Rating: 
Summary: Bicycling Science 3rd Edition
Review:
Reviewed by Dr. Andreas Fuchs, Berne, Switzerland, August 2004
Long-awaited for Bicycling Science 3 is finally here: 22 years after the second edition was originally published! A main question for the reviewer was therefore: Will the 3rd edition of Bicycling Science consider the key-developments that happened in this field during the full age of the desktop computer in a wisely weighted manner? This question is a fair one since Bicycling Science ranks among the most important books in the field of cycling!
The new, third edition of Bicycling Science (BS) contains main chapters about: History, human power generation, thermal effects on power production, power and speed, bicycle aerodynamics, rolling (tires and bearings), braking, steering and balancing, mechanics and mechanisms (power transmission), materials and stresses, unusual human-powered machines, and human-powered vehicles in the future.
Compared with BS2, BS3 has relatively more content in the chapters "human power generation" and "steering and balancing". BS3 discusses relevant results of work physiology in much more detail than BS2. Since bicycling science is a wide field it is a wise decision to involve co-authors; in the "steering and balancing"-chapter Jim Papadopolous vast experience with this main topic shines up and is, at least by the reviewer, very much appreciated!
After reading BS3, the question put up by the reviewer at the beginning of this review receives an overall positive answer: D.G. Wilson lists many new references; as a very serious observer of the field of bicycling science Wilson identified the important developments and discusses them accordingly. The main omission detected by the reviewer is the absence of the topic "suspension" high up in the hierarchy of the chapters of the book. Also, the hydraulic actuation of brakes would have deserved a more prominent position.
Apart from that, the book covers bicycling science as what it is today very well! BS, if it was an academic discipline, was defined by engineers and physicists; one focus that is therefore still missing too much is the one of human factors and ergonomics. By saying that the reviewer does not at all negatively criticize BS3... he just likes to point out a weakness in the bicycle research area for which neither D.G. Wilson nor J. Papadopoulous are responsible, of course!
Conclusion: The 3rd edition of Bicycling Science is a noble successor of BS2 and assures that The MTI Press's Bicycling Science remains in the top ranks in cycle literature!
The reviewer is physicist and is since many years actively involved in the study, development and promotion of modern forms of cycles. He could therefore be called "an expert" in the field of bicycling science. Main fields of interest are velomobiles, power-assist drives and human powered vehicles dynamics, especially aerodynamics.
Rating:
Summary: review of new (2004) edition
Review: (...) Perhaps the only competitor of rock climbing for the canonical geek sport, cycling
-- for utility or amusement -- asks for a good blend of engineering and physiological savvy. For
many the hands-on tinkering of bicycle maintenance and cycling technique provides welcome
relief from more abstract manipulations in the library or office. Whether you think of cycling as the
ultimate open source engineering project, or as a handy metaphor for your computer-of-choice,
its appeal to the mechanism-oriented mind is undeniable.]Released this April, David Gordon Wilson's updated Bicycling Science fills the gap between, on the one hand, shop
manuals and training guides, and on the other the contemporary literature on human powered vehicles. Wilson, Professor
Emeritus at MIT, navigates physics and physiology to produce a hefty source of insight. Wilson splits his book into three broad sections -- the biology of human power generation, the physics of turning
complicated muscle motions into linear velocity, and radical redesigns of the standard diamond bicycle frame. The first section explains, among other things, the role of oxygen uptake and distribution, and gives empirical and
theoretical backing to some, but not all, of the conventional wisdom surrounding cycling. The curious will find a detailed
explanation of why high pedal cadence allows for long-term, low-intensity, high-efficiency power generation.
Modifications to the standard choices -- from elliptical chain-wheels to hand-powered cranks -- are analyzed
critically. The second section might be jokingly termed "extreme high school physics." Wilson explains how people intuitively
balance and steer on two wheels, and the design of braking systems to avoid flip-over. He gets down-and-dirty in the
metallurgical literature to explain the role of metal fatigue in frame failure, and into fluid dynamics to discuss air drag in
laminar and turbulent air flows. Wilson manages to give a sense of how the different demands physics makes on all aspects of bike design cohere into the
more-or-less efficient system that we recognize today as the road and mountain bike. Wilson is an innovator, but he has a
healthy respect for current designs along with a good deal of skepticism for passing fads such as that for ultralight
components. The final section covers Wilson's love: the radical redesigns of human powered vehicles to enable people to not only
cover vast distances or reach high speeds, but also to swim, submarine, fly and even hover or flap on the power --
between 100 and 700 W -- the "NASA standard" man or woman can provide on timescales between hours and
seconds. The text occasionally jumps into a wider historical and social context to provide lighter relief, such as the diagrams that
compare cycling's efficiency to other modes of of transportation (cyclists handily undercut a fully loaded diesel commuter
train for calories expended per rider.) Wilson is not amused by those who would compare cyclists to dolphins or hawks in
terms of efficiency, distance, or speed -- too bad. A brief rant against cars near the end is the exception to the rule of
Wilson's professional, honest style. Bicycling Science can be used as a handbook for the armchair designer of human powered vehicles. Or, if you prefer, as a
way to answer the nagging science questions that arise after a thoughtful bike ride. Perhaps its most inspiring use,
however, is as a bed-table compendium of stand-alone investigations into what engineers have come up with on a device
that has been perfected, again and again, for decades longer than the internal combustion engine.
