From Copenhagen to Colorado the sport and discipline of road cycling has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last two decades, be it as a participation event or as the surefire swiftest means of getting from A to B. Road Cycling Made Easy is a full-colour, highly illustrated companion for road riders of all levels. The volume offers advice to all `drop-bar' enthusiasts from rookie commuters to the gritty 2-wheeled mountain heroes, and seeks to position such advice carefully within the cycling's rich history and culture. The volume includes considered advice from former celebrated pros such as Sean Kelly as well as contributions from the current Pro-Tour Peloton.
Split into four main sections the book offers invaluable practical advice within the following framework: `The ride' focuses on riding positions, cornering and climbing, commuter safety, training techniques and programmes, the protocols and discipline of echelon riding as well as bad weather precautions and appropriate rider equipment, technical clothing and accessories. `The race' is dedicated to the various and most popular race formats and includes sections on sprinting, climbing and descending, optimal gearing and various race tactics. This section also presents advice on sportives, closed-roads, time-trials and even a section on cyclo-cross. `The life' sets out sound and effective facts on training nutrition and race-fuelling as well as broader advice on body maintenance, weight- and cross-training, sports massage techniques and practice as well as proven routes to weight-loss. `The bike' offers a detailed introductory overview of racing bicycle types as well as a full tour of its various, and varying, constituent parts from clincher wheels, tubular tyres, groupsets, pedal variants, bike computers as well as frame construction materials and geometry. There are also extensive sections on the key maintenance jobs as well as essential bike and component cleaning to ensure the smoothest ride.
Road Cycling Made Easy also carries ten feature sections told through a variety of experienced voices introducing the uninitiated to topics such as defensive and safe road-riding practice, their first sportive, the five top on-ride repairs and the effectiveness of training aids.
