Rating: 
Summary: Cute little book
Review: A lot of interesting reading written in a casual style. It is to provide beginners to more advanced riders with the nutritional information , as well as training ideas, and equippment ideas for riding centuries and beyond. There is nothing especially earth shattering about the info here--if you've been a cyclist (or athletically inclined) you have probably read the nutritional info before, and in more and better detail in other places. Ditto the hydration stuff. But then again, this is a general book covering things in moderate detail.
... The authors seemed to love using the word "butt" about every other sentence it seemed. Plus the instruction to "empty your bladder" is a little absurd. It is in the book for instrution you on how to weigh yourself (empty your bladder) what to do at stops and other places.
Rating: 
Summary: Serious Bike Book For Riders Going the Extra Mile
Review: Anyone who ridden a century knows it takes more than strong legs and will power. Authors Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka know this and clear the path for successful riding."The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling" divulges the secrets of centuries, doubles and beyond. This is a serious book for serious riders. It starts with a forward by long distance racing great Lon Haldeman who redefined the limits of long distance biking. Learn which bike serves which distance and course, proper form, clothing and diet. You'll find training tips unique to each distance, ideas for dealing with mid-ride pain, ways to approach sleep deprivation, stretching techniques, pointers for managing bathroom breaks. You'll be on the bike for many hours and every morsel of advice helps. As a long distance biker and as a reader of many biking books, I am impressed and fully recommend "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling" by Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka. Anthony Trendl
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new here!
Review: Book was just a re-editing of old Ed Burke material. Good material but I already have several books by Burke. "Long-Distance" advice was limited to one day events. Was looking for information on multi-day events/rides, such as a 4+ day tour.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best $ I ever spent (seriously!)
Review: First let me say that I'm not a beginner, I've been riding for 8 years (no not all in one go!). This book taught me so so much. Thankyou to both Ed Burke & Ed Pavelka!! I thought I knew a lot, until now that is. I've bought other cycling books, before but nothing compares to this one. There is no "filler" in this book. This book is not just concerned with ultralong distance races, it uses words like "the event" and "personal goals". You can read it and not feel too ashamed that you're not a pro, if you know what I mean. It caters for everyone. It also has a humurous style, which will make it enjoyable reading. It is very easy to pick up and start reading anywhere. It has chapters on nutrition, stretching, off-season training, lots on training and technique...and that HYDRATION is the key. Two things that this book lacks:
1) I prefer to use the word "Intentions" rather than "Goals".
It just sounds better. Use whatever word will make you feel motivated. Not much wrong there though, right? The second thing is this: Ed & Ed (the authors) give you lots of tips (e.g: about how to maximise your time on the bike when you have other important things in your life; get everything ready for a ride the night before; how to cycle efficiently, etc)
2) But, the ONLY thing I can think that they forgot to include is this: you should make a long list of all the places you can ride to or that you want to ride to but you haven't ridden to yet - then write down how far each ride is, roughly how long it will take, etc. That way you can easily see at a glance whether you have got the time to go for that particular ride. Plus you can tick each place off as you get to it. Or alternatively you could stick pins in a map - it gives you a sense of accomplishment! Great book, once again, and you can tell that both Authors have a lifetime of riding experience to share with you.
My favourite line in the book, talking about people who are past their prime and then quit altogether, is this: "They hang up their bikes and live on memories." One more thing: I started out highlighting all the good bits. By the time I got to the end, I realised I should have just bought some fluorescent paint and dipped the whole book in!!
Rating:
Summary: Generally sound advice in training for one-day events
Review: Having taken a hiatus from cycling for 10 years, but now approaching mileage consistency to do my first century, I picked up this book primarily so I'd know what to expect, but also as an update on what's transpired in the last ten years. For example, training based on time at particular heart rate thresholds -- NOT mileage -- is now the generally accepted method of optimizing your development. This is a relatively quick and easy read providing hints and tips on working up in the distances. One may initially interpret the casual, non-snooty writing style to suggest it would be appropriate for beginner. It's not. I think you should really have at LEAST a year of riding experience before ratcheting up the mileage. For example, their demarcation of "long distance" is roughly sub-century (< 100 miles), century, double (200 miles), and beyond 200 miles. It was especially interesting to read their insight into the physiology of higher mileage levels. For example, once you're riding centuries comfortably, success in the additional distances essentially depends upon eating and hydrating effectively. Those who made their first transition beyond the 40-60 mileage range without eating are familiar with "the bonk." A couple of nits: First, the book assumes the "long distance" will be an all-the-way-through event. I would have been especially interested material on multi-day events, specifically on nutritional "tricks" one might use to restock the body's primary glycogen stores. They suggest generally eating a high-carbohydrate meal within 1/2 hour of the ride. Another -- probably humorous -- question is "how do you find time for these longer rides?"
