City Cycling is a superb read. I picked it up for hints and tips on buying a bike but ended up reading it cover to cover in a few days, and I know I'll be going back to sections now and then too. It's full of useful stuff and covers all the basics - types of bikes, maintenance, riding, traffic - and is very clear with plenty of great photos. But the thing that makes this book stand out is the writing - very accessible, witty and heart-felt. Great fun and inspirational. Read the bits on riding in traffic ('you are traffic'!) and you'll feel better about cycling in cities and towns. There are plenty of good cycling books but few that contain so much good stuff, and none that I know are as fun.