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Third issue of Bicycling Science is here
The 'Bible' of technical cycling books is bigger and better than ever...
A review copy of the third edition of the 'bible' of cycling technology and science, Bicycling Science by David Gordon Wilson just arrived. It looks like hardback and softcover versions are available (those links go to the publisher's site at MIT Press, and give all the ISBN numbers, prices etc). It'll probably be a few weeks before the first copies filter out into bookstores.
At first glance it looks like there's just a lot more to it than the 2nd edition - it runs to nearly 480 pages. More next issue when we'll have a full review.
Posted on 25 March 2004
Your comments ...| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 25 March 2004 |
This is the mos importent book to be owned by anyone into bicycles.
I own the first two editions.
Ralf Grosser
Darmstadt Germany.
PS: Bicycle Design by Mike Burrows is also recumended! |
| From: Robert Nichols ([email protected]) on 26 March 2004 |
Ralf, you are wrong. The book is perhaps the most important for anyone interested in bicycle _science_ but I suspect the most important book for more than a few people interested in bicycling is "Three Men on the Bummel" by Jerome K. Jerome.
Cheers all! |
| From: Arch ([email protected]) on 26 March 2004 |
Oh yes - Three Men on the Bummel is excellent - the description of the know-it-all trying to 'fix' the narrators bike is fantastic, and should be read by anyone about to do any servicing on a bike for the first time...
It just goes to show what a wide range of interests we cyclists have, and how we range from the hard core mechanics to the almost entirely mechanically inept... |
| From: Seamus (sdk etc) on 26 March 2004 |
There's a big chunk of, "Three Men on a Bummel," in Byke Kultuur 18 and a link to the rest of it online...
http://www.angelfire.com/linux/bykekultuur/bkn18.html
"Bike Cult," by Dave Perry is the best cycling book, encompassing; history, racing, touring, cookery, technology, recumbents, well pretty much everything to do with cycling at all.
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| From: jes (@pedalcars.info) on 26 March 2004 |
What's a bummel?
Have I got one? |
| From: S (helpfully) on 26 March 2004 |
"What is a 'Bummel'?" said George. "How would you translate it?"
"A 'Bummel'," I explained, "I should describe as a journey, long or
short, without an end; the only thing regulating it being the
necessity of getting back within a given time to the point from
which one started. Sometimes it is through busy streets, and
sometimes through the fields and lanes; sometimes we can be spared
for a few hours, and sometimes for a few days. But long or short,
but here or there, our thoughts are ever on the running of the
sand. We nod and smile to many as we pass; with some we stop and
talk awhile; and with a few we walk a little way. We have been
much interested, and often a little tired. But on the whole we
have had a pleasant time, and are sorry when 'tis over."
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| From: Michael ([email protected]) on 26 March 2004 |
| Or for short, the english word for the german "Bummel" would be "stroll"... |
| From: jes (@pedalcars.info) on 26 March 2004 |
Oh.
So it's not rude then.
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| From: Michael (see above...) on 26 March 2004 |
| I'm afraid not. Sorry. |
| From: andy scaife (bikerescue...) on 26 March 2004 |
So why has nobody mentioned Richard's Bicycle Book yet? Even after 30 years or whatever it's been, I STILL buy copies secondhand and distribute them like the bibles they are. This is the book which got me into cycling in my teens, and is still fulfilling its purpose.
It was the first Encycleopedia which got me back into cycling and away from cars again, in the '90s, so I think I should start distrubuting old open Road publications to my converts, to recruit them to the finer side of cycling, then out with the Velovision Subs form, and we've got them!
Has anyone noticed, or researched, the large number of ex motor-sport people involved in this side of cycling? Mike Burrows for example...
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| From: Legs Larry (at ect ect) on 29 March 2004 |
| Received a review copy of said book on Saturday - ah, the joys of being an FLJS! Top stuff, by the look of it. And I'm in it. Hurrah! |
| From: . (.) on 29 March 2004 |
| What's an FLJS ? |
| From: Donald Gillies ([email protected]) on 29 March 2004 |
I'm from the U.S. and the book that got me into cycling in the early 1970's was "Eugene Sloan's 'THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BICYCLING'". Sloan was a devotee who lived in the suburbs of chicago (illinois is bicycle mecca), and was not afraid to discuss EVERYTHING about bicycling, including repairs, who makes a good bike (circa 1968), and what components are good, etc, in 600 pages, which i read cover-to-cover, over-and-over again.
