"...with plenty of tips and advice for those who want to get back into biking even after decades have passed, "The Practical Cyclist" is a read many readers will embrace for fitness and the environment." - James. A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review "Dust off the bike, put some air in the tires, and discover a new world that has been waiting for you. that's an easy-to-accept invitation from the author, who is a bicycle enthusiast, commuter, and self-described all-round "neighborhood bike guy" from Clearwater, Florida. the text addresses the transition into a two-wheeler mindset in an easy-to-follow format. His writing style is light enough to convince a reluctant reader to take that first spin around the block and do so eagerly and confidently. The advice is sound, too. The author encourages first-time bike commuters to resist the temptation of taking the same route they take with an automobile. "There are many roads that all, eventually, lead to the same place if you're willing to work at it,"he writes. "You want, poetically speaking, to take the road less traveled. It will make all the difference." And this book will make all the difference for a bicyclist with an open, resourceful mind and a willingness to step outside the box for an adventure on two wheels."- ForeWord Magazine "This introductory book is an easygoing ramble through the basics and joys of cycling for anyone who has just mastered riding or is returning to the bike after a long hiatus. Haynes, a commuter cyclist in Florida, aims to encourage more regular local riding and commuting with practial tips on selecting from various types of bikes; basic bike mechanics; gear and accessories. This practical, low-key approach eases the reader into integrating cycling more often into their life for pleasure or health and as an affordable, flexible, local transportation option. - Jean Chong, Momentum Magazine "First off, here's what this book is NOT; a comprehensive guide to training, repair, nutrition, racing strategy or any of that other in-depth stuff. What his book IS is a very simple, very practical and extremely humorous guide to bicycling for everyday purposes. Seasoned cyclists and hardcore commuters probably won't get much out of The Practical Cyclist other than a lot of laughs...frankly, it's just not written for the accomplished cyclers among us. But for someone just entering this wonderful world of bicycles, this book is a must read. Let's hope this book sells a billion copies!!! - Jack "Ghost Rider" Sweeney, bikecommuters.com Riding a bicycle is something you never forget—even if the last time you owned a bike, it had playing cards pinned to the spokes. People are coming back to bicycling in droves; propelled by rising gas prices, expanding waistlines, or the allure of fancy gear, bicycling for all ages has never been more popular. The Practical Cyclist is for those who have not been actively cycling for years, or perhaps are new to the sport; it is bicycling for real people. The author recognizes that not every cyclist cares about fancy equipment and competitive riding. The book’s low-impact approach is uniquely geared to people who would like to come back to cycling but don’t know where to begin. There are many reasons for hopping back on a bike—becoming healthier, saving money, saving the environment, but mainly to have fun. The Practical Cyclist provides simple, basic information that takes the intimidation out of visiting a bike shop and includes: How to choose equipment Proper riding technique Safety tips Accessories Easy rules on where, when, and how to ride As this book says, anyone can ride a bike and look good doing it. You don’t have to go fast, and you don’t have to go far. You just have to go. Chip Haynes has been a year-round commuter for a decade, and he owns too many bicycles. He writes about bicycling for The Wire Donkey and is known as “the neighborhood bike guy” in Clearwater, Florida.

“No matter what or how you ride, read this book and remind yourself just how enjoyable cycling can and should be.”—Eben Weiss, author of The Enlightened Cyclist Just Ride is a revelation. Forget the ultralight, uncomfortable bikes, flashy jerseys, clunky shoes that clip onto tiny pedals, the grinding out of endless miles. Instead, ride like you did when you were a kid—just get on your bike and discover the pure joy of riding it. A reformed racer who’s commuted by bike every day since 1980, whose writings and opinions appear in major bicycling and outdoor magazines, and whose company, Rivendell Bicycle Works, makes bikes for riders ready to opt out of a culture overrun by racing, Grant Petersen shares a lifetime of unexpected facts, controversial opinions, expert techniques, and his own maverick philosophy. In 87 short, two-to-three page chapters, it covers: Riding: Count Days, Not Miles; Corner Like Jackie Robinson; Steer with Your Hips, Shift with Your Legs Suiting Up: The Shoes Ruse; Ponchos—the Ultimate Unracer’s Garment Safety: #1 Rule—Be Seen; Helmets Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up to Be Health and Fitness: Why Riding Is Lousy All-Around Exercise; Saddles Don’t Cause Impotence; Drink When You’re Thirsty—Not Before Also includes chapters on Accessories, Upkeep, and Technicalities, and a final chapter titled “Velosophy” that includes the essential, memorable thought: Your Bike Is a Toy—Have Fun with It. Winner Silver Medal 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards

Questions and debunks over eighty myths to highlight bicycling's inherently enjoyable nature, addressing everything from clothing and accessories to health, fitness, and safety.

