New book from the League of American Bicyclists

By Kirby Beck, PCI #002T
Coon Rapids PD (MN)

Several years ago the League of American Bicyclists (the League) ended its long-time relationship with John Forester and his Effective Cycling Program. As a result, the League took the principles of EC and their existing cadre of League-affiliated cycling instructors and formed their own cyclist education program, called the League Cycling Program. It consists of a variety of courses, including ones focusing on road cycling, commuting, and touring.

The League's Education Committee recently completed a new book entitled, The League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling. It both synopsizes the new programs and serves as a textbook for students. In fairness, I should point out that I am a personal friend or acquaintance of seven of the ten credited authors or contributors. Like virtually all of the authors, we came out of the Effective Cycling mindset and have contributed to, or are familiar with, the goals and lobbying efforts that have long been part of the League's mission.

The League is charging $14.95 for this 128-page book. The writing is well-done and provides a quick and easy read. It contains many nice black and white photographs and superb traffic cycling illustrations. It is important to point out that this book is written with a distinct bias toward road cycling. It briefly mentions BMX, trials, mountain, comfort/hybrid, commuter and recumbent bikes, but it undoubtedly is written with road, sport and touring bikes in mind. Virtually all of the skills discussed are intended to be used in traffic and on paved surfaces.

By scanning the names of the chapters, the reader can quickly identify the topics covered in the book:

The Perfect Machine
Why Ride?
Finding Your Riding Style and Ideal Bike
Rules for Riding on the Road
Bicycle Handling Skills and Maneuvers
Selecting A Route for Your Ride
Bicycle Commuting and Utility Riding
Riding for Recreation, Fitness, and Competition
Bicycle Equipment and Gear
Basic Maintenance and Mechanics

One of the most interesting paragraphs is found in the introduction. It is a quote from Bill Strickland's book, The Quotable Cyclist.

"Then there is the bicycle itself, an unparalleled merger of toy, a utilitarian vehicle, and sporting equipment. The bicycle can be used so many ways, and approaches perfection in each use. For instance, the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created. Converting calories into gas, the bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. A person pedaling a bike uses energy more efficiently than a gazelle or an eagle. And a triangle-frame bicycle can easily carry ten times its own weight - a capacity no automobile, airplane or bridge can match. Perfection."

Like IPMBA's Complete Guide, the League Guide attempts to cover a lot of information. Both books try to put psychomotor skills into words even though it is very difficult for most people to learn psychomotor skills by merely reading a book or watching a video. Properly learning a physical skill like riding a bike, shooting a firearm, or driving a car requires practice and the personal attention of an instructor, i.e., hands-on training. Moreover, they usually require enough practice, performed correctly, to develop muscle memory. As a result, it is doubtful that anyone could simply read either book and go out and perform a perfect Instant Turn or Emergency Brake. Both books are intended to support formal training, not to replace it.

One may ask if this book offers anything for the public safety cyclist? While many of the traffic skills, concepts and principals are identical to those taught by IPMBA - because both had their origins in Effective Cycling - many of the topics, like route selection and Why Ride?, may be unwarranted. Certainly many IPMBA members ride while off-duty and ride for a multitude of reasons. The information in the League Guide is broad and a lot of it has no relevance to those who only ride off-road, or who only ride on duty. That said, it could be quite useful for public safety cyclists who are involved in civilian cycling education.

Since the League Guide is intended as a textbook for the League training classes, it seems to be written for people who have absolutely no basic information or experience with bikes. Another portion is spent trying to convince people to ride bikes and why doing so is a benefit to them and their health, and to the "health" of the environment and society as a whole. It almost makes a political statement.

I found the chapter on Bicycle Maintenance to be quite noteworthy since it starts out by teaching the ABC Quick Check. As far as I can remember, the ABC Quick Check was originally brought into the PC Course by former IPMBA Education Coordinator Gene Miller of Tacoma PD. I'm not sure if Gene thought of it himself, or if he "borrowed" it, but as a former Effective Cyclist Instructor, I do know that it was not a part of the Effective Cycling training before that time. I am disappointed that there was no credit or reference given to either Gene or IPMBA for its inclusion in the League Cycling program.

John S. Allen is one of the credited authors and contributors to the League Guide. He also wrote a booklet entitled, Bicycling Street Smarts - Riding Confidently, Legally, and Safely. If I were to recommend additional reading to a new public safety cyclist or instructor, I would surely recommend Bicycling Street Smarts before I recommended the League Guide. It is more relevant, in regards to traffic cycling, but doesn't get sidetracked on issues of little concern to most public safety cyclists.

If you want to broaden your overall knowledge, expertise and insight into the world of bicycling then the League Guide may be for you. $15 isn't a lot to pay for a book that is well written and up-to-date. Just remember that it is intended as a text for the various entry level League Cycling Courses, including commuting and touring, in addition to traffic cycling. It may help you expand your knowledge into those areas, and to help you teach others.

The book may be ordered directly from the League, www.bikeleague.org or 202-822-1333.

Kirby is a founding member and past president of IPMBA. His teaching experience includes all ages and types of cyclists, from children to IPMBA instructors. He can be reached at kirbyp42@aol.com.

© 2004 IPMBA. This review appeared in the Fall 2004 issue of IPMBA News.