David Byrne’s Bicycle Diaries and Other Cycling Culture Books
by anita • September 22, 2009 • Bike Events, Ideas We Love, News • 6 Comments
I love cycling and I love reading so to me there is nothing better than enjoying a book written by folks who love these things too. The following are on my “to read” list.
David Byrne, an avid New York City cyclist and former Talking Heads member released Bicycle Diaries last week. The book is “an account of what he sees and whom he meets as he pedals through metropoles from Berlin to Buenos Aires, Istanbul to San Francisco, Manila to New York.” He’ll be making an in store appearance in NYC today, 7pm at the Union Square Barnes and Noble.
Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities (Paperback)
“In Pedaling Revolution, Jeff Mapes explores the growing urban bike culture that is changing the look and feel of cities across the U.S. He rides with bike advocates who are taming the streets of New York City, joins the street circus that is Critical Mass in San Francisco, and gets inspired by the everyday folk pedaling in Amsterdam, the nirvana of American bike activists.”
The Cyclist’s Manifesto: The Case for Riding on Two Wheels Instead of Four
“The Cyclist’s Manifesto makes the most powerful case to date for a simple fact: America can no longer afford to ignore the bicycle as a tool for serious transportation.”
What’s your favorite cycling culture book?
The Rider by Tim Krabbe, A Dog in a Hat by Joe Parkin….reading “Major” now (story of Major Taylor, interesting study of turn of the century track racing, segregation, etc..)
I have not read any of these but I really should. Thanks for recommendations. Completely unrelated book: Zorba the Greek very interesting and entertaining book
Mapes’ books is well researched and delves into how bike advocacy worked to improve conditions for cyclists in the United States. Manifesto isn’t really a manifesto but more about how the history of traffic in America shaped our roads. Byrne’s book is stream of consciousness — a real diary — about cities as seen from the seat of bicycle. It’s decent reading, but the only real “bike culture” part of Byrne’s book is in the New York chapter and Epilogue.
Great selections! I have read the Byrne and The Cyclist’s Manifesto, which is an interesting look at the history of cycling, and my co-blogger recently posted an item about the Mapes book. All are worth a spot on your reading list.
Staying in the musician as cycling author category, Neil Peart’s Masked Rider is a great read.
Has anybody read Cycling Back to Happiness by Bernie Friend. I read a review on a trip to London and had it posted from Amazon UK.
The reviewer was spot on. Funny, but tinged with sadness, it’s about a man who cycles up through north of Europe to beat his anxietys and travel fears. Made me smile in the end!