The latest release from Wilderness Press is a compilation of short stories about cycling.
Planning a bicycle trip and looking for a good read to pack along with you? Whether you are a seasoned rider or a novice you may enjoy one of the latest offerings from Wilderness Press.
Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures is a collection of 27 true stories written by riders from around the world. The stories detail some of the funniest, strangest and most tragic things that have happened to these writers while they were enjoying the freedom of riding. The writers are a mix of hardcore riders, leisurely weekenders and want-to-be cyclists.
For those who are interested in the historical aspect of bicycling there are two very interesting stories. The Gowda and His Bicycle, is an account of the first bicycle in a small village in southwest India and the trial and error involved in learning how to use this new device. Iron Riders is a historical account of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, which served as a mounted military unit during the summer of 1896.
The stories are as varied as the writers who have submitted them. There are stories about racing, cross country road trips, mountain biking treks, and leisurely weekend rides. You don’t even need to be a serious cycling enthusiast to enjoy most of the stories. There is at least one story that every person can relate to.
One of my favorite stories was To Become a Cyclist, by Luke Bauer. Bauer writes about preparing for a cross-country trip with three friends although he doesn’t exactly fit into his own idea of a “cyclist”. As Bauer explains, “I’m as lazy as I am competitive, so while I can handle the in-race pressures, I had little use for the training necessary to achieve ‘racer’ status.” Setting out on a cross-country trip with friends seemed the ideal way for him to achieve the status of “cyclist”, though his implementation of the plan falls a bit short.
Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures also contains a section entitled, The Bike Crash Gallery. The Gallery is seventeen pages of pictures, sometimes frame by frame, of some of the most awesome looking crashes you’ll ever see.
Most of the stories are very short and easy to read. Even the longer stories will capture your interest and may even make you laugh or shudder. Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures is the perfect reading material to pack along on your next road/trail ride.
Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures, edited by Eric Schweikher, is distributed by Wilderness Press. To get your copy of Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures for $16.95 visit Wilderness Press online.
