Just Ride

A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike

By: Grant Petersen

Narrated by: Jim Edgar

“No matter what or how you ride, read this book and remind yourself just how enjoyable cycling can and should be.”—Eben Weiss, author of The Enlightened Cyclist

Just Ride is a revelation. Forget the ultralight, uncomfortable bikes, flashy jerseys, clunky shoes that clip onto tiny pedals, the grinding out of endless miles. Instead, ride like you did when you were a kid—just get on your bike and discover the pure joy of riding it.

A reformed racer who’s commuted by bike every day since 1980, whose writings and opinions appear in major bicycling and outdoor magazines, and whose company, Rivendell Bicycle Works, makes bikes for riders ready to opt out of a culture overrun by racing, Grant Petersen shares a lifetime of unexpected facts, controversial opinions, expert techniques, and his own maverick philosophy.

In 87 chapters it covers:

• Riding: Count Days, Not Miles; Corner Like Jackie Robinson; Steer with Your Hips, Shift with Your Legs
• Suiting Up: The Shoes Ruse; Ponchos—the Ultimate Unracer’s Garment
• Safety: #1 Rule—Be Seen; Helmets Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up to Be
• Health and Fitness: Why Riding Is Lousy All-Around Exercise; Saddles Don’t Cause Impotence; Drink When You’re Thirsty—Not Before

Also includes chapters on Accessories, Upkeep, and Technicalities, and a final chapter titled “Velosophy” that includes the essential, memorable thought: Your Bike Is a Toy—Have Fun with It.

©2012 Grant Petersen (P)2022 Workman Publishing Company

Critic reviews

Winner, Silver Medal 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards

I just love hearing him write about bikes.

Nothing fancy here. No witty prose, just a love for the art of riding one of the most beautiful inventions known to man.

Open your mind to a better way to ride

I absolutely loved this book. I have ridden for 34 years but was so tired of racing and all the crap that goes along with that. This opened my mind to experience bicycles in a different way. This book has actually sparked my interest in cycling again.

For everyone thinking about Bikes and biking

Find the non racer in you and your riding. Restore the fun. That’s what this is about. Well written a d performed.

Grant is a contrarian

He has a message every “regular“ cyclist should listen to and absorb. He decries the effect that the big industry racing model has on taking the fun out of cycling

The story is for regular people who like to ride bikes

It's ok to just ride bikes and you don't need a super fancy bike for the fun of it

I agree...with most of it.

I like the book and it covers the basics well. I do disagree strongly with racers riding bike paths. Bike paths are for everyone to enjoy, Racers are a hazard to the walker, the children, grandparents and novice riders. I have seen more racers startle children and grandparents. One poor older woman rode off the path and spilled. If you want to go as fast as a car, ride in the road. If you strike someone going fast you will break their limbs and collisions are common on bike paths, I ride one everyday.

What I heard was interesting

Unfortunately the sound stopped at chapter 66

Get this title I’m sure it’ll be sorted before you purchase it

I like the philosophy

It’s the answer to all the whoop whoop cyclists out there
I like that he’s giving us permission to reclaim bikes from the Lycra brigade.

Not useful.

That’s 1 credit and around 2 hrs of my life I will never get back.