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Complete Medical Guide For Cyclists, Andy Pruitt (2006)
Velo Press 9781931382809 Paperback 200pp $18.95
Just the prescription for wheeled worriers
 
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Look around cycling forums on the internet, or check out the advice
columns in the specialist press, and it is clear that there are a great
many cyclists seeking answers to vaguely medical issues. For which reason,
it is surprising that Andy Pruitt has the field pretty much to himself.
Happily, it is a niche that he fills rather well.
That it is an US book is clear from the cover onwards - no other nation
on earth favours the man-wearing-a-shirt cover shot as do the Americans.
Stylistic points aside, though, its stateside origins are nothing but
advantageous. Pruitt is a massively experienced cyclists himself, who
has worked with many world-class competitive cyclists, and is a physician
of thirty years standing.
From this experience, he has fashioned an almanac of useful advice -
from fitting your bike, to dealing with aches and pains and recognising
when only expert help will suffice. The book is written in easy-to-read
English, with sections broken down into questions and answers, as well
as dozens of illustrations and photographs.
Anyone who cycles for more than a few hours a week is going to experience
unexpected discomfort at some point. If you are competing seriously, then
dealing with infections and accidents is one of the critical skills that
marks out winners from also rans. The author's main focus is competitive
cyclists, but there is plenty here to interest more general riders. Perhaps
the only concern with such a helpful title is that in might encourage
self medication when a qualified eye might spot more serious issues, or
persuade those of a hypochondriac disposition to visit the doctors rather
too often.
PS May 10
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