High-Performance Cycling

I found this to be a good book. It took different elements of bicycling and put them in quantifiable terms. for example there is a formula for relating speed, power, aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and other parameters. The book speaks of various elements of biking: training, equipment, nutrition for example.

This is a great book in the same line of cycling science and high-tech cycling. It's an collection of many scientif studies of several matters, like aerodynamics, powermeters, weight influence, hydration and other bicycle related subjects. They are in very clear language. If you like physics and math, have the curiosity and ask many WHYS when riding your bicycle, you are going to love this book! When I finished reading it I felt like I wanted more!

Summary ConclusionIn High-Performance Cycling, 28 authors combine to review the science of modern-day cycling. The book is full of important and useful information. Considering the many authors, there is only modest overlap of material. Although most of the information available in the book has been previously published-either in trade or scientific press, the book nicely brings the lay reader up-to-date with one package. There is also much to be gleaned by the savvy cyclist with a scientific academic background. Subject MatterThe book is divided into five parts:* Training* Performance Assessment* Body and Machine* Nutrition* Conditioning and RecoveryThe book title may be misleading to some. The puff below the book's title promises to "give you an edge in technique, training, equipment, racing." Although the book does touch on improving the reader's own performance, especially the last chapter, the book is principally about elite male road cyclists. There are a few references to track riders. There is little specifically about women, masters, mountain biking, BMX, ultra, or other cyclists. The elite male road cyclist paradigm may put off some readers. * "Most cyclists can reach peaks of up to ...1200 watts in a single sprint." The author means most high-performance cyclists, and is not referring to the general cycling population. * "Most cyclists have small computers that display their speed." While many do, most overstates the overall cycling community.* "In cycling competition there are two types of races: road race and time trails." What about BMX; ultras; mountain biking (many disciplines including cross country, short track, downhill), track racing (sprints, kilos, pursuit, points racing, Keiren)?Editor's OrganizationThe organization and general editorial work of Asker Jeukendrup is good. He has organized and tied together the writings of his co-authors well. The editor prefaces each of the five parts of the books with unifying remarks. Only chapters 7 and 8 have appreciable overlap. Chapter cross-references are good. The final chapter, written by the editor, summarizes the book's material well. There are occasional lapses in consistent terminology that will prove confusing to some readers. For example, the power that an athlete can generate in a sprint is referred to as maximum power. In the case of a top track sprinter this might be 2300 watts. The power that an elite athlete can sustain in a progressive (graded or ramped) test, about 500 watts, is also referred to as maximal power. It would be helpful to the reader to consistently have these values referred to as peak anaerobic power and maximal ramped aerobic power respectively.Reader LevelAs is frequently the case, readers will appreciate the information provided on different levels. Only sophisticated readers will understand some of the points being made. This is therefore a book for most readers to return to and reread as their general cycling experience and knowledge increases.In som

This book is an extremely good and up to date book on the science in cycling. It discusses training, altitude training, nutrition, aerodynamics and many other relevant topics and experts who work with professional cyclists give their insights and advice. It truly is a high-performance cycling book!