Biggest News Stories in Japan 2012

２０１２年の重大ニュース

In an Asahi Shinbun (newspaper) poll, respondents chose the big stories of 2012.

Local Boy Done Good - Kyoto University Professor Shinya Yamanaka - took first place.

Yamanaka of course won a Nobel Prize for his work with iPS cells. At just 50, he is the youngest of Kyoto University's many laureates.

The rest of the big stories were:

2) Opening of the Tokyo Skytree on May 22

3) Annular solar eclipse ("when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth") on May 20

4) Purchase of the Senkaku Islands on September 11

5) Anti-Japan demonstations and violence across China

Nothing, alas, about bikes or bike lanes or transportation policy.

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Kyoto News New Train Museum Umekoji Park

ＪＲ西日本　京都市の梅小路公園内に国内最大級の「鉄道博物館」を建設！

JR West recently announced that a new train museum is going to be built next to The Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum.

Both sit on the site of a a former rail yard. The new building will be built on the site of aging JR company dorms, which will be torn down.

The area, which is a kilometer northwest of Kyoto Station, has been redeveloped and is now a pleasant open park.

It is also home to the city's new aquarium.

The new train museum will take four years to build and is slated to open in 2016. When it opens, it will be the train-mad nation's largest such museum.

It will consist of three stories and a total of 18,800 square meters of displays.

The SL23 steam engine, four electric trains, six bullet trains, and four diesel engines will be on display.

In addition, there will be interactive areas where visitors can "drive" trains.


Information

Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum
Kankiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city 600-8835
Tel: 075 314 2996
URL: http://www.mtm.or.jp/uslm/

Admission

Adults(High School Age and Older): 400 yen
Children(4th Junior High School Age) 100 yen

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Kyoto Super Sento Tenzan no Yu

自転車で嵯峨野温泉 天山の湯

Tenzan no Yu is the second "super sento" (large public bath) we have recently visited. The first was Yamato Yu, which is in Tambaguchi.

Tenzan no Yu is located in the Saga area of western Kyoto, not far from Arashiyama.

The bath is a 10-minute ride from Arashiyama. For those taking the train, it is a short walk from Arisugawa Station (Keifuku Station) or about 10 minutes on foot from JR Uzumasa Station.

You enter the large establishment and go up to the second floor. There, you must take off your shoes and put them in a locker on the left (to release the key and lock the locker, you must push a small silver button below the key). Then, at the check in counter, you give the key to one of the workers. You pay after the bath when you come to retrieve the shoe locker key.

On this floor (2F) are various shops, a restaurant, and foot masseuse.

Inside, the procedure is the same as for any sento: you get undressed, take your towel in. First you wash yourself, and rinse all the soap from your body. Then you begin the Big Soak.

There is a "Korean" massage available inside the bath. This was a bit creepy - the men are nude, face down - while middle aged women massage the whole body.

Also, the music piped into the bathing area was annoyingly loud.

Otherwise, Tenzan  no Yu (The Hot Waters of Heavenly Mountain) is divine.

Information

Tenzan no Yu Super Sento (the bath farthest to the left)
Open daily from 10 am to 1 am
General Admission: 1000 yen, children 500 yen
Bike parking on street level underneath in the car parking lot

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Christmas Day Cycling Kyoto

メリークリスマス京都！

December 25 this year falls on a Tuesday.

In Kyoto, that means it is a normal work day. Post offices are open, salarymen pack trains, and the world goes on its normal workaday end-of-year rhythm.

Many companies are closing down for the new year's holidays, and there is a bit of a buzz in the air as all prepare to eat, drink, and do nothing for several days to welcome 2013.

To celebrate the end of the year, what else but a Mega Sale.

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Kyoto Udon Museum Opens

日本全国のうどんが京都で食べられる　「うどんミュージアム」12/22にオープン

In the Gion area of Kyoto, better known for geisha, a new museum devoted to udon opened on December 22.

The museum is devoted to the beloved noodle and features items related thereto.

