Cycling Books

After my 10+ year cycling career, having raced in Italy, this book added very little to my knowledge. It tells some good stuff about crosswinds and echelons, but I think that Boresewick's Road Bicycle Racing is a better book in technics and tatics than this book.

If you are an novice or cat.4 this book may add a lot to your know-how! Since this is not expensive, it's worth giving an try. If you are an old-cycling-man like me, leave it alone.

This is an excellent book that is easy to read and outlines with charts where to be in relation to other riders, etc. If you're a cat 4 or cat 5 rider, this is really for you.

This book has given me, as a beginner bicycle racer, many ideas as to what to do and not to do at the races. The book is very well written and has many good illustrations.

Since reading this book is likely to make you a more competitive racer, I can hardly suggest that you read it. Afterall, that would be like giving myself a flat, or forgetting to put my rear wheel on before I lined up against you. I want to win just as much as you, so stay away from this book and all its excellent information. There are few books like this available for racing cyclists, thankfully.

I've been racing for 20 years and this book is a very well-written, very concise summary of many basic skills that every cyclist needs to know. Perhaps more importantly for the beginner, former US Pro champ Prehn explains outstanding tactical moves from his racing days as well as more recent races. Not all races are identical, but the examples help the reader begin to think "outside of the box" and begin to recognize and consider the multiple team/personality/individual talent dynamics that exist in any road bicyle race.

A wonderfull book - I am lookin foreward to do the same, when I am going to stop working.

Thank you - Stan

Peter Georg / Denmark

This book is a pleasant and quick read. Unfortunately, it lacks depth. It fails to explore the author's apparent emotional need to make the journey. It fails to be a descriptive account of the geography the author traversed. It fails to 'flesh out' the apparently interesting characters the author encountered in his travels. Plus, it focused too much on the medical and physical problems of his family.

Being middle aged, and considering taking an extended journey myself, I was eager to read this book. I read it in a day, and was sorely disappointed. Frankly, this man sounds like too much of a whiner for me to want to travel with!

The author rode his bike across the country in three stages because he didn't have the luxury of enough time to do it all at once. He's very candid about his misconceptions and the adjustments he makes. As I read this book, which I greatly enjoyed, I just knew the author had to be a midwesterner, as I am. It's not a flashy story, and nothing terribly dramatic happened, but at least I was left with the feeling that I would like to go with Mr. Purdum on an extended bike trip sometime. Highly recommended.

Stans book of his cross country journey was wonderful, I know first hand because I was in his book. I met Stan while doing my own cross country bicycle trip just by running into him! I'm Dave from Buffalo NY in Stans book, Stan is most certainly a strong and dedicated rider, a true bike tourer who know's what he's talking about. He was also one of the friendliest bike tourist I met on my trip. I would suggest this book to anyone who's looking to bike across the US Bikecentennial trail, or just looking to know what the US has to offer from a bicyclists point of view. Give it a try, it's an interesting read. Take care and happy trails. David Barnas

As a 53-year old bike tourer, I love reading about the experiences of others on long distance rides. Especially when the author is about the same age as me.
If you are looking for lots of valuable technical information and advice, this is not the book you are looking for. Sure, the author provides a decent smattering of advice and some decent technical instruction. However, what this book really is, is a journal of one man's ride across America. It is presented in an interesting and entertaining way. I loved to read about the interaction he had with people along the way. I loved to read about how he overcame and dealt with physical problems, technical problems, and emotional problems. To me, reading about a person's personal experience is more valuable than any technical manual or how-to book on touring ever written. This is a good one.

Written before the 2004 Tour history making 6 Tour wins, that has to be taken into consideration when reading. They did include a colorful summary of the 2004 Tour at the beginning of the book. Is a real nice history of the Tour and players since 1903. Answers some often wondered questions, like how do they go to the bathroom? Covers rituals of teams and riders. Also the written and unwritten rules. In the back of the book are great graphs: Tour timeline; different jersey winners from their beginnings; and other insignificant but, interesting to a true Tour fan, facts. Even if you think you know the Tour you can learn something new.

I enjoyed this book because it explained the Dour de France in a way most people could understand. I found the break from "Bobke" style a welcome change! If you are interested in learning the basics about the Tour, get this book!

