Bicycling Magazine's New Cyclist Handbook: Ride with Confidence and Avoid Common Pitfalls

This book is a handy guide for beginner cyclists to at least get the basics from. Not overly technical, and written with the beginner in mind it certainly helped me learn a few things about cycling. I'm pretty new at this so it was a good fit for me. If you're a bit more experienced you may be better off with a less "beginner" book.

I am a little concerned that the last time that this book was updated was 17 years ago. The current bike that I am riding is newer than that. I should have checked the copyright information more closely. I think the advice is dated.

I liked this book a lot. There is some information on about any subject you could think of that relates to cycling. It isn't the most in-depth on every subject, but I don't think that's the purpose of this book. I didn't read every chapter, I didn't need to worry about training, as I'm just getting started, but I can see that I will refer to this book again and again over the coming year as I progress in the sport. I would highly recommend this to someone looking for an overview of cycling to help them make decisions about what equipment they need and how to improve at their specific discipline. If you're a beginning cyclist - this is a great book.

I hadn't been on a bike in about 5 years. I had never done much street riding or commuting. This book has a lot of good information. I wish it had a little bit more about actually picking out the first bicycle. Maybe a list of questions to ask the bike shop person who helps you would be good. Otherwise, no complaints.

This book is total GARBAGE! It just does not tell you a single fact. It is written at a 6 year old level. Any page you randomly open gives stupid non-information like:- Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn. (I had to waste money on this book to learn that?)- Lay out your riding clothes the night before. (This is advice to a 6 year old from "mommy", but it does not have anything to do cycling.)- Avoid riding on busy roads.- It is wise to check different bike stores [before buying.]- Food replentishes the energy used when riding.- Before beginning a turn, check for anything coming up from behind.- Don't hunch your shoulders, and you'll avoid muscle soreness. (Does the author think riders really hunch their shoulders long enough to make sore muscles?)There is a bunch of garbage about diet and exercise. Why is thetitle of this booklet "cyclist handbook" and not "fitness handbook"? And calling this booklet a "handbook" on anything is a joke. Isn't exercise one of the reasons to be cycling. If you are just starting cycling, why would you be training to compete immediately. I did not read the diet and exercise crap because I bought a book on bicycles, but I bet that part is just fluff like the rest of the booklet.There is a detailed description of the Tour de France: valuable information for all new cyclists who will be competing in the Tour next year. Duh!I am looking at 3 types of bicycles. There are a few sentences about several types of bikes -- but not aword about any of the three types in which I aminterested. They are NEVER MENTIONED evenonce.There are only 14 pages about bicycles.HORRIBLE WASTE OF MONEY! TOTALLY WORTHLESS! I was cheated!I think the big problem is that the author believes that the one and only meaning of the word "cycling" is winning major bicycle races. He has no idea that people ride bicycles primarily for other reasons. If you're not planning a career as a professional cyclist, this book has nothing for you. If you do plan to be a pro cyclist, this book is too low level, and therefore has nothing for you. In fact, this book has nothing!!!

I'm just getting into this sport, and the tips in this book came in handy. Yes, I know how to ride a bike, but it's the little details it gave me that helped. Have you ever dropped your chain off the chainrings? You don't have to stop to fix it you know. I'd buy it, even if you're more experienced than the likes of me. I've taught some of my friends a trick or two. Sometimes I wish I didn't, they can still drop me pretty hard!

I purchased this book because I wanted to purchase a new bike, but am confused by all the new technology that today's bicycles have. People spend outragous prices for the simplest of parts. Which parts do I need and are worth the money? Which are not? What kind of a bike do I want for the riding I do?The book has one section for me. Then it takes off on a wild ride including "training for a century." If you are a casual rider, then training for a century and the other stuff is of no interest to you. And if you are an avid enthusiast, you don't need to be told what a mountain bike is.It just tries to serve too broad an audience. On the positive side, it is not expensive, and it may have the one or two tips that you are looking for that will make it well worth your money, such as appear in the section on solving common ailments.I wish that someone would write a book for the person who is new to modern biking. I can't find one. The magazines are no help. They think a cheap bike is one under two thousand dollars!

Fairly basic information, but since it is marketed for new cyclists, that is not a bad thing. I would like for it to have gone a bit more in depth on most topics. Still it is a good start for new riders.

Interesting