The snow and cold have taken their toll and I like many other bicyclists have chosen to stay indoors mostly during the winter reading about biking instead of biking.Ryan recommended a book by the title of The Art of Cycling some time ago and I have finally finished reading it.
So this is my book report for the class of cyclists. Pay attention.
If you find this report highly intriguing, The art of cycling : a guide to bicycling in 21st-century America / Robert Hurst ; foreword by Marla is available at the Salt Lake City Library and the Salt Lake County Library and for purchase at Amazon.com for $11.21. It can also be previewed on google books.
Starting with stories of bicycles of old Hurst delves into stories of bicycles that are rarely heard of, but essential to understand the underlinings of how the bicycle has gotten to where it has gotten in society. The reader is reminded on several occasions in the introduction and later in the book that if it had not been for the automobile then bicyclists would potentially be riding on hard dirt roads filled with horse manure and urine soaked buildings.
After lessons of historical upbringings, the book focuses on the various surfaces and their significance to the bicycle. At this point you begin to really understand and appreciate the flow of the book because it isn't simply stating, 'slap a helmet on and look both ways,' but rather giving you ideas of how the world that you ride upon is constructed from asphalt waves to deadly grates.
The largest portion of the book covers being in traffic, and takes upon the idea that bicyclists are responsible for every accident they get in, suggesting taking a very proactive approach dodging, missing and preventing maiming themselves at the error of the automobile driver. It goes over great detail over a wide array of navigating techniques in the city streets ranging from sidewalks to signals to the deadly door zone.
I hated the idea of riding my bicycle after reading the chapter on bicycle accidents and injuries. The reason? The examples of road rash, collarbone breaking - sounded painful - and Hurst gave statistics out on accidents to imply that you were set to get into at least one nasty spill a year. Similar to his spill on bicyclists being responsible for every accident they get in, he takes a similar approach to road rash,
"Road rash is a precious gift. Road rash is your friend. Bask in it, appreciate it, love it. Above all, learn from it." -the art of cycling page 166.
Not being the type to be influenced by Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, Hurst gives these in your face wake up and smell the reality of the ride passages throughout the book akin to the attitude of Larry Winget's, Shut up, stop whining, and get a life. It really is empowering, but in the same instance makes you scared as hell to ride your bike.
The air pollution portion while informative, was rather scientifically boring. If you want to wear a mask, wear one. However, I read somewhere else, bicyclists actually do better in traffic because their bodies are more actively taking out the bad parts. It was suggested breathing through your nose by Hurst. To me, breathing through my nose alone is akin to breathing through a straw.
The last three chapters are on flat tires and equipment. Seems these are standard in every book. Hurst would have done better to include a few more visuals on the replacing a flat tire, but overall the little pieces of information in these chapters was a necessary informative for a bike book.
Overall, the book was interesting and very practical. Longwinded at times, it could have been simplified, but Hurst has written something that should be said 'it approaches bicycling from an entirely new angle.'
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