The Racing Bicycle: Design, Function, Speed

by Richard Moore (Editor), Daniel Benson (Editor), Robert Penn (Foreword)

The most informative book on the precision and craftsmanship of the racing bicycle—essential reading for gearheads. This beautifully illustrated volume is a celebration of the design history and craftsmanship of the racing bicycle. Easily the most well-researched book available on the subject, it covers every aspect of the art and design of the beloved cult object, whose rich history intertwines with that of design, engineering, and sports. With special feature sections dedicated to the fifty most legendary brands, this is the story of the visionaries who created two-wheeled legends. From the cradle of road biking on the plains of northern Italy to the rugged trails of Marin County, where mountain biking was born, the book explores the most hallowed names in bicycle design, from Cannondale and Campagnolo to Shimano and Specialized. It is a fascinating look at how the racing bicycle’s design and parts have evolved over time. Complete with sublime photography of the design features that make each bike unique, including gears, shifters, cranks, handlebars, and wheels, this book represents a heartfelt tribute to the precision, craftsmanship, and speed of the racing bicycle. Edited by a seasoned cycling veteran and long-time cycling journalist, this is the perfect book for cycling fanatics and design aficionados alike.

Genres: Sports

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2013

About the author

Richard Moore is a freelance journalist and author. His first book, In Search of Robert Millar (HarperSport), won Best Biography at the 2008 British Sports Book Awards. His second book, Heroes, Villains & Velodromes (HarperSport), was long-listed for the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

He is also the author of Slaying the Badger: LeMond, Hinault and the Greatest Ever Tour de France (Yellow Jersey, May 2011), and Sky’s the Limit: British Cycling’s Quest to Conquer the Tour de France (HarperSport, June 2011).

His latest book, The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100m final, will be published by Wisden Sports Writing in June, 2012.

He is also a former racing cyclist who represented Scotland at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the 1998 Tour de Langkawi.

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love bicycles. I have a Condor (not mentioned in the book) hand buit in England. Big section on Trek (didn't mention Fischer Mountain bikes my friend Gary Fischer's company, acquired by trek.). Nice stuff about Colnago, Campagnolo, all the greats.