In addition, there is space for 100 to eat udon from around Japan.

The menu features 45 types from all around Japan.

There are exhibits on the history of udon, how to eat it, the ingredients, and soup.

The Udon Museum is housed in a wonderful refurbished old building.

To get there, walk or ride away from the Kamo River one short block east from the Minami-za Theater, on the corner of Shijo-Kawabata. Turn left and head north on the first street. On the right side.

Information

Udon Museum

238-2, Gion Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto 605-0073
Tel: 075 531 0888
Open 11 am - 10 pm

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World Cycling News 23 December 2012

今週のサイクリング２０１２年１２月２３t日

S.F. getting 'green lanes' for bikes SF Gate

Olympics funding: Britain's boxers get rise but swimming loses out BBC

Best bicycle maintenance books London Cyclist

V'Asie à vélo V'Asie à vélo

Is Boris spending as wisely on encouraging cycling in London as he could?
Guardian

Bicicletas en pantalla grande El Pais

都営バスにはねられ自転車の４０歳女性死亡　Yomiuri Shinbun

Court verdict an insult, says father of Mary Bowers seriously hurt by lorry The Times of London

Cycling to be judged by Olympics, not Armstrong: McQuaid Yahoo

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Cycling to Ninnaji Temple Kyoto

自転車で仁和寺へ

In western Kyoto, the massive gate of Ninnaji Temple stands guard over the Omuro area of the ancient capital.

The temple was founded in 886 C.E. by the Emperor Koko.

For forty years prior to that, it served as the summer residence for the Imperial Family known as Omuro Palace (Omuro Gosho).

Ninnanji has a massive entrance gate called San-mon (Mountain Gate) which has a tiled roof and two devas guarding the entrance.

The Main Hall, or Hondo, contains an golden image of Amitabha (a National Treasure).

The 33 meter, 5-story pagoda pictured above was built in 1637.

The temple compound also is home to many ancient Omuro Zakura, small late-blooming cherry trees.

In the hills just behind Ninnaji is the Hachi-ju Haka-sho (88 Temple Pilgrimage), a short hike around mini-temples mirrored on the more famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage around Shikoku. The entire walk can be done in less than an hour and affords a great view of Kyoto below.

Ryoanji Temple, Daikakuji Temple, and the Golden Pavilion are all a short ride on a bicycle.

Details

33 Ouchi Omuro
Ukyo-ku
Kyoto
075 461 1155

400 yen fee to the sub temple to the left as you enter; otherwise, it is free.


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Kyoto Fails to Make World Commute Rankings

日本サイクリングランク京都ランク外れ

On the World Commute web site, Kyoto fared poorly in the amount of non-carbon miles (kilometers) traveled to work, school, and on business. We suspect this has more to do with the number or people who have registered with the site than actual miles/kilometers traveled.

By region, the most members were in Tokyo, followed by Osaka and Kanagawa.

The most miles (kilometers) traveled to and from work was won by those in Osaka. Tokyo was second, with Okayama in third place.

The most miles (kilometers) traveled to and from school was by students in Kanagawa, then Osaka and Tokushima. This is a category Kyoto should win easily.

The most miles (kilometers) traveled to for business, amazingly, was Okayama. Huh? That region was followed by Saitama then Tokyo.

For recreational cycling, once again Osaka topped the charts. Next was Tokyo, and third place went to Tochigi.

Come on Kyoto!

World Commute


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Winter Cycling in Kyoto

京冬自転車

En route to the Keihan Railways Demachiyanagi Station yesterday, we paused along a bridge crossing the Kamo River to enjoy the snow covered mountains in the north.

It was ball-numbingly cold on the ride from western Kyoto but Santa's early arrival saved the day.

The new "lobster" gloves were toasty, even without putting on the usual liners we wear with ordinary gloves on the 30-minute commute. A bit bulky - and shifting will take some getting used to - but the fingertips were warm and happy.

Moreover, thanks to a new pair of high-tech socks from Pearl Izumi, the toes were equally warm.