"The Tour de France Companion" is a concise and well written introduction to the Tour. As other reviewers have noted, Bob Roll appears to have been working with a strong editor and/or sedatives, and the manic Bobke style only occasionally appears (it's most evident in his comments about Jan Ullrich).

As a long-time cycling fan I can't say that I learned anything new about the organization or strategy of the Tour, but there are plenty of historical anecdotes to keep the reading interesting. There are also a few gems, like the 1994 photo of youngsters Armstrong, Pantani, and Virenque climbing together. Ten years and three tumultuous careers later, one wonders what they were thinking then. One might also wonder what Virenque was thinking with that haircut.

And, yes, the book is Lance-centric. Sort of like the last five Tours.

First-time viewers are often both suprised and confused by the complexity of the Tour de France. If you've become interested in the world's most difficult endurance event then this book is the perfect place to satisfy your curiosity. TDF Companion is the best introduction to cycling that I've ever come across. Readers will quickly understand why the Tour de France inspires such rabid fans. Long-time cycling afficionados will love the book for the jaw-dropping facts sprinkled throughout, along with the incredible insight of a man who has run this gauntlet several times.

Be forewarned: once you understand cycling you are likely to become addicted.

Whether you are new to cycling or a veteran of the road, there is something for everyone here to digest. Bob Roll, the gap-toothed comedic sidekick to the more serious Phil Ligget on the outstanding OLN broadcast that cyclists look forward to every July is almost as entertaining in print as he is on television. This companion to the Tour de France can be enjoyed anytime of the year (for that spring motivation?)but obviously is best for TDF viewing. The companion was made specifically for the 2004 edition of cyclings greatest event but is full of so much history and tid bits of information that it can digested anytime. For the novice it is indespensible because it explains all the nuances that might otherwise go unnoticed. Any cyclist knows how annoying it can be to try and explain the peleton and other strategies during the race. We've all heard the words, " I don't know why he just doesn't go ahead and pass the other rider." The strategies are all explained and put in historical context, complete with humorous anecdotes and little known facts. The book is dedicated to one of the recent heroes but tragic figures of cycling, Marco Pantini, the diminutive giant who demonstrated to the world that he was the premier lithe and sinewy climber affectionally known as "The Pirate." The book hails the exploits of all the great riders of the past and present, the heartbreak and the heartbreakers, the riding asssassins and their victims. This is the everymans companion to one of the worlds greatest events and spectacles. The now defunct champion U.S Postal Team complete roster reflects the international nature of this sport and is featured here. All the major climbs, the meat and potatoes, heart and soul that seperates the pretenders from the contenders for the final victory lap on the Champs-Elysees are featured with descriptions etc. including the legendary grade 7.9 percent Alped'Huez that tortures all who attempt to snatch TDF victory in the mountains. All the head games are explained, the psychological chess matches between teams and individuals are expounded upon. There is also a nice historical time line of events in the TDF and a variety of records set in various categories for those inclined to factoids. All those who have worn the yellow jersey, from the first TDF's winner Garin in 1903 to Lance Armstrong in 2003 tying the record for consecutive victories, it is all here for you to check out. You can even ink in Armstrong as the all time record setter with his unprecedented sixth consecutive victory as the 2004 winner ! As stated before, it was intended for the 2004 event but was written in such a manner that it will serve you well for future events too. If Lance Armstrong is all you know about the TDF and you're into cycling than you need this book. A must for the novice and a neccessary addition for the complete cycling aficionados library.

So far I think it is a good resource for cycling. I have not gotten through all the workouts yet, but the few I have tried are very good.
The book surprised me because of the smaller size. I guess I was looking for a normal 8 1/2 x 11 size book, but this is okay.

The problem with most workout books is that they aren't designed to be used while in the process of a workout itself. Enter the spiral-bound, lay-flat and smaller 'Workouts in a Binder' series, of which FOR INDOOR CYCLING is the most practical. Here workouts are presented which use and also combine the three methods of heart rate, perceived exertion, power output for maximum results: workouts which can either stand alone or blend into an overall training regimen. Any cyclist involved in gym workouts needs this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

As a cyclist and instructor, I used this book last winter for an indoor cycling group that ranged from the first time triathlete to experienced ironmen! We used a 12 week program and followed the book as a guideline. Because everyone works at their own intensity, it works and motivates for all levels.

