The Bicycle

by

Pryor Dodge

What the critics say

• The Guardian, Manchester (UK), February 27, 1997:

"Pryor Dodge...has combined what is unquestionably the most finely illustrated history of cycling ever produced with a text which is both erudite and elegant. Dodge not only reminds us of the curious paths and byways the bicycle has travelled down; he points a way forward by documenting the bicycle renaissance of recent years."

• London Review of Books, April 24, 1997:

"The Bicycle is full of delights....adds up to what used to be called a wonder book....close-ups of clean, shining mechanisms can have an elegance all their own..."

• Bicycle Culture 11, York (UK), December 1996:

"This is the most sumptuous book ever on the history of cycling. The author borrows generously from his astonishing collection of historical illustrations: revealing images not previously known even to cycle historians.  That so many of them are in colour is particularly delightful. The many finely-lit studio photographs make old, worn machines look truly beautiful, from the pitted and scratched Levocyclette of 1905 on the front cover, to the two-page spreads devoted to a Velocipede pedal detail and to the Simpson lever chain."

• VELO, 1996 Fall/Winter Catalogue:

"This book is nothing short of the finest cycling history/picture book ever published...This book is a treasure for any cycling enthusiast....Outstanding color photographs."

• Derek Roberts, founding member of the Southern Veteran-Cycle Club (now Veteran-Cycle Club), England, editor and principal contributor of 'The Boneshaker' for its first 21 years ('The Boneshaker' is the first periodical to be devoted to cycling history):

"...you have produced a work that every student of cycling history must buy. It is the coffee-table book to end all coffee-table books, and it has the merit of being a work of art as well as a reference manual. I congratulate you on your fine achievement...I shall obviously have to have a special coffee-table made to hold it."

• Les Bowerman, editor of 'The Boneshaker':

"It is a magisterial view of all aspects of cycle history, and I strongly recommend it to all interested in the general history of cycles and cycling. Forget the high price - you must have the book,....this is the cycle history publishing event of the decade."

• Nick Clayton, Honorary editor of 'The Boneshaker':

"...the most comprehensive and correct treatment of the subject to date."

• Albert A. Pope (Col. Albert Pope's great-grandson):

"A really great book...terrific"

• Gérard Salmon, La Vélocithèque, France:

"Le luxueux album de Pryor Dodge....un nec plus ultra pour les esthètes...In-dis-pen-sable (à notre avis du moins !)"

• Serge Laget, L'Equipe, July 16, 1996, France:

"La Grande Histoire du Vélo...contient tout ce qu'il faut savoir et avoir vu sur la somptueuse saga de cette sacrée machine, qui depuis 1817 n'en finit pas de rapprocher les hommes."

• Roland Huhn, Gelsenkirchen, Germany; Pro Velo Nr. 48:

"Oft zeigen die technisch hervorragenden Fotos nicht ganze Fahrräder, sondern beschränken sich auf ein für die jeweilige Maschine typisches Detail, was ihnen besondere Aussagekraft verleiht. So habe ich mit Hilfe des Fotos und der Detailskizze auf Seite 170/171 erstmals verstanden, wie die Simpson Hebel-Kette (Simpson Lever Chain) funktionierte - oder funktionieren sollte.....es (ist) immer noch ein Coffee-Table-Book, aber eines, das kenntnisreich und mit Liebe zu seinem Gegenstand zusammengestellt ist."

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