Review of The Dancing Chain: History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle

The Dancing Chain: History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle
Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 7
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jimmy thinks

On: 2007-01-16

Fantastic book by legend Frank Berto. Super detailed and fascinating history of all derailleur systems. Definitely worth the price!

The Ultimate Book for Bike Geeks!

On: 2007-01-10

Frank Bertos The Dancing Chain is a fascinating, exhaustively-researched look at the evolution of the bicycle. Starting with the high- wheeled bikes of Victorian times, the author shows how the development of the multi-geared drivetrain made the bicycle more versatile & practical for everyday use. Most interesting to me is that many modern "innovations" (indexed shifting, epicyclic hubs, auto-shifting)were actually in use nearly 100 years ago! Lavishly illustrated (including many line drawings by the famed Daniel Rebour), the book also covers how these changes affected the evolution of bicycle racing & touring. Highly reccomended!

Focuses especially upon the past 100 years

by: mwbookrevw On: 2005-06-12

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, The Dancing Chain is the in-depth story of the history and development of the Derailleur Bicycle. The Dancing Chain offers the culmination of 10 years of research - 5 poured into the first edition, and now another 5 into the second, and focuses especially upon the past 100 years. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations reveal how bicycles adapted to the challenges of traveling faster on level ground and climbing better uphill. The Dancing Chain does not shy from technical detail, yet remains informatively accessible to the lay reader making it a fascinating resource for leisure reading, as well as hard research for academia. Highly recommended for bicycle enthusiasts and historians alike.

The Dancing Chain by Frank Berto

On: 2001-06-19

The Dancing Chain by Frank Berto dvanhook 06/18/01 01:48 pm EDT rating:

An invaluable reference document for vintage bicycle enthusiasts! It is well and thoroughly researched and fully illustrated with photographs and beautiful line drawings of bicycles and bicycle parts as they have developed over the past one hundred years. It also contains a many helpful and interesting graphs and charts. This beautiful book is as complete and authoritative as is possible, but is very readable even for those with no technical background. It is certain to become a collectors item and was published as a very limited edition.

Great Book for Bike Nuts

On: 2000-11-02

I am very glad I purchased this book. This book involves much more about the history of bicycles than the title may lead you to believe.

Dances With Chains

On: 2000-05-09

For over 30 years, since my freshman year at UCLA, I have been an avid recreational and utility cyclist and "gear-headed" bicycle collector, tinkerer, and restorer. Since I always enjoyed Frank Bertos technical articles and insights on the design and operation of bicycle transmissions, I eagerly awaited publication of "The Dancing Chain." I was not disappointed! This well-illustrated and well-researched tome is the only comprehensive reference I have ever seen on the history of bicycle transmissions. It is a great read for any bicycle fan with an interest in history or technological evolution. My only nit-picking gripe is that the organization of the chapters sometimes makes it a little difficult to follow the chronology of a specific product line or manufacturer, although the material is all in there. I share Bertos appreciation of SunTours innovative slant planograph rear derailleur design, which has since been almost universally copied by the competition.

Dances With Chains

On: 2000-05-08

For over 30 years, since my freshman year at UCLA, I have been an avid recreational and utility cyclist and "gear-headed" bicycle collector, tinkerer, and restorer. Since I always enjoyed Frank Bertos technical articles and insights on the design and operation of bicycle transmissions, I eagerly awaited publication of "The Dancing Chain." I was not disappointed! This well-illustrated and well-researched tome is the only comprehensive reference I have ever seen on the history of bicycle transmissions. It is a great read for any bicycle fan with an interest in history or technological evolution. My only nit-picking gripe is that the organization of the chapters sometimes makes it a little difficult to follow the chronology of a specific product line or manufacturer, although the material is all in there. I share Bertos appreciation of SunTours innovative slant planograph rear derailleur design, which has since been almost universally copied by the competition.

The Dancing Chain is a Masterpiece!

On: 2000-05-05

If you love bicycles, this is a must have. Berto et al has done an outstanding job of presenting the evolution of the bicycle since the first idea of shifting gears. Great photos and illustrations. You wont be disappointed.