I even emailed Dirk, who responded with some recommendations! I still use this book in my basement for routine and guidance. It gives structure to workouts that can meander and go "no where", building strength, endurance and power for spring riding. Highly recommend! Don't let the jargon scare you, Dirk and Wes give many objective and subjective measures to self guide thru workouts.

I want a second edition!

This is a great tool to use for trainers... I am very impressed. The workouts are tough, and there is enough variety so that you don't get bored. The different types of workouts ensure that you get the right kind of workout... I am so excited to have something to help me get through the winter 'blahs' of cycling!

This book could be used alone or as an additional resource to Joe Friel's book, the Cyclist's Training Bible. This book focuses on specific workouts which include endurance, speed skills, muscular endurance, power, force, and anaerobic endurance, all of which are part of Joe Friel's book.

Any level of cyclist could benefit from this book, but I think it is probably intended more for the serious recreational cyclist or racers. If you follow the workouts as written, many of them can be very intense and grueling, especially the power and anaerobic endurance workouts. I've been using this book for about two months and have increased by intensity over the last several weeks, and I have definitely seen noticeable improvements in my cycling out on the road.

For anyone who is serious about getting stronger and faster on the bike while developing better technique, this book is a must have resource.

I was a little hesitant to buy this book after reading some of the reviews saying it was "too basic." I found it very helpful, esp the nutritional info. The training plan seems a little unrealistic -- its a 12 week plan that starts out with only 15 minute workouts. All in all, the book included a lot of valuable information that has helped me progress in my training for my first tri, but I wouldn't follow it word for word.

This book offers a good inital overview for those just starting in triathlons. Might be a bit basic for those who are already accomplished in the swimming, biking, and running. Liked the chapter that outlined what to expect in your first race - good pointers.

If you want to do a triathlon and were not sure, this book will give you the information you will need.

The info was way too basic. Hardly anything on swim stroke. Find something else unless you don't even know what a tri is.

I did my first triathlon (sprint distance) in September after three months training, and I was lucky enough to have found this book towards the beginning of my training. Needless to say I am hooked and can't wait to do another one!!! The book did an amazing job of preparing me by arming me with the information I needed to train properly, learn new sports (I had never biked or swam seriously before), eat right, and avoid injury, and yet avoided getting too "hard core" (when you do your first triathlon you keep wondering whether or not you're crazy). Joe keeps it manageable. There is a scary overwhelmed feeling you can get when you start reading about some of the crazy training schedules and techniques out there -- and he really clears through all that and gets to the essentials you need to know to make it through your training and cross the finish line. For example, his race day prep chapter really helped me visualize what to expect on the big day. Also, I really liked his approach to gear -- you can really get sucked into buying a bunch of stuff -- and he emphasizes ways to work with stuff you already have (ex: your old mountain bike) until you're more experienced and can better select the right gear to invest in. Overall, I really liked his fun-first emphasis, while providing what is clearly well-researched and high quality information. Two thumbs up!

I wish there were more books like this one on motorcycles. It worth its weight in gold. Too many of motorcycle books trying to compensate for a lack of originality and content by a gloss paper and meaningless pictures.

I'm pretty unsure of where to rank this book. Gary J is not a professional author (and it shows in the copy editing and writing of the book). What he does do, though, is provide a bunch of real world experience and riding tips in both volumes.

It covers riding theory, riding skills, and practical suspension setup - something i've found invaluable as a rider myself. While this doesn't give you an instant background of "how and why" of riding, it will help those who're in the middle range of skill get better. It's not a beginners book by any means. He assumes that you've been on the road or the track for a while, he also assumes you know the basics of riding (experience and MSF course, really).

I have, in the past recommended this book to people, on mailing lists, and in person. It is a very solid investment for your money. It's a quick read, with plain language, and yeah, it can be confusing at times, especially if you don't have the base skills he's talking about or mentioning.

if you're looking for beginner books, look elsewhere. if you're looking for a good book to help you fine tune what you already know or suspect, pick this up and give it a read.

