Many of us take great pleasure in sharing our enthusiasm for the world of cycling (yes, perhaps sometimes oversharing) as there are so many aspects to that world. For someone just beginning their lifetime journey with the Worldβs Most Efficient Machine there can be so much that is just daunting and even off-putting. A charming new book, βBike Life,β presents pretty much everything one needs to know when starting out in an accessible and surprisingly comprehensive manner.
Author Adrien Zammit is a graphic designer living in Southern France who began riding when he discovered mountain bikes in the 1990s. A bicycle, of one type or another, has accompanied him on numerous relocations in France and has served as his principle mode of mechanical transport. So the approach he has taken in this book is one focused on practicality. You wonβt find anything here about cyclesport or aerodynamics or carbon wheelsets.
The author writes: βThis guide dreamed of being of being fully comprehensive and, of course, it isnβt. The bike is simultaneously an object and an activity, and it brews countless insights! But with a bit of practice, some conversations with fellow cyclists, and a diligent study of this weighty tome (
), most human beings can feel relaxed and confident in the saddle.β This is a bit of an undersell; while the book, at 146 pages on small paperback format, may not be a βweighty tome,β it contains an impressive amount of useful information presented in a lighthearted and attractive way.
What is covered in βBike Lifeβ? Unusually, one finds the detailed Table of Contents in the inside back cover of the book. The first chapter covers the basics of choosing a bicycle, presenting the pros and cons of pretty much every kind known, but also explains proper fit, rider position and gearing choices. The book then moves onto basic settings, including brake adjustments, tire pressure and quite a bit about saddle comfort, a question that is top of mind for many new cyclists. Then we get a chapter on, well, stuff you need, like lights, locks, bags, tools, helmets and clothing.
This is all useful information and gives the neophyte a lot to think about in terms of availability and choice. However, unless you actually ride a bicycle you probably donβt know exactly what you might need so we have a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation since the fourth section of the book is dedicated to how to ride a bicycle! This section is perhaps directed more at someone who did not learn to ride as a child but in less than 20 heavily-illustrated pages it covers all the basics, from setting off to descending, climbing, braking and cornering to riding off-road or in traffic. It is clear that M. Zammit wants the reader to be safe as well as having fun.
Now that the reader can ride with confidence, the author goes into details about how to use the bike. There is undoubted pleasure from mobility and the bicycle offers so many benefits, from the healthy exercise standpoint or riding with friends or as a means of seeing the world, both near and far. The section on bicycle travel offers food for thought, letting one consider βmini adventuresβ or something more ambitious. βTravels by bike can be seen as an obvious extension of riding for practicalityβs sakeβa shift away from cycling as a leisure activity and toward a more meaningful experience and, of course, an adventure in and of itself. Whether youβre a daily cyclist, cycle only occasionally, are a sporting cyclist, or just in good condition and motivated, with a suitable bike and bit of organization there are no limits.β
The longest section of the book are the final two chapters, which cover maintenance and small repairs and the components of a bicycle. Again, one is surprised and impressed by how much is contained here, from repairing punctures (including tubeless), changing a chain or replacing brake pads. The tone reminds us that the bicycle is a simple machine that can be maintained with fairly minimal effort. And, yes, βCleaning = Love.β
βBike Lifeβ is subtitled βAn Illustrated Guide to Riding, Fixing and Loving Your Bikeβ and it is clear that the author really does love bicycles and wants you to love them as well. He writes: βThe bike is a great tool to advance a more fulfilling and sensitive relationship with the living world.β There is great pleasure in cycling and this is beautifully conveyed by the design of this book: the text looks like notes written by hand, while the illustrations, which take up most of the book, not only convey the subject matter but are quite endearing.
This book is meant for new cyclists and would be very useful for them, but even experienced riders can benefit from all the information conveyed and beautifully organized in a single small volume.
βBike Lifeβ by Adrien Zammit
(originally published in France in 2023, now translated by The Experiment, LLC)
146 pp., profusely illustrated, softbound
The Experiment, LLC, New York, 2025
ISBN 987-1-891011-95-5
Recommended Price: US$18.95/C$24.95
- For more information: theexperimentpublishing.com
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