[.ca] The Complete Book Of Long-Distance Cycling: Build The ... (ISBN 1579541992)

Thorough Lessons to Learn the Easy Way:
This book pretty much covers it all, from how to adjust your saddle to what to do about hallucinations on your ultra long-distance ride. Although I have a fair amount of experience training for centuries, I learned a lot and have managed to diminish unnecessary suffering. There are training charts and heart-rate guides for the obsessive-compulsives, and a lot of common sense for the rest of us who just like to ride. It's well written and sound. Now, turn off the computer and go ride!

Serious Bike Book For Riders Going the Extra Mile:
Anyone who ridden a century knows it takes more than strong legs and will power. Authors Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka know this and clear the path for successful riding. "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling" divulges the secrets of centuries, doubles and beyond. This is a serious book for serious riders. It starts with a forward by long distance racing great Lon Haldeman who redefined the limits of long distance biking. Learn which bike serves which distance and course, proper form, clothing and diet. You'll find training tips unique to each distance, ideas for dealing with mid-ride pain, ways to approach sleep deprivation, stretching techniques, pointers for managing bathroom breaks. You'll be on the bike for many hours and every morsel of advice helps. As a long distance biker and as a reader of many biking books, I am impressed and fully recommend "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling" by Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka. Anthony Trendl

Generally sound advice in training for one-day events:
Having taken a hiatus from cycling for 10 years, but now approaching mileage consistency to do my first century, I picked up this book primarily so I'd know what to expect, but also as an update on what's transpired in the last ten years. For example, training based on time at particular heart rate thresholds -- NOT mileage -- is now the generally accepted method of optimizing your development. This is a relatively quick and easy read providing hints and tips on working up in the distances. One may initially interpret the casual, non-snooty writing style to suggest it would be appropriate for beginner. It's not. I think you should really have at LEAST a year of riding experience before ratcheting up the mileage. For example, their demarcation of "long distance" is roughly sub-century (< 100 miles), century, double (200 miles), and beyond 200 miles. It was especially interesting to read their insight into the physiology of higher mileage levels. For example, once you're riding centuries comfortably, success in the additional distances essentially depends upon eating and hydrating effectively. Those who made their first transition beyond the 40-60 mileage range without eating are familiar with "the bonk." A couple of nits: First, the book assumes the "long distance" will be an all-the-way-through event. I would have been especially interested material on multi-day events, specifically on nutritional "tricks" one might use to restock the body's primary glycogen stores. They suggest generally eating a high-carbohydrate meal within 1/2 hour of the ride. Another -- probably humorous -- question is "how do you find time for these longer rides?"

Good all-around advice:
Long-Distance Cycling covers all aspects of how to pull off long rides, not just the training aspects. The book starts off with the basics, choosing the right gear and making sure your bike fits properly. These are easy to overlook, but will make all of the difference in the world on a long ride. It then spends some time overviewing a good training program. Like other cycling books, the authors recommend picking up a heart rate monitor and using it for the basis of your training. They provide training programs for different goal distances (such as your first century) that recommend spending time in different heart rate zones. The training and nutrition information is well done, but not amazingly in depth. If you get more serious about the sport, you'll probably want more information, but this book hits is target audience just fine. The later chapters of the book cover all of the unpleasantries that come up during a long ride: sores, pain, general discomfort. Again, this information is invaluable during a long ride. All in all, the authors have done a great job at putting together the information you need to complete your first (or next!) long distance bike ride.

Cute little book:
A lot of interesting reading written in a casual style. It is to provide beginners to more advanced riders with the nutritional information , as well as training ideas, and equippment ideas for riding centuries and beyond. There is nothing especially earth shattering about the info here--if you've been a cyclist (or athletically inclined) you have probably read the nutritional info before, and in more and better detail in other places. Ditto the hydration stuff. But then again, this is a general book covering things in moderate detail. ... The authors seemed to love using the word "butt" about every other sentence it seemed. Plus the instruction to "empty your bladder" is a little absurd. It is in the book for instrution you on how to weigh yourself (empty your bladder) what to do at stops and other places.