Rating:
Summary: Entropy in reverse ! Fog Lifting, historical & contemporary
Review: Chaos brought to order, Knarly Road Rash wants to read it, Thigh Master runs and hides from its presence, stationary mills act sheepish. Most comprehensive and illuminating. ~90rpm because that's where max power is produced (and lost). The first book to own on bikes, a real bull buster, unfortunately Pee-Wee Herman was snubbed, completely ignored, must do better! Needs to address mountain bike suspensions, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Other reviews refer to previous editions
Review: Disclosure: I am an interested party (contributor), so you may take my 'star' rating with a grain of salt. My main message is to make a point that I have also emailed to Amazon. As of May 1, 2004 the other customer reviews posted for this title are somewhat misleading, because they refer only to the much older (second) edition. The third edition, published April 2004, is dramatically enlarged and updated -- a completely new book based on a tremendous amount of recent work. Dave Wilson and I have attempted to address all the issues to be seen in those reviews, plus many more, we hope successfully. In this 5-year process every chapter was rewritten or even replaced outright. A great quantity of new material on history, physiology, speed calculations, aerodynamics, steering theory, human powered vehicles etc. is available nowhere else. I encourage any scientifically curious cyclist, or bicycle industry engineer, to contribute a genuine review of the third edition, so potential readers can learn about this distinctly different book.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You for Bicycling Science
Review: Every ten years or so, I'll come across a nonfiction book that is not only highly informative and well written, but presented in an enjoyable manner. Bicycling Science, 3rd edition, is that book for this decade. I originally purchased the book for the physics, specifically the stability discussions, but I absolutely love the physiology section where it seems that a well rounded and up to date review of the research literature has been included. It has truly made me a better cyclist. Thanks to the authors for writing the book and taking the time to update it 20 years after the previous edition.
Rating: 
Summary: Physics for Cyclists
Review: Excellent book on the physics and technology of cycling with very detailed chapters covering everything from frame materials and design to aerodynamics. Material is dated in some areas due to the age of the research, such as in frame materials. Still a good book for those that want to know the whys behind bicycling.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for engineering principles of the bicycle
Review: I found this book to be very useful when working on an undergrad mechanical engineering design project.
Rating:
Summary: Everything you ever wanted to know about cycling
Review: I never knew that so much research was available on cycling until I read this book. The authors cover bicycle history, human power generation, wind resistance, braking, the wheel, balance, drag and many other topics. What makes this book unique is that it is not full of a lot of generalizations or "advice from a pro." This book is based on the physics and biology of human powered vehicles. It's full of charts, schematics, and formulas. Flip through some of the pages and at times you'd think that you were looking at a physics book. If you're looking for a book to teach you how to ride in a pack, what to take on a bike tour, or which type of bike to purchase then this is not the book for you. If you're an avid cyclist and want to learn more about the science behind cycling then you'll enjoy this book. Although this is a great book I can't give it 5 stars because of the date. It was written in 1984 and a lot has changed since then. Much of the basic science in the book remains the same but technology and bicycle materials have evolved. I hope the authors are working on an updated edition.
Rating:
Summary: Worth a look.
Review: I think this is a great book IF you're a scientist (like me!). Like the other reviews say, it is a little dated - but results are results.
There is a wealth of info in this book, most of it is technical, and there is some fascinating things on human powered flight & HPVs.
I can't remember the exact figure that was quoted for the weights of some of the older historical bikes, but I find it hard to believe that there were such lightweights a hundred years ago (like 6kg). Knowing what I know, I just don't think it would have been feasible. If you are interested, I wouldn't wait for an updated edition, because they might not make it, and this one is getting pretty darn hard to get.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book but a bit esoteric
Review: This book is a must read for anyone that fancies themself a scientist and is interested in the subject of bicycling. However, it is a bit dry and boring for others. As an engineer I found it interesting and informative.
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