Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Very informative in all phases of bicycling. Author is obvously very knowledgeable about his subject and shares that knowledge well for the neophyte or non-urban biker. Only complaint, which is really more and more common with today's writers (and editors), is that grammar and editing capability of the writer is on the short side. Some tables and illustrations are confusing and/or misleading and bad grammar sometimes loses the point to be made. Some illustrations are not in keeping with their narrative, etc. All in all though, a good book and well worth the money for overall content.

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.

Other reviewers have already touched on the more controversial tips, but on the whole this book is filled with practical and safe tips relating to clothing, bicycle security and commuting in general. Although it does illustrate behavior I would personally consider unsafe in most situations, I also feel it is written in such a way to offer them as an alternative approach alongside others. John Forester's overall attitude (less the bizarre opposition to bike lanes) is the correct one, but until most cities' traffic patterns, signals and roads are designed with bicyclists in mind, there will always be the occasional need to short-circuit the letter of the law in order to move traffic along and interact safely with automobiles. Obviously, this is where experience and judgment come into the situation, and no book is going to teach you how to stop acting like an idiot. The best it can do is make you think about your choices, and I believe "Urban Bikers' Tips & Tricks" does so, in spades.

The book you will not be able to put down once your open it. It will make many more trips off of your bookshelf to your hands, your pannniers, brief case, and to the couch. The author will challenge you, teach you new tricks, and make you ever more anxious to use your bike for commuting and for transportation. Forget the old tired worn out cliches and aphorisms on bike commuting. This guy has caught it all!

How to choose, ride, protect, and enjoy your bike for any purpose. It covers all kinds of equipment to help you understand what your options are and how to use them all effectively. Has a nice chapter on effective riding and how to stay safe. For the seasoned biker it provides insights into protecting your bike and riding "sly" for the agressive side of you. A seasoned biker, myself, I enjoyed the little tidbits strewn throughout the entire book. Very conversational and the illustrations are great.