Cycling for Health, Fitness, and Well-Being

While Lance Armstrong has contracted cancer, beaten cancer, and gone on to win three Tours de France since McCullagh's book was published, it continues to be a good read and excellent resource for the beginning rider. He adequately covers cycling from A to Z, with chapters that are devoted to shopping for the right bike and equipment, to training and nutrition, all the while weaving anecdotal stories about fellow cyclists who have restored both health and purpose to their lives. Throughout the book he encourages readers to develop a healthful, cycling lifestyle that meets their fitness needs. I found Chapter Seven, Epiphanies, to be inspirational. Here he chronicles the success stories of normal riders who, when confronted with their doctors advice of "change your life or die," chose their bicycles as their instruments of salvation. These stories provide excellent motivation for those of us who one day wake up and realize that if we plan to live long enough to enjoy what is left of our retirement investment programs, the middle-aged person we see in the mirror needs to cut about 30 pounds, and adopt a more active lifestyle. Every rider should read Chapter's One and Two prior to their shopping trip to replace that rusty, twenty-year old ten speed that sits in the far corner of their basement or garage. Here McCullagh arms his reader with enough information to ensure that the next bike not only meets their needs, and fits well enough to provide enjoyment. The same could be said for the excellent data that are contained in the appendixes, where he provides frame size information, gear ratios, nutrition, and other equipment recommendations. In addition, the illustrations should help the absolute beginner. In summary, this book should be mandatory reading for beginners---prior to purchasing his or her first specialty bike. Until then they will be at the mercy of the salesperson. I feel that it is still worth the original purchase price, and that really makes it a bargain as a used book.