anyone have any good books on cycling to recommend?

bicycles and tricycles by archibald sharp , articles by sheldon brown

Anybody's Bike Book, Bike Tripping, both by Tom Cuthbertson
The books that got me (and many others) hooked on bikes as an adolescent

Paris-Roubaix:A Journey Through Hell
Big picture book about the famous one day bike race through history

No Hands: The Rise & Fall of...Schwinn... by Crown & Coleman
A lively account of the iconic American bicycle maker, and a good overview of bikes in the 20th century from two business journalists

C.O.N.I. Manual
Italian cycle training manual published in 1972. Priceless window on the sport- PDF available here: https://www.sandcreeksports.com/coni.htm

The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles, Jan Heine

focus is on French Randonneurs, Herse and Singer and the like

amazing photographs.

From the article in the OP: '..clumsy people ought to learn, or be a source of income to people who have learnt..' Classic!

You beat me to it. That's an inspired piece of writing.

The Tom Cuthbertson bikes turned me into a serious rider. Opened up a whole new world.

https://www.amazon.com/Put-Me-Back-My...7445668&sr=1-1

60's-70's era, although more about the
people and the environment than the bikes. Some
reasonable photos of that era's Peugeots.

But if you are unaware of it, you will be grateful
for the reprinting of " 100 Years of Bicycle Component
and Accessory Design" (aka The Data Book):

https://www.amazon.com/Years-Bicycle-...7446058&sr=1-1

and I'd get one before it goes out of print.

Lastly, Frank Berto's book "The Dancing Chain: History
and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle" is one that no
bicycle geek could be truly happy without:
https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Chain-...7446385&sr=1-2

Respectfully yours,
Mike Larmer

Thanks for the great suggestions! I got the Jan Heine book, the Data Book, The Dancing Chain, and a book on the Spring Classics.

I recently read "Ascent" and "Cycling's Golden Age" and I recommend both.

I started with this book "The Story of the Tour de France" which used to be on the Torelli website.