A true Christmas miracle.

The mountains in the distance are heading up towards Kumogahata, which was no doubt covered in snow. More central parts of Kyoto rarely see accumulation or ice on the roads, so cycling all winter is doable.

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Loro Recumbent Bicycle Shop Kyoto

ローロワールドリカンベンツ京都５条

For recumbent bike fans, Kyoto has one of Japan's best shops.

The mini-chain Loro has stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Yokohama.

The Kyoto store is on Gojo Dori not far from the JR Tanbaguchi Station.

The staff is helpful and friendly.

We are devotees of cross bikes, but more and more see recumbent bikes around town and even on trains.

Shop

Telephone: 075 811 7162
email: lwr@loro.co.jp
Hours: 10：30 ～ 7：30 pm (closed Thursdays)

Access

For those taking the train, there are several options. See below.

Train: A five-minute walk from JR Tanbaguchi Station, ten minutes from Hankyu Omiya Station or Keifuku Railways Shijo Omiya Station.

For cyclists, it is about 15 minutes north of Kyoto Station. Go north on Horikawa Dori, turn left (west) on Gojo Dori. It is on the north side of the street before Tanbaguchi Station.

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Book Review Roads Were Not Built for Cars

自転車の書評

Roads Were Not Built for Cars

Roads Were Not Built for Cars is a sermon for the converted, which we are still waiting to call out a loud Amen! to.

The authors keep teasing us, keep putting off publication.

At any rate, Roads Were Not Built for Cars is expected in Winter 2012.

Below is a review:

It is a free e-book about roads history, focussing on the period 1880-1905, which saw the Bicycling Boom and then burst because of auto mania.


Motorists are the johnny-come-latelies of highway history. The coming of the railways in the 1830s killed off the stage-coach trade; almost all rural roads reverted to low-level local use. Cyclists were the first group in a generation to use roads and were the first to push for high-quality sealed surfaces and were the first to lobby for national funding and leadership for roads.


Without cyclists, motorists wouldn't have hit the ground running when it came to places to drive this new form of transport.


'Roads Were Not Built for Cars' is a history book, focussing on a time when cyclists had political clout, in Britain and especially in America. The book researches the Road Improvements Association - a lobbying group created by the Cyclists' Touring Club in the 1880s - and the Good Roads movement organised by the League of American Wheelmen in the same period.


The book will be published in Summer 2012 and, thanks to research grants and advertising support, will be free to read online and free to download to Kindles, iPads, iPhones and other e-book readers. The free distribution model will be used in order to get the book seen by as many eyes as possible.

Amen.


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World Cycling News 16 December 2012

今週のサイクリング２０１２年１２月１６日

Dangerous Distraction: Why treating streets as highways & people on foot as criminals makes Seattle more dangerous Seattle Bike Blog

Tour de France: Yorkshire to host start of 2014 race BBC

Staying warm but not hot on your bike London Cyclist

AFRICA VELO Parcours Le Monde

BBC's War on Britain's Roads: even more fake than we feared Guardian

¿Es la bicicleta una tribu urbana? El Pais

思わぬ急発進・加速に注意　Yomiuri Shinbun

Father of Mary Bowers, the Times writer knocked off bike by driver, speaks out The Times of London

Cycling to be judged by Olympics, not Armstrong: McQuaid Yahoo

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Cycling Kyoto Umekoji Park

自転車で京都梅小路公園

Umekoji Koen (Park), which is about one kilometer northwest of Kyoto Station, is today home to the city's aquarium and the Steam Locomotive Museum and a large green space in the center of the city.

The park is 12.5 hectares (30 acres) and opened in 1995. Prior to that, the area was a village that was folded into various larger municipalities, and then a railroad yard.

In the Edo Period (1603 to 1868), it was part of Yamashiro Kuni. In 1868, it joined the newly created Kyoto Prefecture, and was known as Kadonogun, Umekojimura. In 1889, the appellation of the area became: Kyoto Prefecture, Shichijomura, Umekojimura. In 1918, the area was incorporated into Kyoto city.