I found a good mixture of riding techniques and suspension setup information in this book. I liked finding the combination all in one place. I hadn't had much luck in gettting my R1 to handle like I'd hoped, even though I tried turning some of the adjusters. I realized I needed help figuring out more about the concepts of how suspension worked and a plan on what I needed to do to get it right.

I found the chapters on suspension in this book were written in an easy to follow way that I could understand. The suspension setup process was described as step by step, with a lot of good explanation of the whys of how it all worked too. Not having much experience with suspension that was a big plus for me.

The difference in the handling of my R1 alone after following the suspension setup instuctions, made this book well worth the cost.

It doesn't rain that much here in Arizona, but if it does the really detailed rain riding section provided in the back of the book certainly has left me better prepared for it. I haven't seen this topic covered in such great detail in any other books.

Amazon offers several great books that will help you improve your riding and street survival skills - unfortunately, this book is not one of them. The author's ego and lack of knowledge have produced a book with few meaningful insights into sport riding. You will be better served by any of the excellent instructional books from Keith Code, David L. Hough, Nick Ienatsch or Lee Parks.

I was disapointed and could not learn much from it. I didn't like the writing style - very distracting - and concepts - confusing. Try Twist of the Wrist II from Keith Code and/or Sport Riding Techniques from Nick Ienatsch. Those are good investment.

This book really changed my cycling performance, it's great for cyclists and also for everybody else.

This book is an invaluable resource for those just getting into cycling. It also makes a great reference tool for the advanced cyclist.

This book is very well laid out. It is an excellent guide for the beginner and a nice, well-organized reference for the advanced cyclist. Every part of the book is laid out in a straightforward manner and the information is right on in every respect. Whole training plans are sampled for the season, and easy-to-use charts are used to track your progress.

As a long-time cyclist and coach, the reviews that say this book is inferior are just plain wrong. Reading the book doesn't make you fitter. You have to practice what is taught in here. Additionally, the readers who pan it seem to have weight training backgrounds which likely pre-disposes them to their set ways of doing things in the gym. Bodybuilding techniques aren't cycling-specific.

Arguably this is the best book for that area of cycling that can improve your cycling the most, strength training.

I bought this book over a year ago, and followed the program as laid out by the authors. All I can say is WOW! I am now hammering guys on climbs that used to leave me in the dust.

I referred a friend to this site and was not happy to see the very negative review written by O'Toole. He and the other "bodybuilder" guy who panned the book claim to have all of this knowledge of weight training, so why did they buy the book? A bodybuilder may know his way around the gym, but I am betting that he has no idea how to write up an annual periodized training program specifically for cycling. If he did, then once again, why did he buy the book? Just to criticize it?

This is a book to inform cyclists on how to use weight training to improve their riding, and it does this perfectly. It tells you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I strongly suggest it to anyone who wants to get stronger in the saddle!

This book offers no real insight other then the standard thoughts like cyclists should do high repetitions with low weight so as not to build bulky muscles. Other standard thoughts include varying your workout over time to constantly stress your muscles so they don't become too accustomed to one particular workout routine. The author references his personal training program available via his website one too many times for my taste. When reading the book you get the feeling that the "cycling" aspect of the book seems more the result of a search and replace operation in a word processor versus a book really geared towards cyclists.

If you haven't spent much time in a gym lifting weights then this book might be more valuable then I found it.

This book should be described as a detailed list of climbs in the United States. There is very little here with respect to climbing technique and training for climbs. I was very dissapointed in this book.

I am old and heavy but I still love going UP. I needed a guide to help find climbs and a true rating of one over the other. THE 100 Toughest USA Road Bike Climbs page is worth the price of the book! I have climbed Mt. Washington (#1) 3 times - Equinox (#7) - WhiteFace (#16) - Evens (#20) - Auscutney (#31) and Burke (#50) from the top 50. They are rated correctly - also Mitchell at #85 and Brasstown Bald at #82 are correct in the ratings after climbing them. Note Brasstown Bald is an inflated climb due to the tour - he rates it as a 2.14 Cat 1 - not the Tour of Georgia HC. The maps are great and the directions on how to start the climbs are priceless - you can NOT GET THIS INFORMATION anywhere else. If you are looking to DO climbs and not long winded descriptions of how to or what it looks like GET THE BIBLE!!! This book has changed my vacation planning. Next month is the Death Ride for me and 3 more passes from the book.

