Bicycling Science

by Frank Rowland Whitt, David Gordon Wilson

The second edition of Bicycling Science includes new information on recent achievements and experiments in human-powered transportation, from the "ultimate human-powered vehicle" (UHPV) in which supine riders can achieve speeds well over 60 mph, to human-powered aircraft, boats, and rail transportation. New chapters cover the history of bicycle and humanpower technology and science, and the speed-power relationships of various modes and vehicles including performance predictions for the UHPV and the "commuter human-powered vehicle." The chapters on braking, steering, friction, air drag, rider cooling, and transmissions and gearing have all been enlarged and updated. James McCullagh, editor of Bicycling Magazine has written a Foreword for this edition which also includes many new illustrations.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

so of course I check the first edition out from the library, buy the 2nd edition from Powell's online, THEN discover there's a third edition.

This is the pinnacle of tomes for the bike geek... dare I say... nerd.

Physics! Math! Metallurgy! I dunno. Not much more that can be said really. This is a collection of scientific research done in the field of bicycling. It's presented nicely, with charts and equations for the technical and textual summaries for the slightly less so. It's a much more entertaining book than it might at first appear... or maybe there's something wrong with me.

[Tom L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the fourth edition (2020) and the second edition (1974) of this book. I strongly prefer the second edition, which is much easier and more enjoyable to read. The topics in the second edition are more relevant to everyday biking, with just enough equations and physics to appeal to geeks like me. The fourth edition is far too dry, and reads more like an academic paper than a mass market book. Note that the authors aren't identical for the various editions - the fourth edition was written by David Gordon Wilson and Theodor Schmidt (with contributions from Jim Papadopoulos).

[Yokusun Basi]

Bicycling Science, Second Edition by Frank Rowland Whitt (1982)

[Hasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of this book is that if you are not taking it for a course at MIT and just skip over all the math and related formulas it is an easy and informative book. The authors should have put together a nearly math free 30 page pamphlet presenting there main findings, but that would be too easy.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second edition is a delightfully thorough coverage of what makes bicycles go. The history is also interesting. There is now a 3rd edition out. by a new author.