In 1876, the Umekoji train station opened along the Saiin Line, which to this day still heads west out of Kyoto Station. In 1913, Japan Railways purchased the land that now is the park, and in the following year built a railyard for steam engines and freight trains.

Today, what remains is the Steam Locomotive Museum. It is housed in an attractive wooden station building that was built in the early part of the 20th century. In a previous incarnation, it was the station building for JR Nijo Station between 1904 and 1997.

Three times each day (11:00 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm), a steam locomotive is rolled out along a little turntable. There are seventeen engines in the museum, six of which still move.

For train buffs, this is a fun day out. For picnics, the park is plenty big. For cyclists, parking is no problem.

Information

Steam Locomotive Museum

Open 9:30-17:00 (entry until 16:30), closed Mondays
Admission: Adults: 400 yen, children: 100 yen.
Tel: 314 2996
www.mtm.or.jp/uslm/

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What We Want for Christmas Bond Bike

ボンド自転車

This is what we hope will be waiting by the tree on Christmas morning here in Kyoto:

the BOND bicycle with ejector seat and flamethrower

As noted, it comes with an anti-theft ejector seat and a flame thrower attached to the handle bars.

For the mean streets of Kyoto, this is a must-have item.

The next time a taxi driver, contractor, or yakuza cuts cuts us off - Bam! Fried to a tempura crisp in a nano-second.

If not the Bond Bike, then Santa, onegai (please), a decent pair of gloves would be great.


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Kyoto Exhibit IHEI KIMURA Exhibition Kahitsukan

木村伊兵衛展自転車で

The photodrapher Ihei Kimura is enjoying a bit of renaissance in popularity.

Kimura, who was born and raised in Tokyo and died in the 1970s, is featured in the Gion gallery called Kahitsukan.

There are many wonderful photos from the post-War decades. How things have changed!

The Museum is a short walk from Shijo - Kawabata, or the Shijo Keihan Train Station in Gion.

Walking towards Yasaka Shrine, from the Kamo River on Shijo Dori, it is on the left just beyond Hanamikoji Dori.

For those on a bike, parking is a bit of an issue. Perhaps leaving the bike near the Kamo River, discreetly, then walking is the best option.

Information

December 1 (sat) 2012 - February 17 (sun) 2013
10:00 - 18:00 ( Admission until 17:30 )　　
Closed on Mondays ( except for Dec. 24, Jan. 14, Feb. 11)
Closed for winter holiday December 29 - January 5

Admission： Adult 1,000 yen / Student 800 yen
Telephone: 075 525 1311
E-mail：kahitsukan@kahitsukan.or.jp

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Kyoto Arashiyama Illumination

冬の嵐山に柔らかな明かり　花灯路始まる

In Arashiyama, in the far west of Kyoto, the Togetsukyo Bridge is being illuminated as part of a winter tourism campaign.

Every evening the bridge is lit up from 5 pm until 8:30 pm.

Illumination is also taking place at Tenryuji Temple and the area's well-known bamboo forest.

A total of 2500 lights have been set up, and this year for the first time Kameyama Park will be lit up.

The events continue until December 17.

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Winter Has Arrived in Kyoto

京都冬自転車

On the ride to work this morning - from Ninnaji Temple to Demachiyanagi, where we catch the train to Osaka - there was a light dusting of snow on the roads.

It was nothing to be nervous about - but the extremities were very, very cold on the ride.

The photo is dated, but this is roughly what Kyoto looked like this morning: white powder on the mountains in the distance.

As we do every year, we are now seriously considering buying the lobster mitt type gloves.


