The Bohemian Guide to Urban Cycling

by Sean Benesh

Cycling as a way of life and mode of transportation is on the rise in city after city around the world. For those looking to dip their proverbial toes into the waters of urban cycling the prospect at times can be rather intimidating. What kind of bike should I ride? A skinny-wheeled high-end road bike? A fixie? A chunky city commuter bike? A department store bike? How about fashion? Do I have to wear brightly colored skin-tight Lycra outfits? Can I just wear normal clothes? How do I lug my gear around? The Bohemian Guide to Urban Cycling takes the reader into the world and workings of cycling in the city to uncover the essentials to join in on the cycling revolution. Your bicycling guide on this journey is a card-carrying bohemian living in Portland. By using the bike-crazy city of Portland as the backdrop, this book covers all of the basics needed to bike comfortably in the city and to know what the heck you’re talking about ... from bike selection to fashion to bike lanes to gentrification and more. After reading this you’ll know precisely what to ride, how to ride, what to wear, and how to talk like an insider. Well, maybe not, but it’ll still be a fun journey together.But this book is more than about urban-cycling fashion and high-end bikes. It also plunges headlong into conversations about mobility, equity, race, and justice. If there is going to be a book about all-things cycling in the city it must delve into these uncomfortable topics in order to develop a more holistic view of urban cycling. The bottom line must be to affirm all kinds of people pedaling through the streets of our cities on anything that rolls.

190 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2014

About the author

Sean Benesh lives in Portland, Oregon leading two startups and teaching at two local universities. He has authored over a dozen books related to cities, gentrification, bicycles, social entrepreneurship, and starting churches.

Reviews

[Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

My professional life and my transportation choices center around bicycles, so to me this wasn’t so much a must-read as me nodding in agreement all the way through. This is the second book I’ve read by Mr. Benesh and I enjoy his writing style as well as his subject matter.

However, that’s not to say this book will be useless for you if you’re not a bike person. There are some good, practical how-tos in here for people who would like to start riding but don’t know where to begin.

[Kristin Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read that went in a couple of unexpected, very poignant directions. I highly recommend it.