The Essential Touring Cyclist: The Complete Guide for the Bicycle Traveler

Spiffy looking and full of good information. Don't tour without taking a look at this first!

This book does include several things any experienced rider ought to know already. Where it succeeds and succeeds well is in helping a person to think about what they will need on tour. This is not a book for experts but it is an excellent book for anyone considering bike touring who either hasn't done it before or who has tried and had a difficult time. If you have ever had the thought of traveling by bike, buy this book to find out why traveling by bike can be so much fun.

Mr. Lovett starts with the basics, and is careful to include viewpoints not his own. (Most importantly, he includes the words of a female cyclist when discussing topics such as women's safety on the road, hygiene, and clothing selection.) He loves the sport, and it shows in his writing. This is not the advanced treatise that an anonymous reviewer criticized as "written for morons" (how brave!), but Lovett does not claim it to be. It is methodical, and it points the reader to more advanced information when it is needed. This is a good book with which to start your touring library.

i was looking for some advice that would help ensure my coast to coast trip would be successful. i guess i'm more advanced than i thought. i didn't learn anything i didn't already know.

I have travelled about 13,000 miles in the U.S. and Canada. Most of that was solo, and none of it was with a support vehicle. This is the only book I recommend to people about to take a bicycle trip.