Customer Reviews

The Long Distance Cyclists' Handbook, 2nd

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fine book--much stronger than the similar one published by Bicycling magazine. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to regularly bike 25 miles or more.

The best part of the book is it is so comprehensive and logical. Everything is covered from equipment to saddle sores. The only downside is that this is so clearly an American English translation from the British original.

Keep in mind the famous quote about Americans and the English being "two peoples separated by a common language" and you will do fine, and learn a great deal from this book.

I bought this book in the summer of 2008. Based on the reviews at Amazon.uk, I picked up this book over the other "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling", and I wasn't disappointed.

The book is organized in three parts (Get Ready, Get Set, Go!). Like other cycling books, it starts in telling the gear -- which bike to choose -- and the bike accessories and clothing. I thought I might be bored in reading this part, considering I have already read this kind of articles many times, but I was not. Mr. Doughty discusses not only the different kinds of bikes in the market, but he also presents us the details about bike parts and how these can affect you in long-distance cycling (he never forgets the book title!). Through out the book, the pros and cons of certain topics are often listed in the tables for easy comparison.

Now you have your gears, you still need to know about yourself and surroundings before you set out a trip. In the 2nd part (Get Set), the author discuss the sources for your energy and the seriousness of dehydration and how to get hydrated. The book also covers the soreness and pains related to cycling and how to ease them at home and on the bike. Other preparations for long distance cycling, e.g. safety, packing and some on-road repairs, are included as well.

The main topic in the third part (Go!) is the training for the long-distance cycling. It starts from the training principles, go on about season basics and then the specifics for events based on the different distance (from short one like 50-100 miles to 1000+ km) and time of trails. The gives lots of tips and training charts targeted for different circumstances so that you can be prepared both physically and psychologically.

This book discusses long-distance cycling thoroughly. I particularly like the way how it is presented: very logical and informative (citing references). I like this book more than the American version "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling", which is more outdated (I borrowed it from the library so I could make the comparison).

First off, this is a very British style of book. If you are an American or Canadian rider, the language used may be unfamiliar. Also, while I had hoped for a book about how to ride longer distances by bike (hence, "long distance cycling") the majority of this book focus on Audax and time-trialled rides and training. As an amateur enthusiast rider who rides to and from work every day, and for longer distances on weekends, this is not what I was looking for. In terms of content, the book also disappoints. Nutrition receives very brief coverage, and some of the information is contradictory. For instance, while the author recomments riders drink 500 mL per hour as a rule of thumb (depending on temperature and humidity), the graph on the previous page shows 700 mL/hr is the minimum sweat loss while riding at room temperature! A far better pointer would be to suggest riders plan on drinking at least a litre of fluid per hour, that it's better to have more water than you need than less, and that you can adjust this later on, as you figure out your own water requirements. And here lies my biggest gripe with this book: Information is either too vague to be useful (e.g. you should try this out to find out what suits you) or oddly specific, like the author's recommendation of obscure British made bikes I've never heard of, and that are not readily available here in North America. The basic advice on training is good (especially the note about having recovery time), but this informatino is best used (like the rest of the book) to offer you guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. For more useful information, you're better off either learning on your own through experience, or asking other cyclists for their views. 2/5