Richards' Ultimate Bicycle Book [Hardcover]

Richard Ballantine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1992

An illustrated guide to cycling offers detailed specifications and action photographs of various types of bicycles on the road, as well as information on bicycle maintenance, cycling accessories, training, sport cycling, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cyclers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, racers in the Tour de France and casual coasters in the local park receive attention in this instructive, glossy volume of biking basics. Ballantine ( Richard's Bicycle Book ) and London journalist Grant cite bikes' environmental soundness and physical fitness benefits and praise "cycle activism" that promotes building of bike paths and reliance on bikes over cars. They explain how to adjust handlebars and seats for the best fit, stretch and train indoors for cycling, teach a child to ride and select equipment for a marathon, tour or expedition. Particularly helpful is the maintenance section, which includes temporary roadside "first aid" for flats, pedals and cables; technology-minded readers will appreciate short segments on aerodynamics, light materials and solar energy. Handsomely illustrated with 700 color photos, this exhaustive guide is best suited for amateurs rather than professional athletes.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-- This oversized, elaborately designed book on bicycling and other human-powered vehicles has something for everyone. Large, bright, full-color photographs, drawings, maps, and/or diagrams appear on every page. Detailed, factual information is included with each illustration. Trivia lovers will revel in the frequent yellow boxes of facts; interesting tidbits; and practical tips on tires, clothing, safety, etc. that fill the dense, glossy pages. All types of racing and touring bicycles are described and their maintenance and repair are discussed in short, large-print paragraphs. The sentences are complex and the vocabulary is sophisticated. Eugene A. Sloanes's The Complete Book of Bicycling (Trident, 1970; o.p.) is similar in scope, but does not reflect the technological advances. Megan Stine's Wheels! (Little, 1990) is for younger children. : Attractiveness in layout and illustrations, excellent-quality photos, and the currency of information make this new title an appealing volume for reference and browsing. --Janice C. Hayes, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st American ed edition (March 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564580369
• ISBN-13: 978-1564580368
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,128,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best photo/character book of the bicycle, September 1, 1998

By 

Jeff Potter - See all my reviews

This review is from: Richards' Ultimate Bicycle Book (Hardcover)

This book has the best most diverse photos of bicycles of any ever. Also some fine writing and insights. The only big photo spread I've ever seen on road-side emergency repairs. Bravo! Also plenty of coverage of bicycle alternatives, which diversity is what bikes are all about in the first place. Bravo again! This book should be kept in print, in libraries nationwide. Richard's Best Book, 2nd ed, should also have never been let go (it has the best bike ART in any book).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aptly named..., May 5, 2002

By 

Dr. Leslie Brown "Doc Brown" (Tenerife, Spain, Canary Islands.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Richards' Ultimate Bicycle Book (Hardcover)

If there is only one book about cycling you should own - then this is it!

Everyone who owns a bike should get this, especially if you're just starting out. It is really what got me started off, now I own my ultimate dream machine and I still refer to it now and then. You see so many riders out there with incorrectly set up bikes. The three things I can notice from about 100 feet away are: their seat is too low; their chain is insufficiently lubricated; and the derailleurs are not adjusted properly. This book will teach you how to set up your bike correctly, and provide you with essential knowledge on cycling.

This has all the info in it for beginners and intermediates alike. The main sections are: mountain bikes, racing bikes and touring bikes, future bikes and cycle maintenance. Within these pages, you'll find info about bike set-up/positioning, sizing of frames, clothing, riding techniques, racing and stretching. Plus more info on other specific bike parts, such as: frame construction, types of wheels, gears/brakes, etc. Also specific info about various types of bikes used in: observed trials, the tour de France, criterium races, time¨Ctrials, triathlons, track racing (& classic bikes).

The maintenance section is quite extensive, and will generally be adequate for most people's needs. It covers tools (and there's a lot!), wheel truing, fixing flat tires, adjustments for comfort, brakes, chains, pedals, derailleur adjustment, and cleaning/lubrication.

There are plenty of good colour photos, it is well written and very informative - what more could you ask for? If you haven't actually flicked through this book and you're still having doubts about getting it, go to your local bookshop and just have a look through it, you'll see what I mean. All in all a very comprehensive guide to cycling - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for youngsters and/or beginners.

5.0 out of 5 stars fun to look through, January 20, 2009

By 

A. Landry (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultimate Bicycle Book (DK Living) (Paperback)

This is a fairly outdated edition of this book about cycling. I love DK books for their amazing illustrations and diagrams. A picture really is worth a thousand words. The only thing to know about this edition is that many things are outdated, but that kind of thing might be entertaining to cycling enthusiasts. You can see what was state of the art a decade or more ago.

Other than that, you can still learn a lot about bikes by skimming this book.