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Home > Books > Bicycling Science, 3rd Edition
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Bicycling Science, 3rd Edition
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By David Gordon Wilson
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 (27 Reviews)
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List Price: $26.95
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Our Price: $17.79 Eligible for FREE shipping. Details
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Publisher:
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The MIT Press
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Edition:
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3
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Date:
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April 1, 2004 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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485
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The bicycle is almost unique among human-powered machines in that it uses human muscles in a near-optimum way. This new edition of the bible of bicycle builders and bicyclists provides just about everything you could want to know about the history of bicycles, how human beings propel them, what makes them go faster, and what keeps them from going even faster. The scientific and engineering information is of interest not only to designers and builders of bicycles and other human-powered vehicles but also to competitive cyclists, bicycle commuters, and recreational cyclists. The third edition begins with a brief history of bicycles and bicycling that demolishes many widespread myths. This edition includes information on recent experiments and achievements in human-powered transportation, including the "ultimate human- powered vehicle," in which a supine rider in a streamlined enclosure steers by looking at a television screen connected to a small camera in the nose, reaching speeds of around 80 miles per hour. It contains completely new chapters on aerodynamics, unusual human-powered machines for use on land and in water and air, human physiology, and the future of bicycling. This edition also provides updated information on rolling drag, transmission of power from rider to wheels, braking, heat management, steering and stability, power and speed, and materials. It contains many new illustrations.
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Customers' Reviews:
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Engineers Delight, September 9, 2009
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As a cyclist and an engineer I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very technical and interesting to read. Really nerds it up, and I loved it.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
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 They've already tried it, February 12, 2009
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I found Bicycling Science to answer every question I'd ever had while pedalling along wondering if I could be more efficient with this modification or that modification. It's one of those standard texts that if there were a course on cycling, this would be required reading. Covering subjects from wheels to warping you have to have this on your shelf if you're a serious cyclist. It is time to provide an updated version however as carbon construction is hardly touched on. Instead of spending thousands on components, save yourself the money and read what works to gain you speed and reduces your drag.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Science of bicycle design, September 7, 2008
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Way more information than a casual reader needs, but chock full of engineering and design information for a bike builder. Also a good reference to refer to for evaluating performance and design claims by bike retailers. Before you plonk down $2000 for that special road bike, check the stats against this book. Oddly, steel frame bikes are pretty darn good when designed and built right. Do you need carbon fiber? Hmm.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Bike Nerd Heaven, November 12, 2007
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As Miss Jean Brodie said, "For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like." She meant it as an insult, but I don't. Bicycling Science is nerd heaven, full of physics, engineering, molecular biology, aerodynamics and all kinds of other scientific manna. If you have an appetite for charts, graphs, and research studies, then this book will delight you with its explanations of why bikes work so well with the human body.
It's not casual reading by any means. I'd prefer the same information presented in slightly less academic tones, but that doesn't mean it isn't accurate or interesting. So I dip into my copy for short bursts. For me, it's not a cover-to-cover read, but it's been on my bedside table for months because I pick it up regularly.
Bicycling Science may well be more technical info than a casual fan can absorb. However, it's a great reference that will demystify your bike -- if that's the sort of thing you like.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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 between a "read it" book and a "reference book" and not very good as either, November 6, 2007
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While I recommend it, I don't recommend you expect a real engineering reference or good reading cover-to-cover. It is somewhere in between and as such is not very good as either.
The charts and plots are good so if you only want it for that it's a great compilation of other sources and references. The history of the bicycle and the HPV chapters are very interesting. The book is one of a very few like it so "one of the best" is not that great of a compliment.
It is layed out and presented as an engineering reference type book on a specific topic (something like a Mark's for bikes) but it's nowhere near as consistent, rigorous, or detailed. A better description would be "musings on bicycle design and science" by someone who is genuinely very knowledgeable on the topic.
My biggest problem is with the narrative. It has way too many opinions. Many are simply some ideas the author has about a particular design or test (there's no data in this area but one way to get some would be this...). It also has way too much anecdotal evidence which is (thankfully) usually presented as such. And worst of all there are many opinions that are generally made to sound like facts through casual use of expressions such as "future testing should..." "it is recommended" "conventional design practices" "according to some" and so on.
To sum up if you are an engineer looking for an engineering reference you'll be disappointed. If you are a lay bike geek you'll probably find it too technical.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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