Bike books

Press, 9 November 1978, Page 18

Bike books

The build-up of bicycling enthusiasm in New Zealand does not seem to have hit our bookshops to any great extent. In ' Christchurch, Whitcoulls Limited, has supplies of three good books in stock on the joy of cycling. Gordon Tait, Bookseller, has none in stock but will readily order overseas bis cycling books for an ordering fee of one dollar. The Canterbury Public Library has about a dozen titles, including “Bicycling Touring in Europe” by Karen and Gary Hawkins, (Pantheon Books, U.S.A. $2.95), but very few are actually on the shelves, so that in many cases they need to be reserved. The University Book Shop at Ham has stocks of two books and more to come. In stock at Whitcoulls Limited, is:— “Richard’s Bicycle Book,” by Richard Ballantine. Illustrated by John Batchelor. Price $4.50. This is a Pan paperback, and is sub-titled “A manual of bicycle maintenance and enjoyment.” It deals with bicycle types, value for money, sizes, traffic, racing, accessories and “everything you want to know about touring on both sides of the Atlantic.” This is surely today’s definitive cycling manual. Mr Ballantine, the blurb says, “is fond of cycling, travel and ski-ing. He was last seen, together with his wife and three bicycles, aboard a fast sloop bound for South America.”

“Bicycle Car and Repair,” by Brian L. Seager. Price $5.95. Another paperback, this, one was published by Coles of Canada. There are photographs and diagrams, but it has nothing like the scope of “Richard’s Book.” “The Raleigh Book of Cycling,” Edited by Reginald C. Shaw. Published by Peter Davies, London. Hardback. Again, there is not the in-depth value and fun approach of “Richard’s Book,” but there is a lot of useful information and advice. The book is designed for “cyclists and would-be cyclists of all kinds and all ages; for housewives who cycle to the shops, members of cycling clubs, middle-aged men taking up cycling for health reasons, and racing enthusiasts.”

The University Bookshop at Ham has the following:— “The Story of the Bicycle,” (A history of cycling development), by J. .Woodforde. Published by Rutledge, Kegan and Paul. U.K. Price $4.10.

“The Bicycle Planning Book,” M. Hudson. Published by Open Books, U.S.A. Price $5.30.

Although the University Bookshop does not have “Richard’s Bicycle Book,” they expect - new stocks