Every Woman's Guide to Cycling: Everything You Need to Know, From Buying Your First Bike toWinning Your First Race [Paperback]

Selene Yeager (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 4, 2008

More women than ever before are jumping on their saddles to enjoy one of the fastest growing sports in the country-and to improve cardiovascular fitness, control their weight, and liven up their social lives. At the same time, cycling remains very much a "man's sport," an intimidating world that can be difficult for women to navigate.

Now celebrity spokeswoman Selene Yeager covers all the basics-for all ages and fitness levels. Women will learn...

- How to find the perfect bike and other essential equipment
- How to shift, spin, climb mountains, and get back down
- Training techniques that take it up a notch
- What to eat off-and on-a bike
- Competition craziness-race information and strategies
- Why guys who work in bike shops act the way they do
- And more!

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451223047
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223043
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

SELENE YEAGER is a top-selling author and professional health and fitness writer who lives what she writes as a certified personal trainer, professional mountain bike racer, and triathlete. She has authored, co-authored, and contributed to more than two dozen books. She is a frequent contributor to Runner's World, Women's Health, and Shape magazines and dishes out training advice monthly as Bicycling magazine's "FitChick." She lives in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 69 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect place to start! March 18, 2008

By Hilary N. Bullock

Format:Paperback

I am a 50-year old woman who has decided, at this late stage in life, to get into bike racing. Just got a copy of Selene's new book, and am enjoying it immensely. Her writing style is accessible, and the book holds my interest from beginning to end. Particularly inspiring are the short profiles of women who have made big changes in their lives through biking.

The training plans are helpful - I was able to map out a six month (so far) training schedule using the examples provided, with a few personalized tweaks. I feel excited and confident with my new plan in place, especially knowing it is based on scientific principles, and real life experience. That said, it would be great if Selene would write and publish a separate training log as it is difficult to use this book as a daily log - I don't like to write in my books, and it doesn't really open flat.

Of the books I have purchased thus far - "Cycling Past 50", "Fitness Cycling", "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling", and "The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists" - this book is by far the best for a beginner, and the perfect starting point. It is a fun read, and the training information is presented in a very accessible manner. I was able to quickly understand the concepts and apply them to specific goals. Can't say enough about "Every Woman's Guide to Cycling".

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great advice and tips March 1, 2009

By Katrina

Format:Paperback

Bottom line - great book. Great information. If you are planning to by a bike, get this book. Go the library or sit in Barnes & Noble for a couple of hours, but the info about buying alone is fantastic and makes it worth getting.

This book was so useful for buying a bike and starting out. I will admit to skipping over the MB parts, but her tips for road riding and etiquette were so useful. I read this book before buying my bike, and it was incredibly helpful. I felt confident going into a shop and telling them what I was looking for - and I'm sure it was easier for them to help me, too. Before I read her book I was aiming for a cruiser or hybrid, but reading it helped me realize neither of them would be a good fit - so I went with a road bike, and even after just two days I'd say it was a great choice. Also, she includes price ranges of bikes (depending on type), and also explains the benefits of a more expensive bike. Knowing what to expect certainly helps soften the blow from dropping hundreds of dollars on a bike!

I am (and have always been) a timid rider, but her techniques for cornering have not only helped me improve that aspect of my riding, but also gain confidence that I'm not going to fall over. She also tackles general riding, and explains gear, climbing, and spinning. It is so much easier to climb hills now! She also dedicates some pages to riding in traffic - really helpful, and it helps boost my confidence about riding in traffic (something that scares me).

If you want to diet, race a time trial, or do a century she has workout schedules planned to get you prepared. She covers types of bikes, buying bikes, gear, clothes, traffic, and technique, both on- and off-road. My boyfriend is an avid recreational cyclist and even he found a lot of useful information in there, especially regarding purchasing a bike.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Get me on my bike! March 13, 2008

By L. Neyen

Format:Paperback

This book really blew me away. I have been a sporadic mountain and road cyclist for years, so I never thought I could learn much from a cycling book. How wrong I was! 'Every Woman's Guide To Cycling' has loads of information for all levels of riders. Emergency maneuvers, training plans, food advice -> all drawing the reader in with Selene's approachable and fresh style. I am now motivated to ride my bike regularly and even try out the book's racing advice.