Rating: 
Summary: 2nd Edition ''Urban Bikers'' Tricksier, Tipsier
Review: Cape mysteriously fluttering in the still air of my living room, Mr. Bike sat down across from me to straighten out his tights and to talk about the second edition of his show-all, tell-all book on bike use and maintenance, Urban Bikers' Tricks and Tips.
''For the most part you'll find the really accessible style and great illustrations that makes both versions of this book really easy to use,'' rumbled a deep baritone from the center of that oak barrel of a chest.
''So why buy the new book?'' I asked.
A pointed inquiry, I thought, but I might as well have assaulted a truck tire with a drinking straw. ''The section on locks got revised the most,'' answered Mr. Bike, casually adjusting his mask. ''Small lock makers are offering really great locks now, and I've uncovered some that are going to be really hot. And I've added some new tricks and tips I've learned since the last printing.''
''Learned from first edition readers?''
''Some. But also some things that people have asked me about, like how to put a bike in a car without a bike rack.''
Had I just glimpsed Mr. Bike's relatively-soft-compared-to-the-chiseled-rest-of-him underbelly? I pounced. ''Isn't that something most people could figure out?''
Fire leapt in his eyes, and I cowered as he spoke. ''Bicycle magazines, bike maintenance books, and other experts perpetrate an aura around cycling of technical complexity mastered only by esoteric knowledge and buying the right equipment. This intimidates a lot of people. The mission of this book is to get people to relax. By tapping into a global brain trust of urban cyclists, I've collected low-tech and no-tech ways to find, use, fix and keep a bike, exploding the 'bike expert' myth and empowering the common person to control their cycling destiny.
''We are finished here,'' exclaimed the mighty hero. As he rose above me, adjusted his singlet, and strode toward the door, I realized that that the wisdom of the world's urban cyclists was leaving with him.
''Just one more question!'' I pleaded. ''Please, kind sir: Where can I find this book?''
Mr. Bike turned, his cape flaring dramatically. ''At all good and decent book stores, at amazon.com, and at mrbike.com!'' he bellowed, the steel I-beams of the building thrumming in tune. Then he was gone.
Rating:
Summary: A Cycler's Survival Guide to Commuting
Review: Everyone should read this book. If you live in rural America, or in a big city - or pondering the thought of commuting? - READ THIS BOOK. I couldn't put this book down once I got my hands on it. It is full of wonderful tips, presented in a very "easy-read" and entertaining format. Jam packed with common sense tips, some you might have known, some never thought about it. I've seen it in many a bike shop, and even the most experienced cyclist have agreed with me ... GREAT BOOK.
Rating: 
Summary: Of limited value to the conscientous cyclist
Review: I can't really recommend this book. While it's filled with very good equipment and car-free lifestyle choices, the riding techniques advocated are highly dubious. In some cases, they're illegal and stupid -- like showing you how to run red traffic lights, or riding on the sidewalk -- and will do nothing for the image of cyclists. The book even shows (by a backhanded warning) the best place to crack a car windshield.It is a shame that such moments of crassness spoil a book that is aimed at beginners. These would be bad habits to get into, and terrible things to learn from the outset. Better books on assertive cycling are John Franklin's "Cyclecraft", and John Forester's "Effective Cycling". They show you how to gain your place in the traffic, and how to keep it without resorting to crazy stunts.
Rating: 
Summary: Dangerous advice that will get you killed
Review: I have been a cycle commuter for three years. Granted, that's not the decades logged by some people, but then I'm in my early twenties and also the target market for this book -- which, with its splashy graphics and "hip" typography, wants to appeal to the "bad boy" market. This book is incredible. It stocks some good advice at the beginning of the book -- pretty basic material that you will find in any reasonable intro to utility cycling book (or website.) But it rapidly degenerates into a mishmash of advice, some of which is incredibly dangerous -- including how to catch on to the back of a moving vehicle and how to "attack" a car that's annoyed you. It also includes advice about riding up onto the sidewalk -- a seemingly innocous technique that actually leads to a significant percentage of cycling injuries and deaths. When done right, cycling is nearly as safe as walking. When done wrong, cycling is a very dangerous activity. A cycling book is your guide to survival. It should be something that you can trust, it should always err on the safe side -- knowing that you'll break a rule or two in your time -- to give you a margin of error. This books violates that trust. Glowacz wants his book to be a source of advice for the "practical" cyclist. Instead, he has produced another book that, in its advice, relegates bikes to the status of dangerous toys. The "street smarts" are anything but smart. The number of college kids -- and road racers, never a cautious bunch -- killed on bikes is a depressing statistic, and an entirely reducible one. This book will do little to help. I recommend that readers interested in urban cycling situations get John Forrester's Effective Cycling instead. It contains everything a grown-up needs to know about cycling. UPDATE: more potentially fatal errors in this book: "New Jersey jughandle" advice includes advice to run a red light in an unpredictable fashion. "Bike lane" advice advises cyclists to ride in the bike lane even if the lane is within the "door zone", and to swerve in and out of traffic to avoid bike lane obstacles. This is exactly the behaviour that killed a young graduate student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was run over by a bus after swerving to avoid an open door in the bike lane. UPDATE (again): more fatal advice, this time on how to "draft" a moving van, car or truck. Drafting is a way to increase your efficiency by riding in someone else's wake. People do it all the time when racing, you'll see Lance do it in the Tour. When done with other cyclists -- who know to be extra careful, and who know the risks, and who know you're there -- it is tricky, but fun. When doing it to an auto on the street, it can kill you. Two cyclists set out to bicycle the length of South America. One of them didn't make it: he drafted a bus, and was seriously injured; you can read about it on the website detailing their travels.
