ctyler

If I'm not cycling, I like to read about cycling and here are a few of my favorite books from my library of cycling literature:

"Bicycle Love, Stories of Passion, Joy, and Sweat," edited by Garth Battista, a wonderful collection of stories. I bought this book this past weekend and can't put it down.

"Off to the Races, 25 Years of Cycling Journalism," Samuel Apt. A wonderful collection of writing and stories. I like anything by Samuel Apt.

"Tales from the Bike Shop," Maynard Hershon and "Half-Wheel Hell & Other Cycling Stories," also by Maynard Hershon.

"Over the Hills. A Midlife Escape Across America by Bicycle," David Lamb.

"Free-Wheelin', A Solo Journey Across America," Richard Lovett.

These are just a few of the 70+ books I have related to cycling.

What's your favorite?

GradStudent

"Off the Map" by Mark Jenkins. What a great read!!

rykoala

I've read "Free-Wheelin', A Solo Journey Across America," Richard Lovett and it was a great book! I also enjoyed Metal Cowboy (https://www.metalcowboy.com/) and it was a great read!

randya

The Bicycle, by Pryor Dodge, Flammarion, publisher, 224 pp., 1996.

"A beautifully illustrated book on the history of the bicycle, based on the author's collection."

https://users.aol.com/pryordodge/index.html

seely

The Immortal Class: Messengers and the Cult of Human Power
-Travis Hugh Culley

smoore

Tales from the Tool Box by Scott Parr. Inside a pro team from a mechanic's perspective. Velopress

The Race by Dave Sheilds. Excellent fiction about an American in the TDF.

Heft on Wheels by Mike Magnuson (excellent memoir-brand new)

Feldman

I'm a mechanic, so Scott Parr's "Tales from the Toolbox" is pretty high on my list. Further up: "The Man Who Loved Bicycles," by Daniel Behrman--my Torah, Bible, and Koran combined. Robert Silverberg's analogy "Car Sinister," not a word about bikes, but about transportation issues in speculative future societies; it's a sci fi collection. "Breakaway," Samuel Abt's 1984 book on the Tour. I like this because it was a first American's journalistic glimpse inside pro cycling's culture before it changed to more closely resemble US pro sports. "Bobke," because Bob Roll can write about a European sport in an almost entirely American vernacular. "The Paterek Manual" because of it my first frame was straight, sound, and safe.

lofter

not a book but i loved the winning bicycle racing illustrated mags of the eighties.

Feldman

Forgot to mention, Dervla Murphy's two bicycling travelogues of Africa in the 1980's. One is of South Africa the year that apartheid ended, the other of cycling the trans-continental "AIDS Highway." Harrowing, beautiful books.

cyclezealot

In terms of being a broad based introducatory book about cycling, I thought the Gregg Lemond book, Everything you need to know about cycling is a good read.

Travelinguyrt

Any cycling travel book, esp those published by The Mountaineers, Seattle
I carry several with me everywhere, the Drs office, barber shop, having truk serviced,(spent 21/2 hours today having warranty battery changed)read more about the PCH trip I'm doing next week. Maps also plan my future rides on them, though I know some are only dreams

Gives me an incentive to keep going

MsMittens

I've become quite the fan of Josie Dew's travel books (her website is https://www.josiedew.co.uk ). How she manages to do her tours, earn money to do her tours and such... it's amazing. And lots of good humour in them

MarsHotel

Miles from Nowhere. This is a book about a woman (really a couple) that decide to ride around the world. I like it because its dated. Thing were still new, campy still ruled, and they are so naive. The woman really knew nothing about riding, but grew to love it, came back wrote the book, and then became serious cyclist.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

operator

Wow, i've got to find this book! Peoples comments on Amazon said that the author died after writing the book... ?

Joeagain

Yes, she was killed in an accident while riding. Her husband set up some type of writing scholarship or award, I don't remember which.

Joe

Chris L

I quite enjoyed Shimmering Spokes from Richard Allen, who cycled around Australia (but only the mainland, sorry Rowan) to raise money for cancer research. Although they aren't books, I also like to take some time to read some of the journals over at crazyguyonabike.com. They give me ideas of places I'd like to visit one day.

sm266

I really liked Heft on Wheels, too. I'm reading it again this weekend. Of course, I'm a creative writing major with a few extra pounds, myself . Great cover, too.

ctyler

I like that one as well.

ctyler

Thanks, I'll check out her web site.

ctyler

Never heard of this book so I went online to Amazon and found a used copy that I ordered. Thanks for the info.

Daily Commute

On a more practical note:

Effective Cycling by John Forester. Forester has an acid tongue (a poison pen?), but this is THE guide for riding in traffic. He also has a website.

Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (also one for Mountain Bikes) by Lennard Zinn. This is a readable, useful repair manual with a sense of humor.

rykoala

It is worth mentioning that the books I've read I got from the library. Don't pass that up as a great opportunity to do some great reading.

eurotrash666

Joe Kurmaskie is my favorite - "Metal Cowboy" and "Tales From the Road Less Pedaled". His view and approach is reflective and insightful.

Josie Dew's "Travels in a Strange State" gives a uniquely British perspective of American culture. Her wit and humor put me in stitches. I especially love the way she mocks the American accent.

Willie Weir's "Spokesongs" and the regular work he does for ACA are also good. His writing is more factual and less intruiging than Joe's, but anecdotal nonetheless.

"The Noblest Invention", from Rodale Press, is a tribute to the bicycle in every form. Amazon has it well underpriced.

"Bicycle Science" from MIT is the nitty-gritty for those of us who didn't go into convulsions in Calculus or Physics. I love it. Makes me want to spend time with my torch and milling machine!

Midman

Ditto on Zinn.
My other fav is Ned Overend's book on MTB riding (Mountain Bike Like a Champion).
Seems like I learn a bit from both with each re-read.

wildjim

You may enjoy,

"Nerves of Steel" by Rebecca "Lambchop" Reilly

It's about cycling as a Bicycle Messenger in various cities. . . Very exciting and informative.