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enthusiast123
A nice book. Easy to read and well-laid out. Not much to say about impotency controversy but virtually every basic cyling issue is otherwise covered. It helped me figure out my knee pain which I appreciated!

Outdated Bicycling Medicine
The author makes statements that are no longer valid, current, or that are flatly inaccurate. One diagram stated that muscles attach to bones by a ligament. This is not true. Muscles originate and insert into bones via a tendon, with some tendons longer or shorter than others, and with muscle/tendon transitions having different anatomies. This is important in understanding injuries and how to treat them. Arnie also opens up the topic of nutrition with the USDA Food Pyramid, another problematic scheme, since we now know that a high percentage carbs diet of breads, cereals and pastas is a source of stripped-down carbs, not good quality carbs. The medical advice for treatment of painful conditions is outdated. NSAID medicines are now known to have deleterious effects on our bodies. Current research suggests that NSAIDS interfere with the healing of tendons. And, especially for neck and back pain, chiropractic should be the first choice, since it has been demonstrated in several studies over the years to be safe and effective. Lance Armstrong couldn't have performed well without his chiropractor...
The author seemed to have a boiler-plate approach to presenting information. Hopefully his next edition will be more current and clinically accurate.

A No-Nonsense Approach
Anyone who rides can benefit from the great information and tips found in this book. You'll also learn about common bicycling injuries.

good resource
This is a great book for all who ride. It gives us a heads up on the common riding ailments and suggested treatments/preventions.

Answers all the BS I hear when I do tours.
For the most part, there are two kinds of riders in the world: 1) people who ride, ride with others, and have expert knowledge based on experience, and 2) people who read and talk about riding, buy only the best and most expensive equipment, yet have trouble with such simple tasks as navigating obstacles or managing heat loss. The No. 2s out there are obsessed with weighing pasta, exact calculations of cadence, heart rate, aerodynamics, and shedding single digit grams from their bicycles. The No. 2s also make the No. 3s (novices who just want to ride more) nervous about taking on an event or increasing their distance because they're convinced by the No. 2s that they haven't the expertise or elite equipment needed to ride 'seriously.'

This book dispells the witchcraft of cycling. It's about what practically happens to a person when they take up cycling even semi-seriously--particular ailments and stress disorders; simple explainations of how muscles, the circulatory system, blood, and body chemistry all work as it relates to cycling; and the low-down on even the most minor of performance enhancers, such as vitamin overdosing and sports drinks, which he doesn't particularly recommend and tells you impartially why you should or shouldn't use them as well as provides the home cookin' alternatives to expensive gels, drinks, and the like.

BOTTOM LINE: Authoratative yet practical, this book applies equally to the Sunday afternoon 10 mile "epic" rider as well as the 'professional' rider. It will explain everything from the benefits of beer to why you get butt cramps, and will never make such rediculous recommendations as "buy a more expensive bike" or belittle the relatively small amount of riding you No. 3s out there do.

It's the 'obsessive compulsive' free guide to healthy cycling for all levels of riding and riding experience.