I was a little disappointed when I received this book because the focus of this book is really the west coast. If, like me, you live east of the Mississippi, don't expect to find many climbs within hundreds of miles of you. The sub-title should have been most difficult climbs in Western US with a few thrown in for the east-coasters.

The number of climbs in states are: MA-2; NH-1; NY-1; VT-5; GA-1; NC-6 and these 16 rides are it east of the MS. For the western states: AZ-5; CA-72; CO-14; HI-5; NV-6; NM-2; OR-3; UT-12; WA-2; and WY-7. Even in the Hill Climb Races section, the Core States bike race in Philly that includes the (in)famous Manayunk Wall isn't mentioned. I know the hills are where they are and not evenly distributed, but it would be nice if Summerson would have included some hills from other states for broader interest. It's entertaining to read about far-away hills, but not as much fun if it's not practical to visit them and challenge yourself against them.

This is an ideal manual to identify the very biggest climbs for roadies in the U.S. You may have to do a little more research than what is provided in the book if it is your first time up a mountain (available water sources, traffic levels, and road conditions). Nevertheless, the book has inpired me and my riding club (Descenders) to try some new climbs that we never heard of.

I was expecting something much more than this. The book is poorly produced, the maps are vague, the organization shoddy, and the writing pedestrian. I think the authors did a lot of climbing to get this information, but somewhere the publisher or editors let them down. It's really poorly organized and not very interesting to read. I know a couple of these climbs, and the descriptions here fall flat.

I found this book just by chance in a used book shop in Kelowna (B.C., Canada). I found Ted's outlook and observations very interesting. When I started reading it, I thought it is meant to be a funny narative of Ted's adventure on his bike across North America. But there is more to it. I find Ted's perspective on the cookie-cutter lifestyles and values of most of us living in this continent very thought-provoking. I must say that I disagree with the previous two reviews below.

As an avid cyclist, I looked forward to sitting down with this book. Unfortunately, this book is just "OK." This guy takes off on a trip with some gal he barely knows (and ends up with another girl he barely knows) and almost no money. He calls it an Enviro Ride to raise awareness about the environment. It should have been called the Freeloader Ride. People who give him money and/or agree with his views are angels. He speaks negatively about most everyone else. He could have called it the Woodstock Ride as he promotes sex, nudity, peace, love, and freeloading. I just didn't get any warm fuzzies reading this book.
Sue B
Lake Forest, CA

I think if you called the author a nut to his face, he'd be really pleased. But there's more to this book than just some nut writing about his cycling. It's a really fun book to read, and after you've read maybe half of it, it suddenly dawns on you that the author has both faith and moral courage, and he shows it to you in his narrative without making a big deal of it. He earned my respect while amusing me with his story. I found myself hoping that things work out for this guy and that he has a nice life. To the author: thanks for the book, I loved it.

I purchased this book after a friend recommended it. Let me just say she is no longer a friend. Ted Schredd might love life but he clearly hates taking the time to learn how to write. Not only that, but the story is lacking. Here it is in a nutshell, but written better...A guy rides his bicycle with a girl he just met. He cheats on her and finds another girl. The two of them then continue the odyssey and and beg anybody and everybody for: a) a place to stay, free of charge b) meals, free of charge c) bicycle equipment and support, free of charge. The end. I rated this book 1 star, but only because Amazon.com doesn't have a ZERO star rating.

I love travel adventure books, and The Cycling Adventures of Coconut Head had the potential to be a great read. However, I found Ted Schredd's writing to be childlike and lacking in substance, and I would have preferred a lot more detail about the landscape and scenery. Parts of the book were enjoyable, but I had a difficult time getting past the fact that Ted does not come across as a very nice person. (I do realize that I am apparently the only reviewer who feels that way.) For example, how could I root for Ted and Deanna's relationship after the way it started? (They had sex almost as soon as they met, in spite of the fact that Ted still had a girlfriend, who, by the way, had already ridden a bicycle from BC to California alongside him.) On top of that, he called people who had opened their hearts and homes to him "hateful" just because he didn't agree with their views. In spite of this book's intended positive message about environmentalism and realizing your dreams, it left me with a bad feeling.