Ever since the bankrupcy of Bicycling! magazine (the current magazine is morally bankrupt, imho), I haven't seen a publication that made me feel like I was working in the back of a bikeshop, and preparing for a round-the-world tour, and I really miss that about today's bicycling publications. I was just referred to this site as one of the best replacements after getting fed up with my 1-year subscription to "Bicycling" magazine.
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| From: gNick (oi you come back here) on 29 March 2004 |
Mind that jolly chap Mike Burrows was a bit short on the impressed with it, or more particularly with what wasn't included in the update.
Apparently his books new edition is MUCH better
Personally I think the pre-pc version of Richards Bicycle book is the best - now where's that dog I want to kill by shoving my arm down its throat. |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 30 March 2004 |
In my opinion, Eugene Sloan's 'THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BICYCLING'" is a book that is not very compleat.
I own a 4 edition of the book, from 1988.
For example in a 542 page book he only writes two pages on the subject of hubgears.
I´m often under the impression, that amercan autors very much avoid the subject.
The book also has much on components, that from todays point of view can only be considered bygone fashion items , like the Biopace chainrings fro example. |
| From: Legs Larry (at ect ect) on 30 March 2004 |
| FLJS = Filthy Lying Journalist Scum. An epithet coined for the members of that august profession by my chum Samfast, who is a /proper/ FLJS. |
| From: andy Scaife (looking@bookshelves.) on 30 March 2004 |
I really must get a copy of the 'Sloane', as, despite the U.S. perspective, it sounds like a good nostalgia fix.
Which is the pre-pc RBB then? Do you mean the dog-killing (oops, that was first typed as dog-likking! Hi Sigmund!) editions or the pre- computer/ line-drawn ones?
The delightful illustrations were part of the charm of this wonderful book. I have (at present) two UK and one US editions. We tend to classify them by cover-pic. My favourite is the 'icelandic jumper' edition, which featured a lovely Evans Tourer, though I believe the 'gingham shirt' preceeded it, but I seem to remember that there was some boring roadie bike on that one.
Has anyone ever used Ballantine's Dog-killing method (typed out as 'god-killing that time- i need help)? I've only got as far as a good canine-flying-lesson myself. |
| From: Rasmus ([email protected]) on 31 March 2004 |
Id like to mention Daniel Rebour although he is an illustrator not author of bicycle litterature. I remember when I first started reading different bicycle litterature in the eighties and came across Daniel Rebours drawings in several books. His precise, crisp and yet lively drawings fueled my interest in the bicycle anatomi. I admired his ability to illustrate such diffrent materials as leather, cork, rubber, chrome, etc. with black and white ink drawings. The Bridgestone catalogs of early nineties payed hommage to his drawings by displaying the bikes in ink drawings using his techniques. They also had an article about Daniel Rebours work throug his career.
I also read the books mentioned by others in this trhead, plus scandinavian titles. Interesting to see how important bicycle litterature have been to other people in their interest towards the bicycle. |
| From: Arch (back@baseagain) on 01 April 2004 |
| Nice to know other people have more than one edition of Richard's Book, Andy. Do you have the Piccolo childrens book, which is Richard's book stripped down for kids (from the 70's I think)? I can't remember the cover, but i think it involves tank tops. |
| From: Legs Larry (ect ect) on 02 April 2004 |
| I've got two "Richard's" coz one of them fell in the bath; both have the hairy sweater / Evans tourer on the front. Plus the 21st Century one and "Fahrad Total", which is the German version of Ultimate (I think). |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 06 April 2004 |
Rasmus, I think Bike Culture Quarterly did a feature on Rebour's illustrations, but I dont have mine to hand here, so I'll check at home.
Sue, My daughter used to have the kids book, but she's so indoctrinated she didnt need it! (12 yrs old now, and 6 bikes including Moulton and recumbent!). Should someone alert the authorities?
Does Mr Ballantine read this site I wonder? |
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