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Complete Bike Book, Chris Sidwells (2003)
Dorling Kindersley 0 7513 6445 2 249pp £16.99
A colourful introduction to all things cycling – probably aimed
at younger teenagers
 
DK’s style might be formulaic, but it is a formula that clearly
works. And the big colour pictures, interspersed with gobbits of text
rubric is one that lends itself well to an introduction to a pastime to
rich in visual opportunities.
Chapters follow a predictable course – different types of cycling,
different types of bikes, ways to improve you cycling, promoting you health
and fitness on a bike, starting competitive cycling and a basic guide
to maintenance.
There are no great surprises in the content, nor is this the places
for left-field cycling options. But across the range of subjects, the
book has a winning élan. Page after page looks like fun, and all
are rich in well-considered detail.
Give this to a teenager at the right stage of their interest and they
will pore over its pages for hours on end. My only caution would be to
ensure that you buy the most up-to-date edition that you can find. Bike
technology, and fashion, moves fast. It would be a shame to lose someone’s
interest in two-wheeled fun by expecting them to obsess about last year’s
model.
PS December 2008
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