Rating:
Summary: Everything It Says It Is!
Review: I'm using this book to train for the "Davis Double Century," which is a 200 mile bike ride. I've gone on a couple of centuries and half-centuries before, and always struggled to complete them. If I had this book with it's training tips, I would have had an easier time before. I love the section of this book that gives you ideas about how to make time for training, even when you have a full time job and children! One nice aspect of this book is that it isn't completely geared toward veteran cyclists, racers or super-strong riders. I think that anyone who commits to their gradual training schedule will have plenty of strength and confidence to finish a 50, 100 or 200 mile bike ride event. On the other hand, if you ARE a veteran, you will enjoy the section on training for events which involve sleep deprivation (like the RAMM).
Rating:
Summary: Good all-around advice
Review: Long-Distance Cycling covers all aspects of how to pull off long rides, not just the training aspects. The book starts off with the basics, choosing the right gear and making sure your bike fits properly. These are easy to overlook, but will make all of the difference in the world on a long ride. It then spends some time overviewing a good training program. Like other cycling books, the authors recommend picking up a heart rate monitor and using it for the basis of your training. They provide training programs for different goal distances (such as your first century) that recommend spending time in different heart rate zones. The training and nutrition information is well done, but not amazingly in depth. If you get more serious about the sport, you'll probably want more information, but this book hits is target audience just fine. The later chapters of the book cover all of the unpleasantries that come up during a long ride: sores, pain, general discomfort. Again, this information is invaluable during a long ride. All in all, the authors have done a great job at putting together the information you need to complete your first (or next!) long distance bike ride.
Rating:
Summary: The long and very long of it
Review: So you're getting old and fat and still are as compulsive as ever, what do you do?
If you've been successful in the racing circuit a decade ago, cycling doesn't seem such a bad idea. Still, those years that you could ride 30 miles in an hour make your current 20 look rather pathetic. No problem, go far.
With this philosophy in mind I bought this book by Pavelka and the late Burke two years ago to get some instruction on long distance riding. After doing a complete 200/300/400/600 Brevet series and 24 hour fleche ride earlier this year, I can assure you the value of this text. While this book contains sections that are aimed at cyclists with a significant experience in the over 100 mile range, it is very much an introductory text.
All aspects are discussed in a simple, but elementary fashion. Bikes, position, nutrition, training schedules, night riding, injuries etc. etc. Unfamiliar with distances beyond the 200 mile mark, the continuous hammering on nutrition and injury may seem overbearing, but once you have been there and done that you will appreciate the wisdom of the authors' words.
Some reviewers have commented on the introductory level of this book. That is correct.
Yet, I would like to counter that this book contains all the instruction needed to go the distance. Especially, when it comes to training schedules, those provided here are just guidelines. It goes without saying that those who train at least 20 hours a week, will be moving on to the more racing oriented literature for more targeted information.
In all a very clear, no nonsense book. Next year Boston-Montreal-Boston will be on the agenda and I am pretty certain that it will help me over Middlebury Gap.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for all cyclists!
Review: This book is absolutely fabulous. I've recommended it to many friends and all agree. Some people are using it as they just get started riding centuries and longer, but not me. I was a second-year ultracyclist, with over 6,000 miles on my bike the prior year, when I bought this book a year ago. This book helped me greatly with my training, nutrition, conditioning plans, and how to strategize for my 200+ mile rides. It helped me come in second in a 12 hour race and first in a 24 hour race last year, and is just the ticket if you want to improve your training and cycling. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for all cyclists!
Review: This book is absolutely fabulous. I've recommended it to many friends and all agree. Some people are using it as they just get started riding centuries and longer, but not me. I was a second-year ultracyclist, with over 6,000 miles on my bike the prior year, when I bought this book a year ago. This book helped me greatly with my training, nutrition, conditioning plans, and how to strategize for my 200+ mile rides. It helped me come in second in a 12 hour race and first in a 24 hour race last year, and is just the ticket if you want to improve your training and cycling. Enjoy!
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