Is there life beyond cycling?

Is there anything better than simply riding a bike? A rhetorical question, the answer to which can only be negative. But you can't ride a bike all the time. Hence, the crucial question becomes what else you can do that's interesting in life? Well, you can read, but about bikes, of course. Read and, in addition, look at beautiful photos of the bikes themselves, those who design them, and those who, like us, use them daily. Let's be clear, though, that we'll be doing this in the "slow" spirit—on a comfortable couch or at a café table. But above all, feeling the weight of the book in our hands, smelling the paper, easily jumping where we want. Not where an even more flashy ad or link leads. We're talking about reading cycling books, not swiping our fingers across a screen!

The most beautiful books about bicycles

Just as there's no doubt about what's cool in life, no one has any particular difficulty naming the publisher of the most beautiful albums. That publisher is the German Gestalten. In the case of our topic, it all started with the album Velo Bcycle Culture and Design. It was probably the first attempt in the world to encompass the phenomenon of cycling culture so comprehensively. This first album in the series (followed by Velo 2d Gear Bicycle Culture and Style and Velo 3rd Gear Bicycle Culture and Stories) manages to encompass just about everything that can be defined as interesting, new, bold, and, of course, cycling. The thick volumes are filled with photos and information about the most interesting designers, the strangest bike models, the most extraordinary artists, and the most important people behind cycling initiatives, campaigns, and events.

A new and beautiful book about bicycles, Velo City

Thanks to the courtesy of the Bookoff bookstore chain, we've received the latest offering from Gestalten, Velo City . Although the title suggests a departure from the original, the content is spot on. Most of the beautifully designed and complex pages feature the bicycle as their main character. There are, of course, also articles devoted to how cities are changing as they strive to break away from car dependence. Nevertheless, over 250 pages feature beautifully photographed bicycles. From hand-welded titanium designs, through niche (but also more mainstream) brands, to cargo bikes. There are also a few new offerings for those who insist on carrying batteries (bee), and there are new accessory designs – lights, helmets, etc. All of this is presented with care, elegantly described, and printed on decent paper in sturdy covers! Is this book only for bike enthusiasts? Not necessarily. A layperson will expand their knowledge and find inspiration to make informed choices about their next bike purchase. Even someone completely uninterested in two-wheeled vehicles will be impressed by the courage, ingenuity, and attention to detail that goes into creating new bikes, as well as the entire world surrounding them: fashion, accessories, art, and design. And below are a few pages to encourage you...