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<p>Foreword x<br /><i>Lennard Zinn</i></p> <p>Acknowledgments xii<br /><i>Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Michael W. Austin</i></p> <p>Getting in Gear: An Introduction to Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone 1<br /><i>Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Michael W. Austin</i></p> <p><b>Stage 1 the Varieties of Cycling Experience 11</b></p> <p>1 Warm Up: A Surreal Ride 13<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>2 Learning to Ride a Bike 16<br /><i>Peter M. Hopsicker</i></p> <p>3 Becoming a Cyclist: Phenomenological Reflections on Cycling 27<br /><i>Steen Nepper Larsen</i></p> <p>4 Unleash the Beast: Technology and the Time Trial 39<br /><i>Bryce T. J. Dyer</i></p> <p><b>Stage 2 Velo Virtues 51</b></p> <p>5 Warm Up: A Test of One’s Mettle 53<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>6 Lance Armstrong and True Success 56<br /><i>Gregory Bassham and Chris Krall</i></p> <p>7 LeMond, Armstrong, and the Never-Ending Wheel of Fortune 68<br /><i>Scott Tinley</i></p> <p>8 Riding Like a Girl 81<br /><i>Catherine A. Womack and Pata Suyemoto</i></p> <p>9 Bicycling and the Simple Life 94<br /><i>Russell Arben Fox</i></p> <p><b>Stage 3 Re-cycling 107</b></p> <p>10 Warm Up: When Two Wheels Meet Four 109<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>11 Philosophical Lessons from Cycling in Town and Country 112<br /><i>Robert H. Haraldsson</i></p> <p>12 The Commutist Manifesto 123<br /><i>John Richard Harris</i></p> <p>13 Critical Mass Rides Against Car Culture 134<br /><i>Zack Furness</i></p> <p><b>Stage 4 Spinning Wisdom 147</b></p> <p>14 Warm Up: Are You Real? Tony Meets Bishop Berkeley 149<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>15 My Life as a Two-Wheeled Philosopher 151<br /><i>Heather L. Reid</i></p> <p>16 Cycling and Philosophical Lessons Learned the Hard Way 162<br /><i>Steven D. Hales</i></p> <p>17 From Shoes to Saddle 173<br /><i>Michael W. Austin</i></p> <p><b>Stage 5 Fair Play on Two Wheels 183</b></p> <p>18 Warm Up: Pushing the Envelope 185<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>19 What To Do Once They’re Caught 188<br /><i>John Gleaves</i></p> <p>20 Out of Control: The Pirate and Performance-Enhancing Drugs 200<br /><i>Raymond Angelo Belliotti</i></p> <p>21 Is the Cannibal a Good Sport? 214<br /><i>Andreas de Block and Yannick Joye</i></p> <p><b>Stage 6 Pedaling Circles 227</b></p> <p>22 Warm Up: Riding into Awe 229<br /><i>Patrick Vala-Haynes</i></p> <p>23 Taking the Gita for an Awesome Spin 231<br /><i>Seth Tichenor</i></p> <p>24 Stretched Elastics, the Tour de France, and a Meaningful Life 241<br />Tim Elcombe and Jill Tracey</p> <p>25 Life Cycles and the Stages of a Cycling Life 253<br /><i>Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Mike McNamee</i></p> <p>Notes on Contributors: The Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone Peloton 266</p>

