The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence

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The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence

The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence
@ The joys of commuting by bike attract scores of new converts every year. But as fresh-faced cyclists fill the roads, they also encounter their share of frustrations—careless drivers, wide-flung car doors, zoned-out pedestrians, and aggressive fellow cyclists, to name a few. In this follow-up to the best-selling Bike Snob, BikeSnobNYC takes on the trials and triumphs of bike commuting with snark, humor, and enthusiasm, asking the question: If we become better commuters, will that make us better people? From the deadly sins of biking to tactics for dealing with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists, this primer on bike travel is a must-read for cyclists new and seasoned alike.

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3 thoughts on “The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence”

  1. 17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    Even the Best Can Strike Out, July 3, 2012
    By 
    David Steffen (Houston, Texas) –

    Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
    This review is from: The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence (Hardcover)
    I am a huge fan of Bike Snob’s blog and loved his first book and so eagerly looked forward to this one. It is the only physical book (as opposed to Kindle edition) I purchased this year because I wanted this book to sit on my bookshelf. Sadly, I was very disappointed. There is nothing wrong with this book, I certainly wasn’t offended by it, but it just wasn’t funny. It was so not funny that about half way through I stopped and wondered if I had gotten it wrong, if in fact it was supposed to be a serious book. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t enough substance to support a serious book. By all means, read Bike Snob’s blog and buy his first book. I suggest skipping this one and hoping the next is better.

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  2. 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Funny but with a serious point, March 12, 2012
    By 
    Jason Stokes (St. Louis) –
    (VINE VOICE)
      

    This review is from: The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence (Hardcover)
    Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What’s this?)
    This is a quite clever book. It’s written in an easy, conversational style, like you’d expect to see in a less formal format. I liked that, especially when dealing with the subject matter. More importantly, I felt it a fair discussion of cycling as *a* mode of transport. Instead of being rah-rah pro cycling all the time, or boo cars, the author takes a pragmatic view – bicycles, cars, walking, buses, etc., are all viable alternative tools for the right job. He also discusses the common pitfalls bikers run into- from people following too close, to salmoning, to some idiot drivers.

    Overall, it’s written by a biker, for a bike loving crowd. I did really appreciate the fair-minded approach, and I think even non-cyclists would get something from reading this book – a better understanding of cycling and the particular pitfalls that come with it.

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  3. 13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    More obnoxious than witty or funny, June 24, 2012
    By 
    Emily J. Morris (Washington Terrace, Utah) –
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    This review is from: The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence (Hardcover)
    Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What’s this?)
    I wanted to like this book. I’m a novice cyclist who enjoys using a bike for commutes, when permittable, and I also enjoy books that are funny and can intelligently rip into a culture. However, “The Enlightened Cyclist” fails. Instead of anything funny, smart, or even useful, this book is mainly just a writer trying to see how many gags he can yank out of groups of people.

    A few pokes at cycling stereotypes? Fine. But the author goes overboard with that to the point I felt sorry for each and every group, and when that’s done he has the audacity to declare religion false, as if that has anything to do with the point of this book. Frankly, I’m left with the feeling that I should be considered stupid for being spiritual, interested in the environment, or even a bike owner. There’s a fine line between being funny and intelligently honest and just being plain mean.

    The writing itself seems to depend on being snappy. Yes, the author is a fine writer who can certainly turn a phrase, but his problem is that he ultimately has nothing to say. Thirty pages in and I’m already sick of his complaints and advice and their heaping dose of “Look how funny I can be!”

    The book was ultimately disappointing, and I’m pretty sure I got a headache from just trying to read it. This might be ultimately for the cycling cult, but I found it a waste of time.

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