Good books?

Does anyone know of any good books for beginning cyclists? I know how to ride and I'm not interested in training plans (ex-runner, I know how to train when I get to that point), but I'm looking for something that has more practical advice, like how to handle traffic. Right now I'm reading the fit chick's book (Every Woman's Guide to Cycling), which has a lot about nutrition but doesn't seem to have much about dealing with traffic and other challenges along those lines.

I'd also welcome any good novels! ;)

The Art of Urban Cycling might be just what you are looking for. It's basically all about safely navigating traffic and other issues of urban riding. You can check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Urban-Cycl...=cm_lmf_tit_11

Hope this helps! :)

Rather than reading, perhaps a more hands-on approach might suit you.
Nothing like facing those challenges in the real world to give you valuable experience.
Since you're in MD, check out WABA's educational offerings.

The League of American Bicyclists has just updated their basic handbook, to a new volume called Smart Cycling... including the DVD that they issue to LCIs to help teach with... See https://members.bikeleague.org/membe...af=LAB&h=False

I'm in classes to get my motorcycle license and I've actually been getting a lot of good info that is relevant to my cycling from books on motorcycle skills.

This book has a lot about how to plan escape routes in traffic, and some valuable info about how drivers in cars think and see you. One tip saved me last weekend:

A big reason drivers will look RIGHT AT YOU and then pull in front of you anyway is because on a bike, you are smaller than the car/truck they are used to seeing approach them in traffic.. A smaller object APPEARS to be moving slower than it actually is, so they will misjudge how fast you are approaching. I was coming towards a lady who wanted to pull into the road from an intersection. She looked right at me, registered that I was there and then pulled righ in to the lane in front of me. Before I would've had to slam on the breaks and cursed her loudly while shaking my fist. Since I had just read about it in this motorcycle book, I knew to slow down and move to the far left of the lane so I had more road to use as an escape route if I needed it.

Also a lot of info on riding in the rain, on loose gravel, counter steering, cornering...all relevant info on a bicycle.

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Originally Posted by PscyclePath

The League of American Bicyclists has just updated their basic handbook, to a new volume called Smart Cycling... including the DVD that they issue to LCIs to help teach with... See https://members.bikeleague.org/membe...af=LAB&h=False

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PscyclePath, do you have a copy yet? I'm hoping Santa will send me a copy. :D

I liked Bicycling Bliss by Portia Masterson.

Thanks everyone! These all look great, and I'd forgotten all about those WABA classes, I'll have to check them out!

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

PscyclePath, do you have a copy yet? I'm hoping Santa will send me a copy. :D

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I got mine in the mail last Thursday, and have pretty much browsed through it... It's not quite Effective Cycling (thank goodness), but it's a sight better than the old League Guide to Safe & Effective Cycling. I already had the DVD, of course, and a girlfriend who's a lot more digitally adept than I am had converted that so that we could run it off the computer hard drive or thumb drive, so the DVD wasn't that much of a bonus to me, at least. But it's a good book, essentially combining the TS 101, Commuting, and Group Riding courses into a compact volume, and adding in lots of good stuff on working with kids.

The CD project got sidetracked a little bit (files don't all fit), but I'll get a thumb drive in the mail to you directly...

Tom

I have a pile of cycling books:) ...digging through ones I go back to, this one I think I learned the most practical things put in simpliest terms...

"Bike For Life: How To Ride To 100" by Roy M. Wallack & Bill Katovsky

Chater 2 is simply titled "Technique" ...the first sentance is when corning actually clicked in my brain what I needed to do. Plenty of other good stuff.


Simple outline tips, easy read... "1,000 All-Time Best Tips" edited by Ben Hewitt... Bicycling Magazine, paperback.

I like the Fit Chick's book you already mentioned too... but the first book I mentioned has more meat step by step stuff.

Happy reading:cool:.