In 2003 the exec. editor at Falcon Publishing, Scott Adams, took me up on my idea to write a somewhat unusual book that would combine the historical big picture of American transportation and urban development with the finer points of riding a bicycle in traffic. This was quite a departure for Falcon, the long-time guidebook publisher.

The Art of Urban Cycling turned out to be much more than just a recital of my own experience gained over a few hundred thousand miles as messenger, commuter and recreational rider. It became a compendium of street knowledge from a large number of highly experienced bicyclists I have been lucky to count as friends and acquaintances over the years. Through countless conversations (and questions that must have seemed inappropriately personal and probing at times) I set out to determine exactly what these people knew, the secrets to their success, the reasons for their failures. I wanted to figure out if the things they thought they knew about traffic cycling were the same things I thought I knew about it. Turns out we were all pretty much on the same page. So when the book hit the shelves I wasn't surprised that it struck a chord with other veteran riders around the country and the world.

The second edition was retitled The Art of Cycling. Why? Folks over at Falcon who get paid a bit to think about these things were concerned that the word 'urban' was putting off potential buyers, especially since the majority of Americans now live in the suburbs. The new edition has a section on the vagaries of riding in the 'burbs, a discussion of the looming energy crunch, many subtle and not-so-subtle additions and changes throughout, and updated statistics. But in general it's the same book.

I can't offer any of these books for sale directly, but I can point you to some retailers who would be glad to take your hard-earned stimulus package.

Shop for the Art of Cycling (2nd ed.) from the publisher / from independent bookseller Tattered Cover (Denver) / from independent bookseller Powell's (Portland) / from Amazon / from Barnes & Noble.

Photo by Robert Reid.