The Bicycle Touring Manual: Using the Bicycle for Touring and Camping [Paperback]

Rob Van Der Plas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

For touring cyclists, this new edition of Rob van der Plas' best-seller is as essential as a helmet and a tire patch kit. It answers virtually every question a cyclist could have while planning a tour ride, whether it's to the edge of the county or across the continent.

The author is an experienced tour rider who has pedaled across the country and ridden abroad. He uses his vast experience to guide riders around potential pitfalls and mistakes that would otherwise diminish their touring pleasure. Everything from the makeup of the bicycle to packing the essentials and seeking lodging are covered. Safety issues, touring with children and touring abroad are also addressed, and help to make this guide indispensable for the cycling enthusiast.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Standard bicycle information is presented in an unimaginative style. The author covers bicycle frame, fit, and components, luggage carrying equipment, clothing, food, camping gear, riding style suggestions, minor repairs, planning the tour, and riding with children. There is really nothing new here and nothing to recommend this over Tim and Glenda Wilhelm's Bicycle Touring Book: the complete guide to bicycle recreation ( LJ 9/15/80), still in print. Thomas K. Fry, UCLA Libs.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl; 2 edition (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933201877
• ISBN-13: 978-0933201873
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,363,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rob van der Plas is a professional engineer and a long-time bicycle enthusiast. He has authored more than 20 books on various aspects of bikes and biking in English, German, and Dutch.

His first English-language book was The Penguin Bicycle Handbook, published in the U.K. by Penguin Books in 1983. Other of his books were published by Sterling Publishing (U.S.), Spectrum and Elmar (both Netherlands), and BVA-Verlagsanstalt, BLV-Verlag, Falken Verlag, and Ravensburger Verlag (all Germany). Translations of his works have appeared in Swedish, Danish, Polish, Hungarian, French, and Spanish.

In 1984 he started his own publishing venture, initially called Velo Press, later renamed Bicycle Books, to publish books on the subject written by various authors (including himself). Bicycle Books was sold to Motor Books International in 1997, and in 1999 he formed Cycle Publishing / Van der Plas Publications, publishing both cycling books and books on other subjects.

He lives in San Francisco, and is still active both riding bicycles and writing on the subject. His latest book, Bicycle Technology, coauthored with Stuart Baird, is a pretty impressive tome comprising 320 pages with 800 illustrations that was published July 2010.

In addition to writing about the subject, he is also active as an expert witness in patent infringement and other cases involving the bicycle and bicycle technology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad., January 5, 1999

By 

Roy Hoogenraad (Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bicycle Touring Manual: Using the Bicycle for Touring and Camping (Paperback)

I found this book quite interesting, althought here were a number of items that were obviously personal choice, and not what I would necessarily agree with. Although it is not the best book on the subject I have seen, it is a very comprehensive and valuable book for anyone starting out. It is still an interesting book to read, written by someone who is quite passionate about this subject, and if I ever get it back from my father, I will refer to it again.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realy good, December 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bicycle Touring Manual: Using the Bicycle for Touring and Camping (Paperback)

I do bicycle touring for years, but this book teach new ticks to an old dog