The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Beginners: Everything a new cyclist needs to know to gear up and start riding

As someone who recently returned to biking, perhaps a bit more than casually, I wanted to be educated but not preached to. This book wonderfully accomplished that. One of the things I have learned is that, with virtually every hobby and sport, there is a natural progression. For example, many new riders (myself included) find the seats of many bikes, even or especially upscale ones, are ridiculously hard and uncomfortable and will opt for padded seats of various kinds. There is a common, but not universal, progression away from padded, soft seats toward the harder ones as one's skills and experience increase. I know this and I am pretty sure I will be one to follow that course. But what I don't need -- and what will do me no good -- is for an experienced rider to tell me padded seats are bad, heavy, wrong, etc. I may eventually get used to them, like them or even believe you. But right now, a padded seat will keep me riding. So, the point of all this is that Bortman, clearly an experienced, expert rider realizes this and, while she makes her personal preferences known, she acknowledges that there are other points of view and other stages of the game. So, me being a beginner, she provides me with information, acknowledges my non-elitist, non-purist preferences and provides me useful information I can and will but to use. At the same time, there is a presumed understanding that I will most likely evolve and maybe even embrace the things I now either don't understand or don't like. She does not demand that I do so, nor suggest that I will eventually come to understand the amateurishness of my ways. Instead, she provides me with answers to questions I either have, or soon will have, and, at the same time offering the possibility that I will evolve, without demanding I do so. This book is not just a how-to manual. While certainly not a book about her adventures, and not straying from its purpose, it is, somehow, a book I can read cover to cover and find not only informative, but entertaining and leaving me with not just a better understanding of the mechanics and environment of biking, but also of the desire to grow. One final point: the last two words in the book's title are "for Beginners". So what gives with the reviews where people complain that the book is not good because they already knew all that?

The concluding section of Tori Bortman’s THE BICYCLING BIG BOOK OF CYCLING FOR BEGINNERS makes the claim that ‘teaching, bicycles, and writing are Tori Bortman’s passions’. By the time the reader encounters this line, the truth of it has become clear.Bortman has provided beginner (and, I would say, those who prefer the face-saving term '*advanced* beginner') cyclists with a jargon free, highly readable companion for the first thousand miles on thin rubber tires.These pages contain no in-house tech talk meant to bolster anyone’s credentials and squeeze out the newbies. Instead, a gifted teacher who really wants her students to love the sport as much as she does builds our understanding from the ground up, step by step, brick by brick, ride by ride.I’m finishing my first thousand miles and cannot think of a more amiable companion that THE BICYCLING BIG BOOK OF CYCLING FOR BEGINNERS and the ambitiously empathetic voice it channels to rookie riders whose gasping lungs and pumping legs are just beginning to know their strength.

The Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Beginners really is what it says; a book for beginners who may know nothing or very little about a bike. I used to ride my bike as a kid, commuted (and abused) my bike in college, then had no time for it until my knees needed a knee friendly exercise like cycling. I spent countless hours googling topics, reading forums, reading magazines, and buying things I didn't need. I could have saved a ton of money if I would have just started with this book. It arms you with the information you need to be able to go out and ask intelligent questions at the bike shop or club ride and get off on the right foot. It also provides enough details on all subjects so you can choose where to go do more research on your own.The one downside of the book is that Tori recommends purchasing your bike at a local bike shop new and doesn't cover the possibilities of purchasing a used bike. For some of us even a new "budget" bike is too much money to put into a new sport without knowing if we will like it or not. Bikes depreciate like a car, as soon as you leave the shop with it the resale value takes a hit. that means you can get a used bike for much less than the price of a new one if you are patient. I still highly recommend the book but in addition add in your own research about the possibilities of renting a bike, talking to the local shop about buying a trade in, or even purchasing one on craigslist or eBay.So, buy the book (the ebook was very inexpensive) get your gear and get going!

Lots of great information on all different aspects of biking.I got the book about a year ago right after I had returned to biking after about 10 years away from riding and having "lost" much of my biking knowledge... Book very helpful to refresh my memory on many things - biking gear, bikes and their components, techniques for riding, nutrition, etc. And a year later after having averaged close to 300 miles a month on my bike, I still find useful things to refer to in this book...

This is a great book for a beginner bicycle. Although I have always enjoyed bike riding, I guess you would say that I am trying to take it the next level. I found that there is so much more to taking up bike riding whether it is on a trail, the road, pavement, or through the woods. When researching for bikes and accessories, it was overwhelming. This book truly makes the search and the unknowns so much easier and covers so many topics. I thank Tori Bortman, the author of the book, for putting together a great guide for us novice riders. But I'm sure more experienced riders benefit by much of the book as well.

This book is absolutely the best for new and old bicyclists. It covers everything you need to know about choosing, riding, respect, maintenance, in a easy to understand way. This book covers it ALL! It’s all you will need.

This is a well written book with loads of advice but as the title says it's for beginners, so if you have experience on the bike you won't find this helps you much.

Super helpful for those new to cycling and looking to join a team!

Excellent book. Contains everything you need to start cycling.Clothing tips especially useful.

Very good general book for people starting cycling.

Lots of interesting info. Makes a good reference manual.

Didn't find it very useful

Bought for hubby for Christmas, he likes it. Not many pictures in it but quite good tips and advices.

ok

Good advice not as good as some others I have seen.