Customer Reviews

Encyclopedia 2001: International Guide to Alternatives in Cycling (Encycleopedia: The International Buyer's Guide to Alternatives in Cycling)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I bought this book because I ride a recumbent and there is very little in the way of books on the subject. It is a British publication which is dedicated to bikes but with considerable emphasis on recumbents. If you are interested in recumbent bikes, trikes and others, this is a fascinating exploration of the topic. It has large, full color pictures on almost every page and it is something which will serve as a reference and enlighten readers with its comprehensive treatment 'cycling alternatives'. Definite European flavor. Highly recommended. I very much enjoyed reading and rereading this book.

This review for both the Encycleopedia 1999 and 2001, Guide to Alternatives in Cycling. These are basically interesting product shopping brochures bound into books with a few extras, lists and articles in the back. They show a generous sampling of bike alternatives outside the standard diamond frame upright designs. It's like browsing a years worth of many different biking magazines to read brief articles about the oddities in pedal powered transportation available. It includes information on bikes, trikes, quads, stokers, kid and cargo trailers, family transport, cargo bikes, recumbents, folders, a few interesting components and accessories. These books are entertaining to browse and informative to read about the growing and receding alternatives available. It's far from a comprehensive worldwide catalog considering what actually is available worldwide, but offers a good dose of some current and not so current products that stand out in the rather thin crowd of alternative cycling options. I paid a dollar each for the 1999 and 2001 issues from a book liquidator plus shipping. Money well spent for a few evenings of reading and browsing through this visual mind candy.
I plan to order the latest Encyclopedia 8 since I enjoyed these well enough and wish to see more. One final comment for the publisher if they read these reviews: Some of the text is quite small and is not so dark or black as printed, which is difficult to read as a result. I don't consider it a micro-font nor expect large print text, but at least a reasonable choice of font size for publication. The page layout may look good, but it does not always read well.

Bought this book for ideas on building recumbent bikes. Its a great book with plenty of interesting bikes pictured. I only wish they would publish an 2008 version. this one came out in 2001 but still reads very current.

Too bad they're having difficulty publishing these days. This particular volume has many interesting bikes and trikes and accessories and so forth, though it all reads more like a collection of sale brochures. Also, they'd included a photo of the Shuttle Bike Kit which allows your bike to float and tread water (!!) but they didn't have an article on the novelty item itself (!!!)....

Otherwise, a great read. Yes, it's very entertaining, all the same. I especially love their green cycle-as-lifestyle ethos. Maybe this is all still quite ahead of the times...many products covered are apparently no longer available, the companies having folded.