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Bicycling Science, third edition (The MIT Press)

David Gordon Wilson · 6 HN comments
HN Books has aggregated all Hacker News stories and comments that mention "Bicycling Science, third edition (The MIT Press)" by David Gordon Wilson.
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Amazon Summary
A new, updated edition of a popular book on the history, science, and engineering of bicycles. The bicycle is almost unique among human-powered machines in that it uses human muscles in a near-optimum way. This new edition of the bible of bicycle builders and bicyclists provides just about everything you could want to know about the history of bicycles, how human beings propel them, what makes them go faster, and what keeps them from going even faster. The scientific and engineering information is of interest not only to designers and builders of bicycles and other human-powered vehicles but also to competitive cyclists, bicycle commuters, and recreational cyclists. The third edition begins with a brief history of bicycles and bicycling that demolishes many widespread myths. This edition includes information on recent experiments and achievements in human-powered transportation, including the "ultimate human- powered vehicle," in which a supine rider in a streamlined enclosure steers by looking at a television screen connected to a small camera in the nose, reaching speeds of around 80 miles per hour. It contains completely new chapters on aerodynamics, unusual human-powered machines for use on land and in water and air, human physiology, and the future of bicycling. This edition also provides updated information on rolling drag, transmission of power from rider to wheels, braking, heat management, steering and stability, power and speed, and materials. It contains many new illustrations.
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Hacker News Stories and Comments

All the comments and stories posted to Hacker News that reference this book.
Jun 13, 2020 · jpm_sd on Bicycle Geometry Terms
For a deep dive into all things bicycle, I always recommend Sheldon Brown's delightful knowledgebase, which started in the late 90s:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

(sadly Mr. Brown is no longer with us, but his web archive lives on)

And there's always Bicycling Science for the serious nerds among us

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-Press-Gordon-Wilson...

> The thing about riding a unicycle is that you don't think of staying on top of it, you think about keeping it underneath you. Falling forwards? Pedal faster to bring it back under you. Falling backwards? Stop pedalling so you catch up.

Sounds vaguely like track standing on a fixed gear. It's more like balancing a broom on your finger than trying to balance yourself on a rail.

I really love bikes of all varieties, but I've never messed with a unicycle. They seem fun. My friend has one; I'll have to try his sometime.

Because you mentioned torque and such, if you never have, check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/...

I picked it up expecting to read a chapter here and there and ended up cover to covering it. Great read

May 09, 2014 · doorhammer on It's just wood
And even if you can't find it online, it's usually not that hard to stumble into a university library and troll through some peer reviewed journals for giggles, or find good books on amazon that are a click and a few days away.

One of my favorite books on cycling: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/...

Not much practical in that, that I remember, but tons and tons of random articles on odd-ball bike stuff. One of the few books I've purchased and randomly read most of a few times. Really great book.

Handpower delivers about max 20W per hand to a bike with both hands. With electromechanical efficiency, 20W per hand comes out to around 1-10W per hand, depending on hand speed and generator efficiency. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/... [2] http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/69801
If this kind of stuff interests you there is an excellent book on the physics of bicycles http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/...
I'm not sure if it's the book to which the author was referring (he doesn't give any references), but I've found Bicycling Science by David Gordon Wilson [MIT Press] to have a very informative treatment of human power generation. It also includes an entertaining introduction concerning the evolution of the modern bicycle.

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/...

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