Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips: Low-Tech & No-Tech Ways to Find, Ride, & Keep a Bicycle [Paperback]

Dave Glowacz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

Filled with practical tips that any adult bike owner can use instantly, this book includes advice on everything from how to handle a sore butt and choose accessories to how to avoid helmet hair and mount a bike while wearing a miniskirt. This updated edition contains new and revised information about current bike types, locks, and recent products such as the strap-on magnet that lets bikers change traffic lights to green. An updated supplier directory and list of bicycling resources, such as web sites and advocacy groups, are also included. Illustrated with step-by-step instructions on every page, this book is especially helpful for riders living in the urban jungle.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Finally, there is help for bike riders who live in cities. Clowacz covers all the basics for keeping an urban biking life safely on two wheels, from choosing a bike to keeping it from getting stolen. He provides valuable advice on making a bike fit one's individual needs--for example, seat height adjustments to avoid backaches as well as perhaps the most basic concern, locking the bike, for which he offers several options. His safety tips on such things as what to do if someone attempts to steal the bike right out from under you and how to negotiate urban auto traffic (hint: there are many choices other than anger and violence) are wonderfully down-to-earth. Illustrated in step-by-step fashion on every page, this is a book to be read, studied, and put to practical use by all bike riders, but especially those living in the urban jungle. Raul Nino --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"For both the experienced and the novice, this is the best biker’s manual."  —New York Public Library

"If these tips work in New York City—and they do—they'll work almost anywhere."  —Ann Sullivan, director, League of American Bicyclists

"A really useful compendium of information that no one ever told you." —Bicycling Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Wordspace Press; New revised edition edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965172813
• ISBN-13: 978-0965172813
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 6 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 72 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Outrageous suicidal advice January 26, 2004

By Serge Issakov

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just got this book a week ago, and will probably send it back. That will be a first, for I have never returned a book before. But this one is that bad.

I agree with the other 1-star reviewers who noted the dangerous advice given in this book. I've been riding bikes with traffic for over 30 years, and I admit I've done most if not all of the dangerous "sly cyclist" "tips & tricks" recommended by this book - but I did them when I didn't know better. You'd think a book on biking would help one know better...

Riding safely and effectively with traffic means riding visibly and predictably according to standard vehicular laws and principles. Much of the advice in this book is contrary to this important notion, which has already been detailed in other reviews. I will add that the author does not appear to base his recommendations on any principles whatsoever. He just recommends doing certain things, many of which are contrary to riding visibly and predictably, that have apparently worked for him, so far. Just because he hasn't been killed by his own advice yet does not mean it's good advice, or that all of his readers will have the same dumb luck.

Almost all accidents require more than just one thing to go wrong, usually about three. By following the advice in this book, and not riding visibly and predictably ("vehicularly"), only two more things have to go wrong for an accident to occur. I stongly recommend NOT stacking the deck against your life and well-being like this.

Ignore this book. Instead, buy and read "Effective Cycling" by John Forester.

28 of 35 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Of limited value to the conscientous cyclist January 31, 2000

By Stewart C. Russell

Format:Paperback

I can't really recommend this book. While it's filled with very good equipment and car-free lifestyle choices, the riding techniques advocated are highly dubious. In some cases, they're illegal and stupid -- like showing you how to run red traffic lights, or riding on the sidewalk -- and will do nothing for the image of cyclists. The book even shows (by a backhanded warning) the best place to crack a car windshield.

It is a shame that such moments of crassness spoil a book that is aimed at beginners. These would be bad habits to get into, and terrible things to learn from the outset.

Better books on assertive cycling are John Franklin's "Cyclecraft", and John Forester's "Effective Cycling". They show you how to gain your place in the traffic, and how to keep it without resorting to crazy stunts.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide to urban biking August 23, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

It is about time that there is a book available to city bikers. The book really looks at those "interesting" traffic situations that one encounters in the city. All the tricks and tips that Dave shows us are invaluable. From fitting your helmet and dressing for a ride to lubing your gears and chain. One thing, I really liked was the non-violent ways he shows us when dealing with the no so nice people out there. He always encourages us to get back on and ride.It is truly a useful and informative guide to biking in an urban setting.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good advice for beginners but short on how to keep your cool February 6, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

A fairly comprehensive guide for the beginner. Practical advice on a variety of topics from picking out a bike that's right for you to how to transport the thing on public conveyances. A word of caution, however. The tips offered on how to deal with motorist conflicts are decidedly aggressive, for the most part, and suggest a level of reactive behavior that may be clearly inappropriate for the circumstances. Try administering deliberate damage to someone's car, throwing fluids in the face of a driver behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, or calling police to (falsely) report you were threatened with a gun and you'll likely find yourself or some other innocent party seriously injured or landed in jail. The consequences and liabilites could be enormous for a biker who started out to enjoy a sunny afternoon. Idiot drivers annoy the most passive of bikers, but doing an equally or greater stupid act is not worth your life or someone else's. The best advice here is to not follow the author's advice on how to get back at inattentive motorists.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars if you're new to bicycles it has a few decent sections June 29, 2010

By good time johnny

Format:Paperback

It's not worth buying. You can read the entire thing in about an hour. Get it at the library if you feel you must. You'll thank me for this advice.

The "dangerous" parts that everybody else is offended by aren't really that bad. The part that stuck out at me as completely wrongheaded was the section on getting an insurance settlement after a crash. The mistakes are too numerous to list. Don't follow the advice in that chapter, just talk with a lawyer.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Spoiled by irresponsible advise February 18, 2000

By Fred B Oswald

Format:Paperback

This book has some interesting and useful ideas (for example on P. 4 a very good explanation of the difference between basic bike types). Unfortunately, it is spoiled by recommending a number of irresponsible and illegal techniques.

The best clue for this unfortunate trend of the book is given by the "Warning and Disclaimer" on page ii at the front. This says, in part:

"The reader understands and agrees to absolve the author ... of all blame for any injury ... suffered as a result of using information in this book. If you do not wish to be bound by the above, you may return this book to the publisher for a full refund."

The irresponsible and illegal techniques recommended in the book: are identified as "Sly Biker" tips. These include:

"The impatient left turn", P. 86 "The shortcut left turn", P. 87 Falsifying a police report, P. 142 "Drafting" by tailgating a truck or van, P. 162 "Skitching" a ride by grabbing onto a vehicle, P. 163

If you have already bought the book, I suggest you accept the offer for a refund given in the "Warning and Disclaimer".

Fred Oswald, bicycle commuter