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 & 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, & what keeps them from going even faster. The scientific & engineering information is of interest not only to designers & builders of bicycles & other human-powered vehicles but also to competitive cyclists, bicycle commuters, & recreational cyclists. The third edition begins with a brief history of bicycles & bicycling that demolishes many widespread myths. This edition
Includes:: information on recent experiments & 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 & in water & air, human physiology, & the future of bicycling. This edition also provides updated information on rolling drag, transmission of power from rider to wheels, braking, heat management, steering & stability, power & speed, & materials. It contains many new illustrations.