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Cycling science: how rider and machine work together
Every July hundreds of thousands flock to the Champs-Élysées in Paris—and millions more to their televisions and computers—to witness the dramatic conclusion of the grueling three weeks of the Tour de France. There is no better measure of the worldwide love of the bicycle. But of the 6.3 billion cyclists traversing the world’s roadways and trails, few of us take the time to consider the science behind the sport. The simple process of getting about on two wheels brings us in touch with a wealth of fascinating science, and here journalist Max Glaskin investigates the scientific wonders that keep cyclists in their saddles.Cycling Science tours readers through a wide variety of topics, from tire rolling resistance and the difference between yield strength and ultimate strength, to the importance of drag and the impact that shaved legs have on speed. Each chapter explores a different subject—frames and wheels, brakes and gearing, materials, aerodynamics, steering and balance, and the human factor—and is organized around a series of What is the ideal frame shape? What is the biggest source of drag? What keeps a bicycle from falling over? How much power can a cyclist produce? Which muscles does cycling use? Each question is examined with the aid of explanatory diagrams and illustrations, and the book can be used to search for particular topics, or read through for a comprehensive overview of how machine and rider work together.Athletes have much to gain from understanding the science of their sports, and Cycling Science will be a must-read for cyclists of all stripes—professionals, hobbyists, and anyone seeking to improve upon their technique.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 29, 2024
For a book that talks about drag (air resistance) so much, it was a bit of a drag itself. Some pages didn't contain much info while others were overflowing with technical banalities. Ok as a coffee table book, but don't expect to read every word AND gun through it.
February 21, 2013
This book was a pleasure to just hold and just look at – maybe only if you like bikes. It would be a nice book for your coffee table if you don’t want to read it. It contained a nice mix of facts and illustrations. The book contained scientific discussion of bike topics without calling for a PhD in physics. There were times it could have gone into more detail, but that wasn’t really the author’s goal. The text is heavily footnoted so anyone looking for more info on sections of the book can easily look it up.
August 25, 2014
Paljon asiaa, mutta teknisyydessään jätti hieman kylmäksi.
April 8, 2018
Depending on how deep your interest is in the science of cycling (or how geeky you are about cycling), this book is either just enough or it's a tease. Topics covered include the basics of aerodynamics (bike, rider, and clothing), other sources of resistance (primarily weight and friction), materials, cornering, and power generation. There's a section of the effects of doping and other kinds of "blood boosting", but it's placed within the bigger context of how biological factors like heart rate, breathing, and even skin temperature affect performance.
It's a beautiful book. Each topic and subtopic is covered quickly, in a two page spread. One page is mostly text, explaining concepts and major points to be taken away by the reader. The remainder of the page and the following page are taken up by infographics, backing up major points and providing greater depth as well as visual impact. In fact, I think the infographics are the real meat of the book -- I often found the text itself a little scant and found much more to be gained by pushing deeper into the graphics.
One graphic I found especially interesting appears at the end of the book, presenting the relative performance effects of a wide array of changes you could make as a rider, to yourself and to your equipment. For a novice, clearly the biggest bang for the buck is in training, although improvements in the aerodynamics of your riding position and your equipment are huge, especially in comparison to the advantages to be gained by reducing either the bike's weight or your own -- a nice counter to bike weight fetishism.
There is a lot here to appeal to in the standard things that cycling geeks love to debate -- wheel weight vs. wheel aerodynamics, ideal pedaling cadences, frame tube shapes, etc. There are also some suggestions of future technologies, like plasma-generating materials and designs that could take aerodynamic streamlining to new places.
If there are faults with the book, it is that some hot topics (e.g., wheel and tire width) are not discussed or are discussed so briefly in the two page per topic/subtopic format. Not being a physical scientist, I won't try to criticize the author's science, but I'm sure there are more things to be said on the other sides of some of the issues he discusses as well.
Overall, it was what I wanted. Now, for the things I'm especially interested in, I can find sources that go deeper.
It's a beautiful book. Each topic and subtopic is covered quickly, in a two page spread. One page is mostly text, explaining concepts and major points to be taken away by the reader. The remainder of the page and the following page are taken up by infographics, backing up major points and providing greater depth as well as visual impact. In fact, I think the infographics are the real meat of the book -- I often found the text itself a little scant and found much more to be gained by pushing deeper into the graphics.
One graphic I found especially interesting appears at the end of the book, presenting the relative performance effects of a wide array of changes you could make as a rider, to yourself and to your equipment. For a novice, clearly the biggest bang for the buck is in training, although improvements in the aerodynamics of your riding position and your equipment are huge, especially in comparison to the advantages to be gained by reducing either the bike's weight or your own -- a nice counter to bike weight fetishism.
There is a lot here to appeal to in the standard things that cycling geeks love to debate -- wheel weight vs. wheel aerodynamics, ideal pedaling cadences, frame tube shapes, etc. There are also some suggestions of future technologies, like plasma-generating materials and designs that could take aerodynamic streamlining to new places.
If there are faults with the book, it is that some hot topics (e.g., wheel and tire width) are not discussed or are discussed so briefly in the two page per topic/subtopic format. Not being a physical scientist, I won't try to criticize the author's science, but I'm sure there are more things to be said on the other sides of some of the issues he discusses as well.
Overall, it was what I wanted. Now, for the things I'm especially interested in, I can find sources that go deeper.
January 23, 2018
- Oriented toward power/speed performance (e.g. a long, aero-helmet has benefits at high speeds)
+ Recumbent, recreational, and folding bicycles are mentioned
+ End notes caught my attention
+ Covers bicycle and (some) human factors
- at least half the graphics helped convey the ideas; some were decorative not informative
+ Recumbent, recreational, and folding bicycles are mentioned
+ End notes caught my attention
+ Covers bicycle and (some) human factors
- at least half the graphics helped convey the ideas; some were decorative not informative
February 3, 2017
The rating really depends on whether you are a beginner cyclist or already seasoned one. While this is an exceptionally well written and structured introduction to the cycling world for the novice, cycling veterans still can find some interesting information and scientific justifications to the common rules they already knew, though part of the info might seem too banal and repetition to them.
The rating is also driven by great structure, lots of schematics demonstrating key concepts explained in the book and scientific references.
It is a definite 5/5 and a must read for the novice cyclist.
For the experienced cyclist I'd rate it 4/5.
The rating is also driven by great structure, lots of schematics demonstrating key concepts explained in the book and scientific references.
It is a definite 5/5 and a must read for the novice cyclist.
For the experienced cyclist I'd rate it 4/5.
November 10, 2016
Everything you want to know along with more than you may need to know. Well written with lots of illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews