Complete Bike Book

       All cycling enthusiasts, from beginners to would-be Tour de France competitors, will want to consult this book again and again. The author begins with a short history of the bicycle, charting its evolution from a simple two-wheeled machine propelled by foot power (the draisine, patented in 1817) to today's ultramodern, high-tech vehicle. Individual chapters discuss such matters as proper cycling attire, how to teach a child to ride, how to tailor your diet to maximize its effectiveness, and how to maintain and repair your bike. But the book's showpiece is its bike gallery, a series of detailed photographs describing each and every conceivable variation on the two-wheeler theme. The whole is copiously illustrated, but this section, which runs to nearly 40 pages, is simply beautiful. The book is perfect for newbies, for someone who cycles to work, and for the off-roader, the racer, and the person who sees cycling as a healthy workout. David Pitt