Beginner Books For Cycling

Are there any decent books on road cycling? I downloaded a pretty good book on mountain biking via my Kindle but as a newbie on both, a road cycling book would really help.

All the books I've seen are focused on training for major events and I'd just like to get on mine and ride without leaving massive bruises all over my legs or fighting the bike. Not kidding. I have a bruise as big as my hand on my thigh from trying to get my bike out of the garage and nailed my thigh into the shelves. I have small ones from where my legs and pedals crash together as my balance sucks or when I have to walk home. I hate not having a kickstand if I have to just do something as simple as raise/lower my seat for a quick adjustment.

I'm also on medication that makes it that much easier to bruise and mess with my balance which doesn't help. Truthfully, I'm about ready to admit defeat, sell my bikes, and walk for miles around the high school track. At least I wouldn't come home looking like I'd been beat up.

You might try Bicycle Magazine's New Cyclist Handbook. I also like the book "Bike for Life." The titles might be offputting but you might try either Cycling for Dummies or the Idiot's Guide to Cycling.

When you started riding, what kind of physical shape were you already in? Are you working with a personal trainer or physical therapist to address your balance issues? You might investigate some exercises (like gentle yoga) that you could do at home to help you with balance.

Also, have you had a professional fitting for any of your bikes? This might go a long way toward helping you feel more comfortable. For instance, if your saddle isn't at the correct height and position, it can make pedaling harder and less smooth. You might also ask your bike shop to give you a basic lesson on how to make minor adjustments and how to use your gears effectively (I read another thread of yours where you mentioned being confused by it).

My favorite is woman's guide to Cycling (or something like that) by Selene Yeager. Even my husband liked it. Learned a lot.

I second ride for life, and add Selene Yeagers "ride yourslef lean" perhaps not so much for the nutrition advice which although extremely useful, is not quite where I am at at this point, but her training advice and how to build strength, endurance and speed are very good.

LOL. I bought "Bike For Life" and "Every Woman's Guide To Cycling" when I first started. The first was completely overwhelming with information and so technical it made my head spin. Selene's book felt like you were already in shape, just buy the bike and happily ride off to her training. There doesn't seem to be a truly basic book.

I'm in terrible shape which is partly why I started and to ride with my son. I'm probably 215lbs and "should" be about 175.

Seizure medications cause major weight gain, some balance issues and does mess with your vision at times. As I got thinking about my vision while typing the entry, I realized that might be a huge part of my problems.

I don't have peripheral vision in the top right corners of my eyes due to a small stroke at birth that left me with epilepsy. As I think I've discovered now, that's made cycling that much harder since I haven't learned to compensate for that loss yet.

Since I naturally walk the bike on the right side if I'm stuck walking home or just getting on, it's eating my thighs with the pedals to pieces since I can't "see" it even though it's in my lower vision. Part of the front gears ate into my thigh today while riding..again when I got off. If I walk it on the left, I get eaten by the gears.

I'm out a car right now until Honda fixes it so I can't get a fitting done.

I think the balance is messed up because of my vision and because I'm overweight, I'm just slow and gaining speed just takes that much longer. I know I'm slowly getting fit, it would just be nice to ride a bike without feeling like I'm going to fall off.

Actually; the book "Mastering Mountain Bike Skills-2nd edition" has proved helpful since it talks about finding your center of balance and using that. I might have discovered that my 29er bike may be too small. However; I was trying out the concept and realized my legs are much stronger than I thought boosting some confidence.

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Originally Posted by buffybike

My favorite is woman's guide to Cycling (or something like that) by Selene Yeager. Even my husband liked it. Learned a lot.

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This was the book I used to train for my Century. But she does a lot more in this book than just get you ready for a major event. I own 4 cycling books:

Bike For Life: How to Ride to 100
The Time-Crunched Cyclist
Every Woman's Guide to Cycling
The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling

Yeager's is my favorite. Bike for Life comes in second.

I have been disappointed there aren't more good books on cycling. I used to run had more than a handful of books I recommended. I have all of the above, but maybe I was already "past" them by the time I read them. I'd even started outlining a book for beginners, but set it aside.

How is your balance on the bike? My sister has balance issues as a side effect of celiac, but feels very comfortable ON the bike, even when she is suffering otherwise.

I don't know your whole story, but I'd advise you to relax and stick with it. There are some new skills and muscles to build and nervous jitters just make it worse. My sis wouldn't cross roads or bridges at first, now she she launches off the trail to check out the scenery!

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Originally Posted by buffybike

My favorite is woman's guide to Cycling (or something like that) by Selene Yeager. Even my husband liked it. Learned a lot.

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I loved this book, really helped me out! I still look at it for reference and such.

@Bethany1, you said, "Truthfully, I'm about ready to admit defeat, sell my bikes, and walk for miles around the high school track. At least I wouldn't come home looking like I'd been beat up", and that made me think of something. One doesn't have to have just ONE activity. Personally I'd get crazy bored if all I did was run, or work out at the gym or ride my bike, so I do all of them! I think it's common these days for folks to focus so much on one activity and end up with repetitive motion injuries or whatever. Just do what you want. Ride sometimes, walk sometimes, do whatever. Just stay moving.
You can read all the books in the world for some tips, but that way you'll strengthen your muscles and confidence for biking is to ride your bike.

I always like to plug this book whenever I can. I refer to it over and over, and it's such a good read, and not intimidating for a beginner. A very friendly and encouraging book.

Check out her website: www.bicyclingbliss.com

She also gives lots of good lifestyle and nutrition advice. Love this book!

Keep at it, go at your own speed and enjoy...walking is good anyway to keep the bone density up.

Good luck Bethany1!

Thanks for all the help! I did order the Bicycling Bliss book via Amazon.

I didn't know they had cycles that used your hands. Way cool.

DH and I were looking at recumbent bikes online yesterday. I think there's a store in Council Bluffs (if you can get across..LOL) but some of the prices were really high. Wouldn't hurt to do some test rides;) and take the "scenic route" up to I-80 today since I have my car back.

DH has a Townie which leaves your feet on the ground but it's SO slow and it doesn't fit on a bike rack. His is the 3i and while pretty powerful, despises hills and I worry a recumbent would do the same thing.

I think it comes down to a simple stability issue. I put my Brooks saddle on my Sirrus yesterday and rode with ease. It's not nearly as nimble or as fast but it's stable. It's heavier and the wheels are wider and I can get/off on w/o holding on for dear life. The Madone is so light that any movement on/off decreases her stability and I end up eating gears on my right leg.

My Madone isn't nearly as stable but as I discovered the other day is a rocket when I got over being a chicken. My son was on DH's Rat Fink chopper bike which weighs at least 20lbs, sucks at turns and for once I knew I could finally beat him. I got her going up a hill at least doing 15mph, passed him, and would have won except for the car that got in "our" way. Huge boost of confidence there.

Maybe my Madone needs slightly wider tires as they are 700x23 to make her more stable for a newbie.

They have used recumbants in RAAM (Race Across America) - and people do ride them in the mountains - so they can handle hills. Of course the engine has to be up to it :)