Overview

The bicyclist is under attack from all directions - the streets are ragged, the air is poison, and the drivers are angry. As if that weren't enough, the American cyclist must carry the weight of history along on every ride. After a brief heyday at the turn of the twentieth century, American cyclists fell out of the social consciousness, becoming an afterthought when our cities were planned and built. Cyclists today are left to navigate through a hard and unsympathetic world that was not made for them. Yet, with the proper attitude and a bit of knowledge, cyclists can thrive in this hostile environment.Covering much more than just riding a bike in traffic, author Robert Hurst paints, in uncanny detail, the challenges, strategies, and art of riding a bike on America's modern streets and roadways. The Art of Cycling dismantles the bicycling experience and slides it under the microscope, piece by piece. Its primary concern is safety, but this book goes well beyond the usual tips and how-to, diving in to the realms of history, psychology, sociology, and economics.

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9780762790050

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Reviews

While there are thousands of books on bicycling, this is the best book I've come across for offering lots of hard-earned, practical advice for staying alive. Happily, Hurst is a skilled writer with a passion for history, so he weaves a tale that gives historical and even philosophical perspective in a manner I found totally engaging. . . . [A] gem of a book. --Huffington Post This empowering cycling book should come in the glove box of every new car sold -- Marla Streb, World Champion Downhill Mountain Bike Racer While it's hard to imagine a book about [urban] cycling could fill over 250 pages, let alone strive to be a near masterpiece, that's just what The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street, and all-encompassing how-to book by veteran bicycling messenger Robert Hurst, has accomplished. With a spot-on foreword written by Luna downhiller Marla Streb and a detailed index of footnotes and bibliography, Hurst has compiled a cerebral but hip manifesto for [urban] cyclists looking to coexist in a system that has left them to fend for their lives. -- VeloNews, Journal of Competitive Cycling I would like to highly recommend the book The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street by Robert Hurst. Not only is it delightfully written (with a sense of humour and a relaxed style) and absorbing ( just a second, dear, I'll take out the trash after I read about curbs ), but it's *dead on*. I've been riding my whole life, never having owned a car, to get everywhere from school to grocery shopping to Canada. And he's *right*. Katherine Stange, Providence, RI (Amazon review) There are other books about cycling that are worth reading (such as Effective Cycling by John Forester) but I think this one is the best of the bunch. -Cliff Heegel (Memphis, TN) The best how to cycling book out there. I've bought several copies for myself, strategically placed to rarely be far from one. Having ridden in cities for over 40 years, I still founde

Author Information

Robert Hurst is a veteran bicycle messenger and all-around cyclist who has cycled more than 150,000 miles and 15,000 hours in heavy traffic. In this time, he has completed something like 80,000 deliveried. He is a native Coloradan who is just happy to be in one piece after working for more than ten years as a professional bike messenger in Denver. He celebrates his continued survival by spending time in the mountains, and by riding the world's most excellent trails. Mr. Hurst is also the author of Mountain Biking Colorado's San Juan Mountains and Road Biking Colorado's Front Range (FalconGuides).

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