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Product Description
Product Description
Cycling has never lost its appeal. Alongside mass-produced models, the craftsmanship of bespoke bicycle makers has emerged to satisfy the passion of people who ride bikes as a means of daily transport, as a sport and for recreation. This book by passionate cyclists Christine Elliott and David Jablonka is the product of a world-wide search for the most influential bike makers on the planet. The result is a presentation of a wonderful collection of expertly honed, human-powered machines, built by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers practicing their skill today. It highlights the range of techniques, materials and design elements, and the passion behind producing each custom-made bike by some of the best and most creative bicycle makers in the world. It's guaranteed to take you on the ride of your life. Features a foreword by Phil Liggett, the legendary voice behind the English-language broadcasts of the Tour de France.
About the Author
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Christine Elliott and David Jablonka share a love of cycling that has taken them on cycling trips through Italy, Greece, and the USA, believing that cycling is a wonderful way to experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of another country.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
That's a really nice book. I really like to open it at a random page, to find new details or some inspiration.
Being a framebuilder myself, I found that some framebuilders should have been included in the book (like Tony Pereira, etc...), and that one or two of the framebuilders in the book where clearly not at the same level than others, with obvious defaults appearing on the pictures...
Also it seems that the builders showed the bikes they had available at the moment they met the author, so sometimes it's reduced to one or two bikes which are not always representative of their work.
Apart from that, I really recommend it.
Being a framebuilder myself, I found that some framebuilders should have been included in the book (like Tony Pereira, etc...), and that one or two of the framebuilders in the book where clearly not at the same level than others, with obvious defaults appearing on the pictures...
Also it seems that the builders showed the bikes they had available at the moment they met the author, so sometimes it's reduced to one or two bikes which are not always representative of their work.
Apart from that, I really recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a well produced book with great photos and descriptions, but its scope is limited, it seems, to America, and a few selected European makers. Where are the Japanese Keirin builders - as niche as cruisers I would have thought.
So best to borrow a copy first, see if you like it and then order.
So best to borrow a copy first, see if you like it and then order.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
images and writing miss the point
14 July 2009
Format:Hardcover
It's a shame about this book. The Authors have hit on some interesting builders and some not...the book seems to have been put together by people who aren't passionate about bicycles or maybe don't know about what to put into a book for people who are...There are a few satisfying photos, but not many, its mostly artsy detail shots AND NEVER SHOWING YOU THE WHOLE FROM WHICH THE DETAIL WAS TAKEN...which is lame.
The writing also seems to miss, in that the one consistent point (made vaguely) is what music is playing in the builders studios at the time of interview...which could be interesting if there were real content.
At no piont are any specs of bicycles discussed in terms beyond the words steel, carbon fiber, and titanuim...
The writing also seems to miss, in that the one consistent point (made vaguely) is what music is playing in the builders studios at the time of interview...which could be interesting if there were real content.
At no piont are any specs of bicycles discussed in terms beyond the words steel, carbon fiber, and titanuim...
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful book on beautifully crafted bicycles
19 May 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of the great features of bicycling is that the bikes themselves can still be made to personal specifications by individual craftspeople or small shops. This book features both well known veterans, and a few newcomers, and shows all types of bikes -- from all-out racers, to touring bikes, to even a few "show" bikes that likely don't get ridden much (e.g., Craig Calfee's bamboo bike with bullhorn handlebars).
There are plenty of "coffee table" type books exploring other crafts -- hand made furniture, pottery, custom motorcycles, etc. -- but as far as I know this is the only widely available recent book showing the current state of the art of custom bike building. Many of these bikes appear to date from early 2008 (several of them were on display at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show in Portland in February 2008, and were made about then). And most of the builders are "open for business:" except for two or three who have exceptionally long waiting lists, I think you could contact practically anyone in the book and get your own custom bike in a matter of weeks or months (more likely months than weeks).
A few quibbles - since the photos were collected from a variety of photographers from various sources in Europe, North America and Australia, the photos and layout lack a consistency or point of view about how to show a bike (as opposed to Jan Heine's book, "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles," which is about historic custom bikes, and which used a single photographer shooting bikes with a consistent, clean white background). As a result, while all the photos are good, in some cases the photos are not as useful as they could be (for example, there are way too many shots of Calfee's novelty bikes and not enough of his standard bamboo or carbon fiber bikes).
Anyway, that is just a quibble. It's a great book for any serious cyclist or anyone who enjoys fine craftsmanship.
There are plenty of "coffee table" type books exploring other crafts -- hand made furniture, pottery, custom motorcycles, etc. -- but as far as I know this is the only widely available recent book showing the current state of the art of custom bike building. Many of these bikes appear to date from early 2008 (several of them were on display at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show in Portland in February 2008, and were made about then). And most of the builders are "open for business:" except for two or three who have exceptionally long waiting lists, I think you could contact practically anyone in the book and get your own custom bike in a matter of weeks or months (more likely months than weeks).
A few quibbles - since the photos were collected from a variety of photographers from various sources in Europe, North America and Australia, the photos and layout lack a consistency or point of view about how to show a bike (as opposed to Jan Heine's book, "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles," which is about historic custom bikes, and which used a single photographer shooting bikes with a consistent, clean white background). As a result, while all the photos are good, in some cases the photos are not as useful as they could be (for example, there are way too many shots of Calfee's novelty bikes and not enough of his standard bamboo or carbon fiber bikes).
Anyway, that is just a quibble. It's a great book for any serious cyclist or anyone who enjoys fine craftsmanship.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
"Steer" clear. If you know bikes, your brain will hurt.
8 Jan 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book stinks. Arbitrary collection of some bikes, some of them lovely, with artful pictures. Writing is terrible. And I mean _poor_. Highschool-bad. As previous reviewer notes, book was created by people who -- clearly -- had no fundamental connection and little familiarity with their subject matter. There is no author insight whatsoever, and builder "insight" is restricted to comments like "Bob takes special pride in fitting the bike to the rider," or "Gary gets goosebumps when he finally brazes the rear triangle." (These are not literal quotes, but)...Yeesh!
I -- and many of the probable (or intended) purchasers of this book could write a far better one.
Further deconstruction and/or constructive criticism is pointless without a solid basis, and this book doesn't provide one.
I don't know who the book is supposed to appeal to. Other reviewers have offered frankly puzzling comments; there is not sufficiently detailed or ample information presented to make this book a "guide" to anything beyond where to put a mug on a coffee table.
I -- and many of the probable (or intended) purchasers of this book could write a far better one.
Further deconstruction and/or constructive criticism is pointless without a solid basis, and this book doesn't provide one.
I don't know who the book is supposed to appeal to. Other reviewers have offered frankly puzzling comments; there is not sufficiently detailed or ample information presented to make this book a "guide" to anything beyond where to put a mug on a coffee table.
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