It seems like 95% of the questions in this forum are from people who haven't cracked a book on training.

For those who haven't, why not?

If you want to get faster, the best way to do it is to crack a book. If you are interested, I have many suggestions and would be willing to entertain good questions from people that are willing to put some effort in for themselves.

These forums are more effective as a supplement to info you can get from books and discussions would be more interesting. I know there are lots of controversial opinions that are interesting to debate, etc. and tips and tricks that are great, but not easy to communicate to people who don't have the basics down.

Also, there are a lot of people offering BS advice that is worthless or dangerous so this applies doubly to those who haven't cracked a book and attempt to offer crap advice.

Doesn't experience count for anything? <and I am a newbie with no experience which is why I ask a lot of questions>

I see the same things at the gym I go to. Personal trainers giving advice that is totally wrong and could develop bad habits for the new lifters they train.

Personal experience does have clout but what works for one may not be best for another. Start out with the basics from several sources and then build a program as you learn what is working for you.

fstrnu: Please post some of the books you'd recommend. Title, Author and ISBN would be great!

Also, could you please cite a couple of cases of bad advice being given out. I've offered some advice and want to make sure I'm not giving out "crap" advice.

Zack
Feeling good about riding 300 miles this month - no book told me to do that.

I can't read

IMO, Cyclists Training Bible by Joe Friel is very good.

Any books by Ed Burke are good.There are a few which are really technical and he really did know his stuff.

Id go for Cyclist Training Bible.You wont be dissapointed.

Friel's book is way technical and written more for those with racing aspirations. His diet advice works for me but a lot of people (including Ed Burke RIP) disagree vehemently with it. Training depends on what your goals are. Do you want to lose weight, get faster, ride longer, get real fast, ride real long? There is no one size fits all.

I have a couple of dozen cycling books. Some of the best are by Chris Carmichael, Ed Pavelka, Fred Methaney, Arnie Baker and Ed Burke.

I like what Coppi said "Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike."

lose weight
ride longer

and get a little faster but not a lot faster I find cycling to relaxing to get my skivvies all bunched over racing.

Two of my favorite things.

#1 Cycling
#2 Talking about cycling

So do you ask questions because it's easier than cracking a book or for help understanding what you are reading or for things that aren't covered by books?

Cyclist's Training Bible by Joe Friel

The Heart Rate Monitor Book by Sally Edwards and Sally Reed

The Lance Armstrong Performance Program by Lance Armstrong and Chris Carmichael

Serious Cycling by Edmund Burke

Smart Cycling by Arnie Baker

As far as asking questions, I wouldn't feel too self-concious about it. The information in books is good, but sometimes they don't do a good job of letting you know what a mere mortal should expect.

Most of my favorite books have already been mentioned, except this one:
Greg LeMond's Complete Book of Bicycling

Greg was sort of the polar opposite of Armstrong/Carmichael. He was, perhaps, more casual and less focused. His approach to riding and training is easier to digest than the Carmichael approach.

Of those mentioned that I'm familiar with, I like the Carmichael training approach the least. He seems to regard clients as tables of statistics, not humans. Maybe it works. Maybe it works the best! I'm just not committed enough to take such a clinical approach.

Another good one for cyclists (not specifically about training) by Arnie Baker is Bicycling Medicine. Arnie is a practicing physician, cycling coach, and cat 1 racer (what does he do in his spare time?).

Thats an awfully bold statement to make here.

I know I am guilty of asking questions without opening a book first because I want the comfort of knowing someone else has been where I am and improved. I want feedback and support, and last time I checked books don't offer that. They make great resources to fall back on, but nothing beats experience. Plus there are people I trust on this site, and I have a general idea of who will answer if I ask a certain question. I am a damned good researcher and if I want to know something I know how to find the info,, but in my humble opinion nothing beats human interaction.

Thanks for the book suggestions, I think I will add a couple to my amazon wish list.

Reading books huh? Well it isn't an entire waste of time.

But there is a lot of truth in the adage that "Ride, your bike will teach you all you need to know."