How To Be A Cyclist

No bicycle repair was ever made easier by turning your bike upside down. White shorts are for other people. A helmet perched on the back of your head is perfect if you ride your bike backwards - These and a host of other handy pointers jostle for attention within this A - Z guide to being a cyclist. It's an essential manual and source of wisdom for those who would be kings of the road. Many pitfalls await the unwary middle-aged-man-in-Lycra, but fear not, for the Guide is here to steer you through choppy waters. No more passing out halfway up a hill. No more ridicule in the work place. No more hurty knee. And no more sock crimes. Pearls of wisdom are scattered throughout this book like rose petals before a princess on her wedding day. For instance, who could deny that life is too short to drink bad coffee? That a noisy bike is marginally more annoying than a whiney toddler? Or that style should ever be sacrificed for speed? Written by experts who know everything there is to know about cycling, yet never forget that there is nothing funnier than a rabbit playing a trumpet, How to be a Cyclist is mandatory reading for all bike riders.

Increase speed, power, endurance, and efficiency with Cutting-Edge Cycling. You’ll learn how to apply the latest in cycling research, science, and technology to train smarter, ride longer, and race faster. Renowned cycling coach Hunter Allen and leading scientist Stephen Cheung share the most recent biomechanical, physiological, and technical advances and research, why they matter, and how you can incorporate them for maximal training and optimal performance. From the latest information on periodization, lactate threshold, and recovery to bike positioning, pedaling technique, and cadence, Cutting-Edge Cycling covers every aspect of conditioning, preparation, and competition in this physically demanding sport. Additional coverage includes interviews that cover a broad range of topics: interpreting lab results, fatigue, monitoring training, high-intensity training, prevention of and recovery from overtraining, pacing, bike fit, power meter quadrant analysis, hydration, and cooling strategies. If you’re serious about gaining the edge on the competition, Cutting-Edge Cycling is one guide you shouldn’t be without.

'I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work.' – Elinor Barker MBE, multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist 'The Midlife Cyclist is a triumph' – Cycling Plus 'An amazing accomplishment... a simple-to-understand précis of your midlife as a cyclist – you won't want to put it down.' – Phil Liggett, TV cycling commentator 'Phil is eminently qualified to write The Midlife Cyclist. Well, he is certainly old enough.' – Fabian Cancellara, Tour de France rider and two-time Olympic champion Renowned cycling biomechanics pioneer, Phil Cavell, explores the growing trend of middle-aged and older cyclists seeking to achieve high-level performance. Using contributions from leading coaches, ex-professionals and pro-team doctors, he produces the ultimate manifesto for mature riders who want to stay healthy, avoid injury – and maximise their achievement levels. Time's arrow traditionally plots an incremental path into declining strength and speed for all of us. But we are different to every other generation of cyclists in human history. An ever-growing number of us are determined to scale the highest peaks of elite physical fitness into middle-age and beyond. Can the emerging medical and scientific research help us achieve the holy triumvirate of speed and health with age? The Midlife Cyclist offers a gold standard road-map for the mature cyclist who aims to train, perform and even race at the highest possible level.

Bicycling is undergoing a renaissance in this country as millions of people are taking to the streets in this nostalgic, beloved pastime. From purchasing one's first bike to learning all its different components, Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Beginners is the go-to guide for any beginning cyclist's collection. The vast territory of cycling and its facets will become a welcome terrain for any rider who wants to ride smarter, faster, and safer using this incredible wealth of knowledge. As the sales of new bicycles increase every year, these helpful tips will educate and inform beginning cyclists so they perform to the maximum potential, all while having fun. Trusted bicycle consultant Tori Bortman distills the essentials every beginning cyclist needs to know. She covers different types of rides, the components of bicycles, proper cycling clothing and equipment, basic road skills, nutrition, training, maintenance, and how to ride for a cause. She also explores how to approach cycling from the conceptual beginnings into tangible, real-time facts about riding as a new cyclist, as well as elaborating on the bountiful health benefits of cycling, including weight loss, stress reduction, and boosted immunity. This is the ultimate guide to bicycling know-how for beginning cyclists.

Take your road cycling skills to the next level with the latest techniques, equipment, and skills. This completely revised edition of the popular handbook for everyday road cyclists is a comprehensive guide to road cycling skills and safety from the most trusted name in cycling, Bicycling magazine. Updated to include contemporary expert sources, fresh photography, and cutting-edge information on cycling technology, nutrition and supplementation, training, riding techniques, safety, and performance, this is a book no road cyclist should be without. You'll learn how to ensure your bike is in tip-top shape in 8 easy steps, prevent injury and knee pain, boost your efficiency with smooth pedaling and proper form, brake without wasting speed or wiping out, discover the benefits of riding in a paceline, and master the skills of riding in traffic. Packed with tips from professional cyclists, coaches, and experts, Bicycling Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills is the ultimate guide to riding faster, stronger, longer, and safer.

Ride faster, fitter, smarter, & farther Every road rider has goals. Yours may be to begin racing, to become more competitive, or to win a specific tour. Not interested in racing? Perhaps you want to complete your first century ride, improve your overall fitness, or ride father and faster just for the sheer joy of flying on two wheels. No matter what your goals, The Complete Book of Road Cycling and Racing gives you all the information you need to become a better, more performance-focused cyclist. Written by an accomplished racing coach, cyclist, and exercise physiologist, this book shows you how to: Fit the bike to your body for maximum efficiency and comfort Ride safely in a group Cope with any weather or altitude Maintain your bike Prepare for races of all types Master racing strategies and tactics Train efficiently and stay in peak condition year-round And much more

In his book Pro Cycling on $10 a Day, Phil Gaimon brings the full powers of his wit to tell his story. Plump, grumpy, slumped on the couch, and going nowhere fast at age 16, Phil Gaimon began riding a bicycle with the grand ambition of shedding a few pounds before going off to college. He soon fell into racing and discovered he was a natural, riding his way into a pro contract after just one season despite utter ignorance of a century of cycling etiquette. Presented here as a guide--and a warning--to aspiring racers who dream of joining the professional racing circus, Phil’s adventures in road rash serve as a hilarious and cautionary tale of frustrating team directors and broken promises. Phil’s education in the ways of the peloton, his discouraging negotiations for a better contract, his endless miles crisscrossing America in pursuit of race wins, and his conviction that somewhere just around the corner lies the ticket to the big time fuel this tale of hope and ambition from one of cycling’s best story-tellers. Pro Cycling on $10 a Day chronicles the racer’s daily lot of blood-soaked bandages, sleazy motels, cheap food, and overflowing toilets. But it also celebrates the true beauty of the sport and the worth of the journey, proving in the end that even among the narrow ranks of world-class professional cycling, there will always be room for a hard-working outsider.