It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels

It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels Review

Robert Penn has saddled up nearly every day of his adult life. In his late twenties, he pedaled 25,000 miles around the world. Today he rides to get to work, sometimes for work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to travel, to go shopping, to stay sane, and to skip bath time with his kids. He's no Sunday pedal pusher. So when the time came for a new bike, he decided to pull out all the stops. He would build his dream bike, the bike he would ride for the rest of his life; a customized machine that reflects the joy of cycling.

It's All About the Bike follows Penn's journey, but this book is more than the story of his hunt for two-wheel perfection. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture, science, and history of the bicycle. From artisanal frame shops in the United Kingdom to California, where he finds the perfect wheels, via Portland, Milan, and points in between, his trek follows the serpentine path of our love affair with cycling. It explains why we ride.

It's All About the Bike is, like Penn's dream bike, a tale greater than the sum of its parts. An enthusiastic and charming tour guide, Penn uses each component of the bike as a starting point for illuminating excursions into the rich history of cycling. Just like a long ride on a lovely day, It's All About the Bike is pure joy- enriching, exhilarating, and unforgettable.

Robert Penn has worked as a lawyer, waiter, contractor, DJ, photographer, and journalist-and biked to every single job. He writes for the Financial Times, the Observer, and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as a host of cycling publications. Penn lives in Wales with his wife and three children.

Praise from the UK for It's All About the Bike:

"[A] gem of a book." -Economist

Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit

Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit Review

-Unique study of the names and bikes of the world's most famous, innovative and legendary makers of contemporary bespoke bicycles. Features bike builders from the UK, France, Italy, the US, Germany and Australia -Looks at the passion of each bike builder, the techniques behind their success, and the characters that are so famous among those seeking out a bike builder -Hundreds of spectacular color photographs complement each entry and make each chapter more interesting and each character more readily identifiable -Features a foreword by Phil Liggett, the man behind the English-language commentary of the Tour de France Cycling has never lost its appeal. Alongside mass-produced models, the craftsmanship of bespoke bicycle makers has emerged to satisfy the passion of people who ride bikes as a means of daily transport, as a sport and for recreation. This book by passionate cyclists Christine Elliott and David Jablonka is the product of a world-wide search for the most influential bike makers on the planet. The result is a presentation of a wonderful collection of expertly honed, human-powered machines, built by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers practicing their skill today. It highlights the range of techniques, materials and design elements, and the passion behind producing each custom-made bike by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers in the world. It's guaranteed to take you on the ride of your life. Features a foreword by Phil Liggett, the legendary voice behind the English-language broadcasts of the Tour de France.

Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit

Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit Review

-Unique study of the names and bikes of the world's most famous, innovative and legendary makers of contemporary bespoke bicycles. Features bike builders from the UK, France, Italy, the US, Germany and Australia -Looks at the passion of each bike builder, the techniques behind their success, and the characters that are so famous among those seeking out a bike builder -Hundreds of spectacular color photographs complement each entry and make each chapter more interesting and each character more readily identifiable -Features a foreword by Phil Liggett, the man behind the English-language commentary of the Tour de France Cycling has never lost its appeal. Alongside mass-produced models, the craftsmanship of bespoke bicycle makers has emerged to satisfy the passion of people who ride bikes as a means of daily transport, as a sport and for recreation. This book by passionate cyclists Christine Elliott and David Jablonka is the product of a world-wide search for the most influential bike makers on the planet. The result is a presentation of a wonderful collection of expertly honed, human-powered machines, built by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers practicing their skill today. It highlights the range of techniques, materials and design elements, and the passion behind producing each custom-made bike by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers in the world. It's guaranteed to take you on the ride of your life. Features a foreword by Phil Liggett, the legendary voice behind the English-language broadcasts of the Tour de France.

It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels

It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels Review

Robert Penn has saddled up nearly every day of his adult life. In his late twenties, he pedaled 25,000 miles around the world. Today he rides to get to work, sometimes for work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to travel, to go shopping, to stay sane, and to skip bath time with his kids. He's no Sunday pedal pusher. So when the time came for a new bike, he decided to pull out all the stops. He would build his dream bike, the bike he would ride for the rest of his life; a customized machine that reflects the joy of cycling.

It's All About the Bike follows Penn's journey, but this book is more than the story of his hunt for two-wheel perfection. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture, science, and history of the bicycle. From artisanal frame shops in the United Kingdom to California, where he finds the perfect wheels, via Portland, Milan, and points in between, his trek follows the serpentine path of our love affair with cycling. It explains why we ride.

It's All About the Bike is, like Penn's dream bike, a tale greater than the sum of its parts. An enthusiastic and charming tour guide, Penn uses each component of the bike as a starting point for illuminating excursions into the rich history of cycling. Just like a long ride on a lovely day, It's All About the Bike is pure joy- enriching, exhilarating, and unforgettable.

Robert Penn has worked as a lawyer, waiter, contractor, DJ, photographer, and journalist-and biked to every single job. He writes for the Financial Times, the Observer, and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as a host of cycling publications. Penn lives in Wales with his wife and three children.

Praise from the UK for It's All About the Bike:

"[A] gem of a book." -Economist