Hello!
So, I've found myself on the slow boat again.
I was websurfing for books on bikes a couple'o'weeks ago, and found three seemingly interesting books; Bicycle: The History (for the fetishists and/or geeks), Pedaling Revolution (for the politiks and/or anti-establishment hipsters) and Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling (for cycling teens & adults and/or counter-culture enthusiasts). As a huge fan of counter-culture movements and a bike-riding adult, I went for Bike Snob first.
This book contains a very brief history of the bicycle, along with the ins/outs of what we refer to as "bicycle culture". The author adds comedy, a bit sarcasm and personal anecdotes to keep the reader pensively flipping to the next page in fits of laughter. Truth be told, whether you're currently riding a bike or not, you've noticed all the people and situations covered in the book... that is... so long as you've had any exposure to bikes.
Also included in this volume are some sweet illustrations by Christopher Koelle (poor attempt at a comics tie-in) and a plethora of quotes from notable public figures.
BikeSnobNYC's observations regarding the world of bicyles (more... the people who ride them) ring true. This guy knows his subject matter like Captain Kangaroo knows furry sidies. As an added bonus, a lot of the stuff between the covers lends itself to understanding the consumer in us all.
There is a link to his blog in this entry title and under the "Resources" banner of this blog.
Enjoy your ride!
Peace
- @
