Review of Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring: Everything You Need to Know to Travel Anywhere on a Bike

Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring: Everything You Need to Know to Travel Anywhere on a Bike
Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 4
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Good, but a little dated...

On: 2008-02-19

A good book that seems a bit dated without the recognition of web-based planning tools such as googlemaps and google earth.

Everything you need to know for you first bike tour

On: 2007-06-11

I am an intermediate level cyclist. I cycle for pleasure, but had not biked more than 40 miles at the time I purchased this book. I bought this to prepare for my first touring excursion (a measly three day trek through MA, NH, and Southern ME). This book has good insight into all the basics - what to pack, what to wear, what to eat, and, perhaps most importantly, how to train. I would recommend it for anyone thinking about touring.

pretty weak

On: 2006-12-04

This book comes up well short of containing, "Everything you need to know." It might be OK for someone new to biking in general. For instance, it reviews shifting, braking, and basic bike accessories, such as bike shorts and helmets. In fact, most of the book is a recycled hodge podge of general biking info padded with an unbelievable amount of filler. It contains inane questionaires and advice lists that are kind of amusing, but not really helpful. Is Easy Rider your favorite movie? Than they have the tour for you! Trying to hook up on a bike trip? Than dont ask, "Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" I kid you not. This book devotes several pages describing how to do a pushup, a pull-up, and a crunch. With all this fluff, there is very little room leftover for any touring specific information, and rarely gets beyond common sense advice (i.e., pack light). A whole chapter vaguely describes 10 dream bike trips (#10 being your own back yard). This chapter could have been so much better. In the end, it seems like very little effort was put into making this a quality book on bike touring. I was profoundly disappointed. Much better, in my opinion, is, "The Essential Touring Cyclist." If you are interested in self-supported touring, "Adventure Cycle-Touring," is probably the best I have seen, and covers camping, specific brands of touring bikes, etc., etc.

A usefule tool for all riders

On: 2005-04-06

I found this book to be the most comprehensive, helpful and informative guide for the novice as well as experienced rider. Wether you are looking to start up or tune up their touring experience, I highly recommend it. Also, anyone who may be getting ready to start training or is considering purchasing equipment for some touring. It will give you helpful information regarding the purchase of your equipment, planning trips and even training.