The Bicycle Book

The Bicycle Book
Bella Bathurst


A rip-roaring narrative celebration of the 21st century’s great transport success story: the bicycle. Millions of us now cycle, some obsessively, and this glorious concoction of history, anecdote, adventure and lycra-clad pedalling is the perfect read for two-wheelers of all kinds.‘At last – a bicycle book for the rest of us…. A book for the sort of cyclist who likes cycling and reading and stories.’ GuardianTwo wheels. A frame. Two pedals. What could be simpler than a bicycle?And yet the bike continues to inspire a passionate following. Since the millennium its use in Britain has doubled, and then doubled again. Thousands now cycle to work, with more and more taking it up every day.Acclaimed author Bella Bathurst takes us on a journey through cycling’s best stories and strangest incarnations, from the bicycle as a weapon of warfare to the secret life of couriers and the alchemy of framebuilding. With a cast of characters including the woman who watercycled across the Channel, the man who raced India’s Deccan Queen train and several of today’s top cyclists, she offers us a brilliantly engaging portrait of cycling’s past, present and world-conquering future.







BELLA BATHURST

The Bicycle Book

I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride my bike I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride it where I like QUEEN, ‘Bicycle Race’







For Fog

Beloved friend, teacher and fellow traveller, 1997–2010




Contents


Cover (#ue043237f-258f-56d4-824f-5994c28cfeb4)

Title Page (#u1d9d5a28-c438-5d6e-a34c-f46e73294797)



Introduction

Chapter One - Framebuilding

Chapter Two - You Say You Want a Revolution

Chapter Three - Feral Cycling and the Serious Men

Chapter Four - The Great Wheel

Chapter Five - Watercycling to France

Chapter Six - The Worst Journey in the World

Photographic Insert

Chapter Seven - The Silent Black Line

Chapter Eight - The Burning Man

Chapter Nine - Bad Teeth No Bar

Chapter Ten - Axles of Evil

Chapter Eleven - Knobbled

Conclusion - Love and Souplesse



Glossary

List of Illustrations

Bibliography

Acknowledgements



About the Author

Praise

Also by Bella Bathurst

Copyright

About the Publisher (#u9df1999b-4514-58a2-927b-b7a3271d3ce7)




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The Bicycle Book Bella Bathurst
The Bicycle Book

Bella Bathurst

Тип: электронная книга

Жанр: Хобби, увлечения

Язык: на английском языке

Издательство: HarperCollins

Дата публикации: 16.04.2024

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О книге: A rip-roaring narrative celebration of the 21st century’s great transport success story: the bicycle. Millions of us now cycle, some obsessively, and this glorious concoction of history, anecdote, adventure and lycra-clad pedalling is the perfect read for two-wheelers of all kinds.‘At last – a bicycle book for the rest of us…. A book for the sort of cyclist who likes cycling and reading and stories.’ GuardianTwo wheels. A frame. Two pedals. What could be simpler than a bicycle?And yet the bike continues to inspire a passionate following. Since the millennium its use in Britain has doubled, and then doubled again. Thousands now cycle to work, with more and more taking it up every day.Acclaimed author Bella Bathurst takes us on a journey through cycling’s best stories and strangest incarnations, from the bicycle as a weapon of warfare to the secret life of couriers and the alchemy of framebuilding. With a cast of characters including the woman who watercycled across the Channel, the man who raced India’s Deccan Queen train and several of today’s top cyclists, she offers us a brilliantly engaging portrait of cycling’s past, present and world-conquering future.

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