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World Cycling News 9 December 2012

今週のサイクリング２０１２年１２月０９日

6 Myths About Commuting By Bicycle US News and World Report

Greg LeMond willing to run for cycling presidency BBC

If there is a war on Britain’s roads, the car just claimed another victory London Cyclist

Cyclisme/ Côte d’Ivoire : L’Or Blanc aux mains de Guébré Star Africa

BBC cycling documentary is 'irresponsible', says MP Guardian

Sistema Ecobici, impacto positivo en la cultura ciclista de la Ciudad de México
Bicitekas

自転車:「レーン」基準を初明示　Mainichi Shinbun

Futuristic warning light that could save cyclists’ lives The Times of London

Australian Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff Yahoo

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Bicycle Book Review The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle

書評「The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle」

The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle is a poignant and well written book that happens to revolve around a man's obsession with cycling.

The eponymous Escape Artist is the author and his cycle-racing bug.

For those who have never raced - including us - bike racing is an odd, body-wrecking "sport" whose pleasures appear to be few. Pain endurance would seem to be the ultimate goal.

Seaton writes movingly and convincingly of "the rituals of the sport (the loving maintenance of both body and bike, the relentless monitoring of calories, pulse beats and heart rates) and at recreating the adrenaline thrills it provides."

Perhaps indeed the only pleasure of the race is the opportunity to "escape" the pack.

As Seaton becomes more and more entwined in non-cycling events - life - he is forced to choose between staying on the road, in the race, or caring for his ill wife.

This is a gut-wrenching account, which leaves the reader trembling. A truly beautiful work.


‘This book is, above all, about passion and loss. It's about the passion of life at the very edge of athletic and mechanical achievement that is eventually lost to love of a wife and children, which in turn gives way to the loss of the wise and mother herself. I read and relished this book.'

Jon Snow, Guardian

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Transparency International Corruption Index 2012 Japan

トランスペアレンシー・ジャパン(TI-J)は、国際的に汚職・腐敗防止のために活動する

In Transparency International's annual Corruption Index, Japan placed 17th, ranking with the UK and USA.

Within Asia, only Singapore and Hong Kong placed higher.

1 Denmark 90
1 Finland 90
1 New Zealand 90
4 Sweden 88
5 Singapore 87
6 Switzerland 86
7 Australia 85
7 Norway 85
9 Canada 84
9 Netherlands 84
11 Iceland 82
12 Luxembourg 80
13 Germany 79
14 Hong Kong 77
15 Barbados 76
16 Belgium 75
17 Japan 74
17 United Kingdom 74
17 USA 74

45 Korea (South) 56

80 China 39

Keeping this in mind, we hope no pray for a open debate about transportation and energy policy in the next week as we head toward elections on December 16.

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Japanese Emperor and Empress Visit Manshuin Temple Kyoto

曼殊院 紅葉に感嘆　両陛下入洛

The Japanese Royal Couple spent a day in Kyoto recently.

The Emperor Hirohito and Empress boarded a special Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station and rode to Kyoto.

There they were taken to Manshuin Temple, which is in the northeast of the city not far from Shugakuin Villa, which is pictured above.

The royal couple were in Kyoto on December 3 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the Meiji Emperor, the last emperor to be born in Kyoto and the grandfather of Hirohito.

After an afternoon of looking at leaves, they headed to the Kyoto Imperial Palace (below) where they enjoyed tea before heading back to Tokyo.


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Kyoto Live Music Jittoku Folk Club

拾得の恒例

The venerable Kyoto folk club Jittoku is still banging along at age 40.

It is housed in an old ramshackle warehouse that, thanks to the club, has avoided the wrecking ball.

Founded around 1973, at the height of the folk boom in Japan, it still puts on live music almost every night of the week.

Located in Nishijin, north of Nijo Castle, in an old atmospheric part of Kyoto we liken to a "gothic quarter," Jittoku is large and smoky and a fun night out.

Information

Located on Omiya Dori south of Shimodachiuri
075 841 1691


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Commuting by Bike or on Foot in Kyoto World Commute

ワールドコミュート

CycleKyoto is now using a great site called World Commute to keep track of miles/kilometers, gas saved, money saved, carbon offset, and "health Points."

Once you have registered, all you do is enter the way you traveled (walk, bike, run, skate, other), select the reason (to and from work, etc.), and then type in the number of kilometers or miles depending on your settings. Then you hit "post." In a single day, one can post up to six times.