Imagine a bike that has been made from plant-based materials or reused and recy cled parts. Imagine that the material wearing from your tyres or brake pads is biodegradable. That the lubricant washing down from your chain no longer pollutes the forest you are riding through, but provides valuable nutrients for the plants in it. You no longer discard your old bike as if it were a piece of rubbish, but return it to the manufacturer so that parts and materials can be reused to make new bikes. Or, alternatively, you could plant your old bike in your garden for it to become part of the circle of life again. You would be living in a world with a circular economy. A world where you ride your bike in an environment without pollution. Through forests larger than today, inhabited by ever more varied species of plants and birds. A world where CO2 emissions no longer contribute to climate change and we no longer dig up finite resources from the Earth, but use our 'waste' or renewable natural sources to make new products. To make the transition from our current linear take-make-waste economy to that circular economy, marginal gains are not sufficient. To get there, we need a revolution. This book is a practical guide to help the world of cycling make that transition. Erik Bronsvoort is a bike nerd, engineer, entrepreneur and trailblazer. Founded Circular Cycling with Matthijs to test circular business models in the cycling industry. Matthijs Gerrits is a bike nerd, historian and IT expert. Founded Circular Cycling with Erik to make sustainability an issue in the cycling industry.

Women are built differently, ride differently, train differently, burn different macronutrients as fuel, and have a different relationship with their bikes than men do. It's only natural they should need their own comprehensive cycling book. The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Women is an instructional manual geared specifically toward women. It breaks down the sport of cycling into easily digestible sections, beginning with the history of women's cycling and progressing into equipment, lifestyle, technique, training, and fitness goals. The book also includes a women-specific section that covers cycling while menstruating, cycling while pregnant, how menopause affects training, and how specific parts of the female body are uniquely affected by cycling. The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Women will serve as an indispensible, lifelong guide for every female cyclist.

It's not (just) about the bike. Ride your bike long enough and with an optimal bike fit you're likely to get injured. It's not what cyclists want to hear, but it's the hard truth. Cycling is a rapidly growing sport, and as numbers increase, so do the amount of injuries. What do you do if you get injured? Rest? Continue to ride? These questions need answering – to avoid confusion, further complications and more harmful injuries, resulting in substantial time off the bike. We want more riders out on the road, enjoying their cycling, pain free. This book takes you through the most common cycling injuries, lets you know what exactly they are, why you get them and what you can do to do get rid of them and get you back on the bike pain free. * Foreword by Sir Bradley Wiggins and featuring interviews with pro-cyclists including Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Dan Martin, Tyler Farrar and Andrew Talansky.

Once the season starts, most cyclists are saving every spare moment for the road. The miles to ride in preparation for upcoming races leave little time for fundamentals like strength training or cross-training. This is just one of the reasons why Thomas Chapple argues that the success of the upcoming season depends on the extent to which you can build your foundation of aerobic fitness, or your "base," for the road ahead. After identifying a cyclist's strengths and limiters, it is time to sacrifice the volume of training and the perceived level of fitness in order to increase intensity and broaden the aerobic base. In effect, this builds a bigger engine and the cyclist is then able to work back up to the higher volumes and an overall improved levels of fitness and speed. But Chapple's guidance for cyclists extends past the important off-season months to establish a more efficient plan for the upcoming year. A stronger base makes a stronger, faster cyclist.

Why would someone set out on a bicycle tour of Ireland? Because Ireland is as stunning a country as any you'll ever visit. There's the extraordinary light, which adds intensity to everything, making greens and whites appear greener and whiter. It's all there: moss-covered mountains rising ominously from the mist, bright blue skies over white sandy beaches; the ghostlike ruins of ancient monasteries on misty days... With picturesque routes and breathtaking landscapes, Ireland is beloved by cyclists in search of an exhilarating yet memorable experience. In Green Tour of Ireland, avid cyclist Paul Benjaminse explores the a route around Ireland from Belfast to Dublin via the most spectacular and scenic routes in the country and offers his expert advice on the best way to see the beautiful parts of Ireland. Includes detailed routes and maps of; Ulster Sligo Cork Connemara The Burren Leinster and the Dublin Mountains.

Intended both for experienced racing cyclists who want to improve their skills and technique, and for recreational riders who want to cycle for fitness or get into racing, this book features a 12-week programme for stationary training. There is also advice on topics such as choosing a bike.