Bike Touring: The Sierra Club Guide to Travel on Two Wheels (Sierra Club Outdoor Adventure Guide) [Paperback]

Raymond Bridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2009 | Series: Sierra Club Outdoor Adventure Guide

First published in 1979, Bike Touring introduced tens of thousands of riders to the joys of bicycle travel, and quickly became the go-to reference for an entire generation of bike-touring enthusiasts. But much has changed in the last three decades—and this fully revamped edition provides authoritative information on both the latest equipment and the ever-expanding universe of touring options for a whole new generation of riders.

Readers learn how to train, equip, plan, and pack for tours of any length and difficulty, from overnight trips near home to multiweek journeys abroad. Author Raymond Bridge surveys the wide range of touring options, which now include extensive commercial offerings and roof-to-roof (or “credit card”) tours, as well as independent, self-contained travel. Chapters covering bike styles—road, mountain, and world-touring models—along with bike frames and fit, drive trains, wheels, brakes, saddles and handlebars, and accessories, offer up-to-date guidance on the myriad equipment choices from the booming bike industry. And chapters on camping, transporting bikes, and roadside repairs are full of expert advice to help both novice and experienced bike travelers get maximum pleasure from any journey while saving money and staying safe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What you need to know to make touring on wheels a happy experience."

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books; Second Edition edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578051428
• ISBN-13: 978-1578051427
• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Guide May 26, 2009

By Kent Peterson

Format:Paperback

Raymond Bridge's book, Bike Touring: The Sierra Club Guide to Travel on Two Wheels, is the second, completely revised edition of a book Mr. Bridge originally wrote 30 years ago. In the thirty years since the first edition, some things have changed. We now have Internet forums to discuss our tours, we can track our routes using GPS and the Adventure Cycling Association has mapped out thousands of more miles of routes, but the lure of the open road is still the same.

In this age of Internet wonder, Raymond Bridge has created a book that does the thing that books still do best: he's created a compact, clear guide that condenses a wealth of practical how-to information into a portable, organized form. He explains the various types of bike touring a person might do from commercial tours to roof-to-roof and independent bike camping trips. He discusses a variety of bikes, explaining both fit and function, telling not just what options exist, but why a person might choose one bike or component over another. He explains basic roadside repairs, camping skills and things like the logistics of transporting your bike before and after your tour.

I'm really not the intended audience for a book like this, as I've been traveling by bicycle since before the first edition of this book was new, and yet I still found this book to be wonderfully organized and complete. With a critical eye, I'd find myself asking "yeah, but does he mention alcohol stoves?" Yep, he does, not only mentioning commercial stoves, but pointing his readers to a couple of instruction pages on the Internet for those who like to make their own stuff. This is typical of the book, it is marvelously complete in itself, but it also sends you off on your own journey....

In Bike Touring: The Sierra Club Guide to Travel on Two Wheels, Raymond Bridge has written a marvelous starting point for anyone interested in travel by bicycle. John Lencicki's wonderful drawings are sprinkled throughout the text, adding both clarity and charm to this book. My only complaint with this volume is the cover. This is a book that inspires and enables folks to get out on the road and experience the freedom of two wheels. The text and drawings inside the book capture that far better than the dull photograph of a pannier, water bottle, helmet, map and glove which the Sierra Club chooses for the cover of this book. In this case, don't judge a book by its cover. This one is better. I now have a guide to hand to anyone looking to get out and see the world from the seat of a bicycle. Read more ›

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Comprehensive and Up-to-Date book on Bike Touring January 31, 2010

By D. L Schwarz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am relatively new to bicycle touring but I have jumped into it with both feet conducting extensive research on the subject including types of bikes, equipement, etc. This is by far the best book for both the beginner and those who want to keep abreast of the changes that have occurred since most of the other books on touring were written. Everything you need to know to select your bike, outfit it and yourself and begin your journey is there. Highly recommended.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars World by Pedal Power. June 6, 2010

By Roy Sinclair

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

To someone on the far side of the Pacific Sierra Club rates with another great name - National Geographic.
Bicycle travel is somnething many people dream about. It's the freedom along with the discovery of fantastic places and cultures through one's own efforts. It can be a solo juorney or with agreable company.

This convient book is an all-you-need-to know bicycle-travelling guide. It has been updated after three decades to include new innovations including mountain bikes (which with minor modifications can also be ideal for touring). I was interested to see smaller wheel folders included.

Author Raymond Bridge has provided an excellent resource manual that will provide many pleasant hours of bedside reading and sweet dreams for the novice as well as those who have many kilometres of pedalling, and maybe countries, stored in their legs.
[[ASIN:B001731O36 Schwinn Midmoor Men's Hybrid Bike (700c Wheels)]

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent primer for touring and very up to date February 6, 2010

By Eleanor Moseman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm preparing for a bicycle journey around Asia and needed an up to date book on touring. This book is completely recommended and has excellent references. I'm still building my bike up and the knowledge I obtained from this book is priceless. Not only on preparing your ride for the long road ahead, but also additional camping gear.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Reference March 8, 2011

By Folkman

Format:Paperback

This book is packed with excellent, well written information for anyone interested in travel by bicycle.
The author covers every topic and includes many useful references in the resources section.
This is a must read for any beginner and even an experienced cyclist can find something useful and worthwhile.
Highly recommended!!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive current overview of bicycle touring August 24, 2010

By James Briscoe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Sierra clubs guide to bicycle touring is the most comprehensive current guide out there that I've found on the subject. Lovett's "The Essential Touring Cyclist" was the best guide out there until Mr. Bridge wrote this volume. Lovett's guide(2nd edition) is still a good book but it doesn't come close to the detail of the Sierra Clubs guide. If your going to read only one book on bicycle touring this is a good one in my opinion.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Has less nonsense than other bicycling books. August 24, 2012

By John Alldredge

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Over the last 15 years I have read dozens of cycling books and have even bought quite a few.

I own 8 bikes and have often been a daily rider and was a cycle commuter for 5 years. I have done a fair bit of "wrenching" on my own and other's bikes.

Sorry for the excessive background bumpf but the point I want to make now is that Ray Bridge has taught me a thing or two in this book, even though I consider myself experienced.

I have never taken a multi-day tour nor have I cycle camped but I like to read about these activities.

Unlike the negative reviewers, I feel that Ray Bridge has covered his topic well in 450 pages (paperback). Some of his chapters like the one on packing a bike for shipping are the best I've ever read & I've read a few.

Over the years, I have read some of the most incredible nonsense in bike books. None of that here. Pretty well everything Ray writes is sensible. He often provides a rationale for his well-considered opinions.

Most of Ray's illustrations (there aren't a lot of them) show gear and hardware you're likely to encounter in the real world. Without overwhelming the newbie with confusing detail, he makes sensible recommendations for gear, including brand names.

While not a comprehensive primer on camping, there is good advice here on camping gear as it relates to cycle camping.

I borrowed this book from the public library this week, read it, looked it up in the Kindle store, and bought the ebook. This, from me, a notorious tightwad, is a high endorsement!