<p>“It’s the first time I’ve read in a while. Very captivating subject matter for someone like myself. I need to hit the road.”  (<i>Conscious Being</i>, 16 July 2013)</p> <p>“Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy.”  (<i>Outdoor Zone</i>, 31 December 2012)</p> <p>"The chapters are generally well written and although there are 19 of them there are few repetitions of content ... The book's good chapters are all characterised by the fact that the author, in the process of cycling and becoming a cyclist have discovered several things about him or herself and the world s/he inhabits, and have been able to transform those discoveries into insightful ideas and recognitions." (Idrottsforum.org, 25 January 2012)</p> <p>"Includes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative potential of cycling for personal growth." (Kansas City.info, 20 August 2010)</p> <p>"This book and the others in this reasonably priced series would be useful in interdisciplinary studies programs as examples for students on how scholars from various disciplines can broach the same topic. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/professionals; general readers." (Choice, 1 March 2011)</p> <p>"There is a good deal stimulate the brain, should the brain require it." (<i>Cycling World</i>, January 2011)</p> <p>"Whether you use the bicycle to make your living, to take you to your living, or to take you on an escape from your living, there is a great deal in Cycling: Philosophy for Everyone." (Athelon, 1 January 2011)</p> <p>"If you are interested in reading something that questions how you think about yourself and your cycling and its impact on the world, then have a read." (Cog and Coffee, December 2010)</p> <p>"As the title suggests, there's something for everyone from the casual rider to the seasoned pro to take away from this attempt at applying the nuances of cycling culture to contemporary issues of camaraderie, health and the environment." (Bike Culture, 28 September 2010)</p> <p>"If you are a fan of bicycles or bicycle racing and have ever had an interest in philosophy, the essays in Cycling: A Philosophical Tour de Force show that philosophy and cycling work well in tandem." (<i>Bike World News</i>, October 2010)</p> <p>"Thanks to the new book <i>Cycling-Philosophy for Everyone,</i> I now have a term to describe the state of mind I achieve on my daily bicycle commute. Almost any type of literary-minded cyclist will find something to latch onto in the book-food for thought during your next <i>Zwischenzeit</i>." (<i>UTNE Reader</i>, September 02, 2010)</p> <p>"OBRA's own Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza has co-authored a book about the philosophical territory of the cyclist lifestyle. Michael Weiss, Chair of the Tour of Missouri writes "This is a wonderful book that captures the breadth and depth of the sport and experience of cycling. A great tour of the mental, physical, cultural and historical paths a bicycle can travel." Tom Zoumaras, a former National Champion writes "Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone reminds its readers of the joy, freedom, and accomplishment one feels when riding a bicycle, whether that entails encountering Manhattan traffic on the way to the Central Park bandit race, cresting Mount Tamalpais to the unmatched views of redwoods and San Francisco, or punching through gale force winds on an isolated Midwest farm road far from everyone and everything." (<i>Oregon Biccyle Racing Association newsletter</i>, September 2010)</p> <p>"Building off of the life stories and philosophies of notable figures in the cycling world such as Lance Armstrong, Lennard Zinn and former road racer Pedro Delgado, and philosophers like Aristotle, Aquinas and Socrates, "Cycling: A Philosophical Tour de Force" covers the philosophical territory of the cycling lifestyle." (<i>Bicycle Retailer & Industry News</i>, July 2010)</p>

<b>Editors<br /> </b><b>Jesús</b> <b>Ilundáin-Agurruza</b> is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, and Allen and Pat Kelley Faculty Scholar at Linfield College, Oregon. He has published in the journals <i>Sports, Ethics, and Philosophy</i> and <i>Proteus.</i> He is a category 2 racer. <p><b>Michael W. Austin</b> is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University, where he works primarily in ethics.  He has published <i>Conceptions of Parenthood: Ethics and the Family</i> (2007), <i>Running and Philosophy: A Marathon for the Mind</i> (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), and <i>Football and Philosophy: Going Deep</i> (2008).</p> <p><b>Series Editor<br /> </b><b>Fritz Allhoff</b> is an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at Western Michigan University, as well as a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National University’s Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics.  In addition to editing the <i>Philosophy for Everyone</i> series, Allhoff is the volume editor or co-editor for several titles, including <i>Wine & Philosophy</i> (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), <i>Whiskey & Philosophy</i> (with Marcus P. Adams, Wiley, 2009), and <i>Food & Philosophy</i> (with Dave Monroe, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007).</p>

The bicycle has been described as the most perfect of human inventions and its ability to inspire cannot be underrated – after all, Einstein claimed that the theory of relativity came to him whilst cycling. And so bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandem; both teach us to confront realities about the world and ourselves, and to pursue lofty ideals. Investigating the connections between the intellectual and physical sides of cycling, this book rides over important philosophical terrain, including: <ul> <li>The ethics of cycling competitiveness and success</li> <li>The epiphanies and self-revelations discovered when cycling</li> <li>The transformative potential of cycling for personal growth</li> <li>The role and experience of women cyclists</li> </ul> <p><i>Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone</i> explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy.</p>

"This is a wonderful book that captures the breadth and depth of the sport and experience of cycling. A great tour of the mental, physical, cultural and historical paths a bicycle can travel"<br /> —<b>Michael Weiss</b>, Chair, Tour of Missouri Professional Bicycle Race; Owner, Big Shark Bicycle Company <p>"<i>Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone</i>reminds its readers of the joy, freedom, and accomplishment one feels when riding a bicycle, whether that entails encountering Manhattan traffic on the way to the Central Park bandit race, cresting Mount Tamalpais to the unmatched views of redwoods and San Francisco, or punching through gale force winds on an isolated Midwest farm road far from everyone and everything.</p> <p>I found myself fondly recalling the new bike I received for Christmas that first provided freedom from my parents' oversight and produced a liberating sensation that I was the master of my domain as I explored Chicago as a 10-year-old.</p> <p>You too will reconnect to bicycling in ways you never expected long before you reach the last page."<br /> —<b>Tom Zoumaras,</b> Former Masters National Champion (1997 and 1998); Professor of History, Truman State University</p>

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