Covers all the basic skills needed to build a good set of wheels. I am happy with the book, but it would have been nice to see some additional hints for beginners.

One of the frustrations many cyclists will have, aside
from the aggravation of lack of exclusive / reserved paths
in major urban areas and cities, excess of cars and pedestrians
and rainy and cold weather conditions, often is the lack of
durability of wheels, and the cost of replacing these.

Much like an automobile is most cheaply replaced by a mass
produced, commercialized vehicle outsouced to an Asian
manufacturer, 99% of cyclists are probably better off buying
their own wheels, not making them.

But for the unique individual preparing make this a hobby of
some sorts, or for the new professional in the business, this
book is "the real deal" in acquiring materials and assembling
and tuning your own wheels. Indeed, there are plenty of photographs,
illustrations, clues, explanations, and steps laid out in this book
comprising about 100 glossy pages, to help you along the way.

The costs of doing so, however, are less clear. Where and from whom
to acquire the items for assembly, and how many wheels will the cyclist
need to prepare for own use over 2 or 3 years ? Or for friends and family?
Why not just buy them, vs. acquiring a trueing device, or perhaps tools
and space for the assembly and tuning, for example?

Aside from the practical side of the book, the entertainment value is
not absent, either. It makes for an interesting read.

This book is fantastic. There's a simple step by step formula for lacing up a wheel that is better than anything I've ever read. Really.

Building a wheel isn't exactly rocket science, but if you do it wrong, you're going to have a poor quality wheel. Build it right, and your wheel will be better than a factory can turn out.

If you're looking to build a wheelset, or if you may be build 1-2 wheels a year, this is an excellent primer and reference.

I don't understand someone could stand to read more than five pages of this book without feeling the overwhelming disappointment associated with knowing that he has just wasted his money.

First, the book is horribly translated. It's not so bad that the book is incomprehensible, but its bad enough that most people will find the reading extremely awkward.

Secondly, the book is very poorly edited and typeset. It's obvious that this book was very rushed. While I didn't notice spelling errors, there are many minor errors related to spacing and typeface. More importantly, many of the diagrams are unclear, and the pictures, although mostly color, are often blurry or poorly composed.

The book itself is mostly filler and fluff. The author starts out by disclaiming having any actual qualifications, and it goes downhill from there. It's very obvious that the author is stretching just to meet the magical 100 page mark. Some pages are nothing but rambling, somewhat disguised by the horrible translation.

Many parts of this book are completely unclear. For example, there's a section on corked wheels that I've re-read many times, and still don't understand; it doesn't explain what the benefit of corking is, or how one would do this, or even why he's mentioning it. There's an accompanying picture of a corked rim that's so poor I can't see what is intended.

This book lacks most of the specific advice that I suspect people are buying it for. For example, the author refuses to share the ordinary method for lacing wheels, on the grounds that it is "described so often in the bicycle press [that it] does not need to be described in this book too," instead recommending a VHS videotape from DT Swiss for this purpose.

The author's association with DT Swiss, which is not explicitly stated in the text, severely undermines his credibility. Much of the information that is interesting in this text is specific to the DT product line, some apparently directly copied from DT manuals.

In addition, much of the guidance the author offers is obsolete, dubious, or just plain wrong. This author repeats many common bicycle myths that have long been proven to be fallacies. He also recommends various outdated and obsolete practices, such as soldering and tying--which he describes in more detail than is present anywhere else in the book--that have been soundly discredited for use on modern bicycles.

There is very little in this book that is worthwhile reading, and so much misinformation. The fact that much of the book is confusing, incomprehensible, or inane is really just the icing on the cake. Since there is at least one excellent, definitive, and authoritative reference on the bicycle wheel, I can see absolutely no reason anyone would want to buy this book.

This is a great book to read to understand some of the concepts of wheelbuilding. It answers many of the "why" questions. It is not, however, a step-by-step guide on how to build a wheel. For instance, when attempting to build my first wheel, I wanted to know the best specific method for threading the spokes. This book does not include that and you must go elsewhere to get that information. Overall, a good augmentation to your detailed maintenance manuals.