Bloomington's B-Line Trail and bicycle-only traffic lanes make a trip to the Library fun and easy on two wheels. Our shelves—real and virtual—are full of practical and inspiring information on cycling. Try these titles:


Compiled by:
Ryan S.
The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled from India to Europe for Love

Per J. Andersson
Adult Nonfiction 759.13 Kumar And

Part biography, part travelog, and part love story, this book will appeal to the optimistic, the romantic, and the armchair traveler. This is a story of human connection that spans continents, class, and race. —Library Journal


Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy

Elly Blue
Adult Nonfiction - 796.6 Blu

Making the case for adopting more sustainable modes of transportation, this reference explores the economic benefits of bicycling. It starts with an analysis of the real costs incurred by individuals and families in existing transportation systems and goes on to examine the current civic expenses of these systems. With critiques of modern society's deep-rooted attachment to car culture, this book tells the stories of people, businesses, organizations, and cities who are investing in two-wheeled transportation.


The Chainbreaker Bike Book: An Illustrated Manual of Radical Bicycle Maintenance, Culture, & History

Ethan Clark
Adult Nonfiction - 629.2877 Cla

An updated and expanded edition of our hand-illustrated and accessible introduction to the world of bike repair! Through working at both Plan-B Bike Project and French Quarter Bicycles in New Orleans, our co-authors have gathered a wealth of experience to share with would-be bicycle mechanics. The first half of this book is a complete repair manual to get you started on choosing the right bike for you, riding that bike, and fixing it when it breaks down. The second half reprints all four issues of the "Chainbreaker" zine, whose originals were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.


The Noblest Invention: An Illustrated History of the Bicycle

Bicycling Magazine
- Editor
Adult Nonfiction - 629.2272 No

From the time we first wobble away from Mom or Dad on two wheels, we're hooked. The mobility, the freedom that the bicycle brings is our first taste of independence. For many, that feeling persists, and bicycling becomes a lifelong love. It represents the promise of the open road, the enthralling sense of speed, the quiet places, the challenging trails-- all in the pleasant company of family, chums, or just yourself. And then there's that moment of terrified, bittersweet pride when your own child rides on once you have let go.

The Noblest Invention celebrates this unique interaction between humans and machine. The editors of Bicycling magazine have created a unique history of the bicycle that illustrates, through personal essays and breathtaking photography, why this simple machine has captured the imagination of people of all ages around the world. Chronicling the evolution of the bicycle from the primitive wooden Laufmaschine to the high-tech mountain bike with its specialized frame and suspension, this book takes a fascinating look at the innovations, the early creators and their wares, and how the bike has had an impact on culture as a tool in the workplace and as an inspiration for artists and writers alike.


This Road I Ride: Sometimes It Takes Losing Everything to Find Yourself

Juliana Buhring
Adult Nonfiction 796.6 Buh

With only a few months' worth of training and the support of a good friend in Naples, the author would set out to pedal more than 18,000 miles across 19 countries. Just as compelling as the adventure, however, is her internal journey to manage her grief, deepen her understanding of the man she lost, and reconnect with the world. —Booklist


The Ultimate Bicycle Owner's Manual: The Universal Guide to Bikes, Riding, and Everything for Beginner and Seasoned Cyclists

Eben Weiss
Adult Nonfiction 796.6 Wei

A blogger and advocate of everything related to bicycling, Weiss (The Enlightened Cyclist; Bike Snob) imparts knowledge on bike styles, buying tips, maintenance, operation, equipment, transporting your bike, city riding, competition, and riding with children—and concludes with his beliefs on the future of cycling. —Library Journal


Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)

Sue Macy
Available from eLibrary resources

Take a lively look at women's history from aboard a bicycle, which granted females the freedom of mobility and helped empower women's liberation. Through vintage photographs, advertisements, cartoons, and songs, Wheels of Change transports young readers to bygone eras to see how women used the bicycle to improve their lives. Witty in tone and scrapbook-like in presentation, the book deftly covers early (and comical) objections, influence on fashion, and impact on social change inspired by the bicycle, which, according to Susan B. Anthony, "has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."