Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone: A Philosophical Tour de Force

Philosophy for Everyone #35

by Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza (Editor), Fritz Allhoff (Editor), Michael W. Austin (Editor)

Covering interesting and varied philosophical terrain, "Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone" explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy. Incorporates or reflects the views of high-profile and notable past-professional cyclists and insiders such as Lennard Zinn, Scott Tinley, and Lance ArmstrongFeatures contributions from the areas of cultural studies, kinesiology, literature, and political science as well as from philosophersIncludes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative potential of cycling for personal growthShows how bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandemIncludes a foreword by Lennard Zinn, author and owner of Zinn Cycles Inc.

Genres: Philosophy, Cycling, Bicycles, Nonfiction, Cultural

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2010

Reviews

[Daniel Seifert · Rating 5 out of 5]

<2012, library copy> A vibrant offering of creative essays on cycling that hit philosophical cord, pregnant with lucid language, e.g.,

“The standard bike is a piece of low tech, the nearly divine epitome of sustainability, and an absolutely necessity when cities have to be rethought and redesigned without the present profusion of noisy, space-hogging, energy-consuming cars. In contrast to the several years of gasoline-engine monotheism and tailpipes, the cycling polytheism will open many possibilities of otherness and gliding unpredictable processes.” (32)

Shared experiences from the essayist, e.g.,

‘On one 80-mile ride in a rainstorm I remember feeling like a mechanism, tucked in rhythmic pistons, water sluicing over like machine oil, hammering out the miles. There was a sort of perverse pride I felt, riding all day in the cold rain and getting coated in road grit. It was only through obedience to the implicit orders of cycling that I could learn its virtues, the silent, solitary, almost survivalist nature of riding far from home. To ride is to reduce life to simplicity, with no other demands but to keep pedaling. “Why should we live with such hurry and waste life?” Thoreau writes in Walden. Simplify, simplify.’ (164)

[Drunken McNulty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays covering a wide range of things around cycling, from commuting by bike in urban environments to professional cycling, doping and bike packing.
The topics and styles were pretty much hit or miss to me.

[Dylan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lent from Grady, several great essays on cycling as an exercise in patience, reflection, competition, and voluntary poverty, all at once

[Simon Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag. Some really excellent philosophical pieces that really made me think, using cycling as a subject and material for philosophy, but some weak ones as well that were more focused on making a strained analogy between cycling and philosophy. I will be interested to see if I think about my cycling differently as a result of reading it.

[Carlosfelipe Pardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suffered many chapters with their horrendous puns and the editors’ efforts at making everything somehow a forced analogy with cycling. A few chapters are beautifully written and truly reflect the title.

[Ryan Trauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is fine. Using the word "philosophy" is pretty generous. I would call this a collection of short reflections at best. I'm just getting back into cycling and my motivation is sky high. I'm ready to gobble up anything even remotely good. And this book was just "meh."

[Kevin]

Really enjoyed this book. Deep without being overly layered in philosophical thought. If you are any sort of cyclist, this book is a must-read.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed. I think this would appeal to someone who is a hard-core cyclist.

[Guilherme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where did they find so many philosopher-bikers? You fell the breeze on your face as you wheel across this collection of articles about cycling - urban, mountain, road. Lots of information, great stories, and of course philosophy-on-a-saddle. Less than 24 hours after turning the last page, I was buying a new bike.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in pieces. It is an interesting, pleasant read as an accumulation of authors writing about their riding experiences but quite a passive read.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe too much "racer consciousness" here for my personal liking. I'm considering a blog post reflecting my own "bicycling philosophy" in coming weeks.