Bicycling Science

by David Gordon Wilson

A new, updated edition of a popular book on the history, science, and engineering of bicycles.The bicycle is almost unique among human-powered machines in that it uses human muscles in a near-optimum way. This new edition of the bible of bicycle builders and bicyclists provides just about everything you could want to know about the history of bicycles, how human beings propel them, what makes them go faster, and what keeps them from going even faster. The scientific and engineering information is of interest not only to designers and builders of bicycles and other human-powered vehicles but also to competitive cyclists, bicycle commuters, and recreational cyclists.

The third edition begins with a brief history of bicycles and bicycling that demolishes many widespread myths. This edition includes information on recent experiments and achievements in human-powered transportation, including the ultimate human- powered vehicle, in which a supine rider in a streamlined enclosure steers by looking at a television screen connected to a small camera in the nose, reaching speeds of around 80 miles per hour. It contains completely new chapters on aerodynamics, unusual human-powered machines for use on land and in water and air, human physiology, and the future of bicycling. This edition also provides updated information on rolling drag, transmission of power from rider to wheels, braking, heat management, steering and stability, power and speed, and materials. It contains many new illustrations.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Science, Engineering, Bicycles, History, Reference

485 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2004

About the author

David Gordon Wilson was a professor of engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Reviews

[Larry Staton jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The finest book on cycling that I've read. Clear and concise explanations of the physics and mechanics of riding bikes without the dryness of technical language.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I can't say I actually finished this book - more like reevaluated it. It's a reference book, or can/should be, and I'm going to treat it as such. I got about halfway through at a marginal pace before deciding this. For what it is, it is *the* reference on Human Powered Vehicles, far beyond simple bicycles. Anyone considering a HPV record, in flight, on two or more wheels, should check this one out before starting.

[Efe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cyclist and a physics nerd, it was delicious.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the second edition of this book better even though that one is 40 years old. The earlier edition is much more focused on standard bikes and traditional materials with little about electric motor assisted two-wheel vehicles which I couldn’t care less about. For that matter, there’s nothing on mountain bikes in the older edition either, which is fine with me. Even nicer, there’s only one sentence which mentions carbon fiber!

Steel is real. Smooth roads rule. Aero is ugly. Color beats black. Progress isn’t better.

[Jasper Meer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book outlines the physics of the most perfect machine devised by the minds of men. This book should be the primary text for physics in high schools everywhere. It introduces concepts in a very directed and practical way, giving students a useful framework to reference in understanding physics and how our world operates.

[T100martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very heavy-going read, but if you're into science and technology it's worth trawling through.
But if you're happy riding your fat-tyred mountain bike on the road, you'll be surprised just how much effort you're wasting.
Everything from rolling resistance to frame material is covered.
If it's not in this book, it's not relevant.

[Jakey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love bicycles, and I like Match and Science, but not enough to really be able to enjoy this book. My grasp of physics is not good enough. sigh. I would love to see this book in comic book form. or at least something for non-physics geeks.

[Greg Golz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the premise of the book, but the author missed a huge chance to modernize the version with thoughts of the audience. It lacks the visual support for truly understanding many of the scientific topics that it presents. The book contains lengthy formulas that could be more easily understood with some reader feedback.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

My experience reading this book at this point in my life - 1 star. My expectations of referencing this book in the future - 5 stars. We'll settle on a 3 star rating for now. Based on the title/cover and no reasonable research whatsoever I was expecting a more approachable, pop-science kind of look into the science behind cycling. This is not that kind of book. This is a very heavy, very detailed, very mathematical/scientific look into all aspects of cycling. It's a reference book I will want to have around (especially when I start building my own bikes in the future when I have tons of time and money to do such things).

[Vhalros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about the science of bicycling; what makes them balance, what makes them go, what prevents them from going faster, how humans get the energy to bicycle, etc. It would be a good introduction if you are interested in reading papers about bicycle mechanics; not so much if you want a leisurely read on the subject (unless you are a total dork like me). The math is pretty light, but there are more equations in here than you are going to find in most pleasure reading.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite reference. This reading was my second or third read.
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I appreciate the combination of physics and experience/opinion to convey each point. The history and futurism chapters that bookend the science show how the same ideas come up repeatedly.
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Ten years on, can we have a 4th ed? Do other readers have reading suggestions for industry developments, or for different viewpoints?

[Shayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niche but nice, this book exposes a lot of what we know about bicycling and physics. If you read between the lines, it also shows how little we understand, and how much of bicycling innovation is driven by tinkerers' garage work, only to be explained later by scientists (as Nissim Taleb describes in his book Antifragile).

[Nichiless Dey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little patience will be need if you don't have an engineering background but persevere and this book may change the way you think about one of the most energy efficient machine families ever constructed. It will certainly dispel a few myths. Well worth the effort.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read this if you are (a) a super-nerd, and (b) you cycle a lot. If those two apply, you'll love it. Otherwise, it's brain-death.

[marie pasquariello · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book to know a lot more about the sciences behind cycling. more information than you can absorb in one read.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting that the 3rd edition has a different author than the 2nd edition.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference manual.
Even as an engineer reading this I found it a little dry and technical at times... but it is a science book.

[Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want an entire library of books like this on different subjects. Just brilliant.

[Arjun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't completed this, but I love to reference it. I especially enjoyed the explanation of the origins of the bicycle, and the implications it had on society.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uffda. Don't try to read this all the way through in one go. It's an excellent reference book however. Something to pick up and tinker with or answer a single question.

[Andy Chu]

Skimmed it, worth going back to read again

[Ash Fontana]

A masterpiece. Just so much scientific work and explication of everything you ever wondered about cycling. Lots of physics but useful even if you don't want to dig into that.