Bike!

To many, the racing bicycle is a cult object, a vehicle of dreams, a marvel of engineering and aesthetic. Spanning over one hundred years of the sport, Bike! is the in-depth history of the 49 greatest cycling designers who have shaped the world of cycling. Starting on the dusty plains of Italy in the nineteeth century to the nano-tube technology of today, Bike! Is the cycling bible for anyone who cares about the love, sweat and tears that have been put into the pursuit of perfection on two wheels. Unmasking the soul of those like Colnago, Shimano and Campagnolo, Bike! also tells the story of landmark classics such as Fausto Coppi's 1952 Bianchi, Graeme Obree's 'Old Faithful', Chris Boardman's Lotus and Lance Armstrong's Damien Hirst 'Butterfly' Trek. From Raleigh to Peugeot, Gitane to Cervelo, in graphic detail with sublime photography, Bike! Is the beautifully illustrated story of the visionaries and riders who joined forces to create two-wheeled legends.