Rating:
Summary: Great for thugs
Review: I just got this book a week ago, and will probably send it back. That will be a first, for I have never returned a book before. But this one is that bad. I agree with the other 1-star reviewers who noted the dangerous advice given in this book. I've been riding bikes with traffic for over 30 years, and I admit I've done most if not all of the dangerous "sly cyclist" "tips & tricks" recommended by this book - but I did them when I didn't know better. You'd think a book on biking would help one know better... Riding safely and effectively with traffic means riding visibly and predictably according to standard vehicular laws and principles. Much of the advice in this book is contrary to this important notion, which has already been detailed in other reviews. I will add that the author does not appear to base his recommendations on any principles whatsoever. He just recommends doing certain things, many of which are contrary to riding visibly and predictably, that have apparently worked for him, so far. Just because he hasn't been killed by his own advice yet does not mean it's good advice, or that all of his readers will have the same dumb luck. Almost all accidents require more than just one thing to go wrong, usually about three. By following the advice in this book, and not riding visibly and predictably ("vehicularly"), only two more things have to go wrong for an accident to occur. I stongly recommend NOT stacking the deck against your life and well-being like this. Ignore this book. Instead, buy and read "Effective Cycling" by John Forester.
Rating:
Summary: Outrageous suicidal advice
Review: I just got this book a week ago, and will probably send it back. That will be a first, for I have never returned a book before. But this one is that bad. I agree with the other 1-star reviewers who noted the dangerous advice given in this book. I've been riding bikes with traffic for over 30 years, and I admit I've done most if not all of the dangerous "sly cyclist" "tips & tricks" recommended by this book - but I did them when I didn't know better. You'd think a book on biking would help one know better... Riding safely and effectively with traffic means riding visibly and predictably according to standard vehicular laws and principles. Much of the advice in this book is contrary to this important notion, which has already been detailed in other reviews. I will add that the author does not appear to base his recommendations on any principles whatsoever. He just recommends doing certain things, many of which are contrary to riding visibly and predictably, that have apparently worked for him, so far. Just because he hasn't been killed by his own advice yet does not mean it's good advice, or that all of his readers will have the same dumb luck. Almost all accidents require more than just one thing to go wrong, usually about three. By following the advice in this book, and not riding visibly and predictably ("vehicularly"), only two more things have to go wrong for an accident to occur. I stongly recommend NOT stacking the deck against your life and well-being like this. Ignore this book. Instead, buy and read "Effective Cycling" by John Forester.
Rating:
Summary: Practical Info for Cyclists by Cyclists
Review: I really enjoyed this book, even tho' it is mostly information that I have learned the HARD way by bike messengering in the last nine years. Practical info about the realities of cycling in the city, which is not always pleasant or pretty. Excellent illustrations. I've already given a couple copies out to friends.
Rating:
Summary: Great for thugs
Review: If you are a thug or in a cycling gang, this book is for you!!!
The author provides great tips that you may not have thought of on
how to get back at "evil" drivers. I don't know which I will use
first - bending an antenna, squirting a water bottle into the driver's face,
or (...)calling in a gun complaint on the driver.
Nicely illustrated with a diagram of the best spot to
hit to crack a windshield. If you are a (...), you wont appreciate this book.
Rating:
Summary: Spoiled by irresponsible advice
Review: This book has some interesting and useful ideas (for example on P. 4 a very good explanation of the difference between basic bike types). Unfortunately, it is spoiled by recommending a number of irresponsible and illegal techniques. The best clue for this unfortunate trend of the book is given by the "Warning and Disclaimer" on page ii at the front. This says, in part: "The reader understands and agrees to absolve the author ... of all blame for any injury ... suffered as a result of using information in this book. If you do not wish to be bound by the above, you may return this book to the publisher for a full refund." The irresponsible and illegal techniques recommended in the book: are identified as "Sly Biker" tips. These include: "The impatient left turn", P. 86 "The shortcut left turn", P. 87 Falsifying a police report, P. 142 "Drafting" by tailgating a truck or van, P. 162 "Skitching" a ride by grabbing onto a vehicle, P. 163 If you have already bought the book, I suggest you accept the offer for a refund given in the "Warning and Disclaimer". Fred Oswald, bicycle commuter
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous advice that will get you killed
Review: This is a fantastic resource for people who ride their bikes either recreationally or as a form of transportation. Mr. Glowacz has discovered numerous, ingenious tips and tricks to make cycling easier, safer and more fun. If you are a cyclist, or know one, you should get this book.
| 