World Commute is sponsored by CatEye, the Osaka-based manufacturer of bicycle lights.

It bills itself as "a not-for-profit, free social-network website to encourage, promote and track the use of non-motorized transportation around the world. We promote the idea of “Greater Health. Healthier Environment” through a unified effort of individuals engaging in physical activity for transportation purposes. The site allows users to create a profile and record non-motorized trips including daily commutes to work or school and “taking care of business” trips to the store, coffee shop, etc. Because we also want to promote physical health through activity, users can also record recreational and fitness activities scoring “health points.” Even though a run at lunch may not contribute to reduced carbon emissions, it is physical activity that promotes a healthier individual."

World Commute is free and available in six languages: English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and Chinese.


* Health Points = Activity score based on type of human-powered transportation multiplied by the number of miles completed. All miles logged contribute towards health points.

Activity score for commute to work or school, Taking Care of Business Miles, and Recreational/Social as follows:
Walking = 3
Cycling & Other = 4
Skate = 5
Run = 6
All types of fitness activities = 7

For example:

Bike Commute (activity score = 4) × 10 miles = 40 Health Points
Fitness bike ride (activity score = 7) × 20 miles = 140 Health Points


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Fall Tourist Season in Kyoto Over (Yeah!)

京都秋の観光シーズンはもう終わり（ようやく。。。）

The fall colors and temple viewing season officially ended today in Kyoto.

And none too soon.

Twice a year, Kyoto is overrun - colonized - by fume-spewing tour buses the size of aircraft carriers. They disgorge hopelessly confused tourists by the thousands.

They came, they took pictures, they looked up from their maps and iPhones - and now they are gone.

Until late March when the cherry trees blossom.

Cycling during the last three weekends has been trying at best, but now for a bit of smooth and cold sailing.

Full disclosure: the bus pictured above is in Kagoshima, not Kyoto.

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World Cycling News 2 December 2012

今週のサイクリング２０１２年１２月０２日

Envisioning a network of bike paths in Bucks
County Philadelphia Inquirer

Greg LeMond joins Change Cycling Now to clean up the sport BBC

How likely is it that central London will become a 20mph zone? London Cyclist

Voyage à vélo - Vietnam Vélo Québec

Which really is more deadly: cycling or sitting down watching TV? Guardian

Necesito un coche El Pais

自転車通勤、飲んだらチャリタク　全国に３千台以上　Asahi Shinbun

Northern cities show the future of urban bike travel The Times of London

UCI set to open doping hotline Yahoo

Last Week's Cycling News


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Bicycle Book Review The Bike Book

書評「The Bicycle Book」

The Bicycle Book is as good as it gets.

Two wheels. A frame. Two pedals. What could be simpler than a bicycle? Indeed, indeed.

As the back cover reads: "And yet the bike – old, and cheap, and slightly comic – continues to inspire a passionate following. Since the millennium its use in Britain has doubled, and then doubled again. Thousands now cycle to work, and more take it up every day. In trial after trial, it is the bike which reaches its urban destination faster than the car, the bus, the underground or the pedestrian. Self-reliant and straightforward, cycling has recycled itself. It is an antiquated idea, and its time has finally come."

Acclaimed writer Bella Bathurst takes us on a journey through some of cycling's best stories and strangest incarnations, from the bicycle as a weapon of twentieth-century warfare to the secret and thrilling life of couriers and the secrets of framebuilding.

The result is a story of passion and obsession, of exultation, endeavour, and risk. Above all, it is the story of partnership between man and machine, perfectly balanced – a story of love and souplesse.

At last – a bicycle book for the rest of us… a book for the sort of cyclist who likes cycling and reading and stories…’ Guardian

‘The bicycle is the most popular form of transport on the planet… With The Bicycle Book, Bathurst adds her voice to the call that we are now at the dawn of a new golden age of this versatile machine.’ Observer

Buy on Amazon USA


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