Bicycle Across America [Paperback]

Barbara Siegert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

Bicycle Across America chronicles five trans-America tours, provides route notes and maps, and offers suggestions on what to see and expect along the way.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

6 x 9 trim. 8 illus. 5 maps. LC 95-45422

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Nicolin Fields; 1st edition (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963707728
• ISBN-13: 978-0963707727
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good read - depending on who you are, May 6, 1999

By 

Brian Van Den Broeke ([e-mail]) (Union City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bicycle Across America (Paperback)

I went into reading "Bicycle Across America" by Barbara Siegert with expectations of a self-contained touring book that would give a detailed outline of 5 bike trips across the U.S. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I do not feel that it met my expectations adequately.

One of the first things that I noticed about this book was it's lack of detailed route information. Although it does outline some basic city-to-city day-to-day treks, it does not give you directions street-by-street, nor does it give you any detailed maps. The author admits for every route that "Distances are not always point to point. Some may include detours (voluntary or involuntary) and/or riding around within the tows at our starting point, en route, or at our destination." This sort of disclaimer does not do much for my confidence that this book will be there for me on a 70-plus day cross country journey.

What I DID like about this book was it's fun-to-read short stories of a couple's journey across the states. The book is laid out more like a travel-journal (or diary) than a travel guide. The author seems to open her heart and hold nothing back in passionately expressing the situations that she encountered and people she met along 5 trips across the U.S.

Another feature I liked about the book was it's "Details" section. It is written in a very personal common-sense style. It includes everything from what to bring and what to wear to where to wash your clothes, get your mail, and pay your bills.

If you are interested in reading an excellent narrative about a couple's adventures across America, this book is definately for you. If you are seriously considering a cross-country trip of your own, this book falls greatly short of what you will need.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars snippets and snapshots, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bicycle Across America (Paperback)

I certainly admire greatly Barbara Siegert's spunk and initiative in starting bicycle touring at retirement age. That said, however, I don't share all the 5 star enthusiasm expressed for this book. Personally, I found it to primarily consist of fragmented, bits and pieces of observations and recollections. It's an interesting read, to be sure, but certainly not a really great book on cycle touring. The "Details" section toward the end does have some useful ideas and guidance. Sorry not to have been "wowed" by this book, but I just wasn't.....

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A whiny Ride Across America, May 6, 2001

By 

Roland J Provost (Dover, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bicycle Across America (Paperback)

Any book that gives you information about what really happens during a long tour is useful. This book would have been much more useful if Ms. Siegret found something to enjoy and less to whine about. I'm sure this is a question of writing style, no one could have done all those rides if they were that awful.