 | | | Dear Friend,
Back in the old days, riding a bike meant tooling around on a machine with no gears, a basket on the front, and playing cards taped to the spokes for that very cool motorcycle effect. Today, there's a whole new breed of bikes built to suit many different needs. You can choose from road bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes — to name just a few varieties. So if you haven't taken a spin on two wheels since Santa brought you one for Christmas, it's time to check out The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners to help you find the bike that's perfect. | | |  | | | Cycling is empowering. Pedaling down a rural road or through a city park rouses your spirit and awakens your senses. And it's hard to hate your thighs as you gleefully pull into the driveway after conquering a challenging ride. As if that weren't enough, cycling is as gentle on your body as an activity can be. There's a saying in sports medicine circles: Even if you can't run, walk, or hobble, you can ride a bike. Because cycling isn't a weight-bearing exercise, it's super easy on your joints — even the achy ones. So it can be a wonderful, pain-free way to get exercise and lose weight. In fact, you can burn about 500 calories on an hour-long ride!
Whether you're looking to ride for fitness or weight loss, to commute or to get away from it all, The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners helps you take your cycling to the next level. You'll find page after page of expert advice designed to help you ride with comfort, speed, safety, and fun. We're so confident you'll like it, we'll let you read it FREE for 21 days! | |  | | Did you know you can burn up to 500 calories per hour on your bike? The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners shows you how to eat and ride for maximum weight loss. You'll discover: | | |  | How to shrink your waist on the road, page 190 | | The best way to shed pounds and still fuel your rides, page 191 | | How to maximize your performance with the right carbs-to-protein ratio, page 191 | | |  | | There are common (and less common) things you might want to change on your ride to make it much more enjoyable. They might have to do with the environment you're riding in, for example, in a rainy climate; fenders might allow you to ride much more often. The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners can help you make these tweaks with simple guidelines like: | | | | 8 critical questions to ask at the bike shop, page 45 | | Time-tested strategies for finding the perfect saddle, page 72 | | 7 comfort-driven upgrades, page 87 | | |  | | You've got your bicycle, you've got the gear, so you're ready to roll, right? Well ... maybe. To be safe and have fun on the bike, you'll need to know these key tips found in The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners. | | | | 4 quick checks before heading out, chapter 22 | | Repair a flat in minutes! Pro wrench advice, page 240 | | When to brave the weather, when to pack it in, page 132 | | |  | | Did you know that you might want to change your riding position depending on whether you're on flats, climbing a hill, or descending? Master these positions, along with some easy-to-remember skills and secrets found in The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners, and you can feel relaxed and confident in any situation! | | | | Get started like a pro, no wobbling, no weaving, page 107 | | How to navigate railroad tracks, wet leaves, and other hazards, page 136 | | 5 basic hand signals for group-ride safety, page 154 | | | | | | | |
