The first comprehensive history of the bicycle-lavishly illustrated with images spanning two centuries During the nineteenth century, the bicycle evoked an exciting new world in which even a poor person could travel afar and at will. But was the "mechanical horse" truly destined to usher in a new era of road travel or would it remain merely a plaything for dandies and schoolboys? In Bicycle: The History (named by Outside magazine as the #1 book on bicycles), David Herlihy recounts the saga of this far-reaching invention and the passions it aroused. The pioneer racer James Moore insisted the bicycle would become "as common as umbrellas." Mark Twain was more skeptical, enjoining his readers to "get a bicycle. You will not regret it-if you live." Because we live in an age of cross-country bicycle racing and high-tech mountain bikes, we may overlook the decades of development and ingenuity that transformed the basic concept of human-powered transportation into a marvel of engineering. This lively and engrossing history retraces the extraordinary story of the bicycle-a history of disputed patents, brilliant inventions, and missed opportunities. Herlihy shows us why the bicycle captured the public's imagination and the myriad ways in which it reshaped our world.

Imagine someone gave you a sackful of money and told you to build a skatepark. You'd definitely want it to be the best skatepark in the world. But how do you go about designing THAT? Armed with your own imagination and some smart research, find out how you can transform a fantasy design into an actual dream product. You'll apply real-world design considerations to your ideas, refining your design to make it workable and achievable as it takes shape.

A guide to the world of cycling, which covers everything from mountain biking to the Tour de France. It shows you what different types of competitive cyclists wear, how they train, and what rules they must follow. It also features information about road cycling, including hints, tips and vital safety precautions.

Bradley Wiggins is a national hero - the first British person to win the Tour de France - EVER. Read his story from his childhood years right up to when he crossed the finish line at the London 2012 Olympics. It takes blood, sweat and tears to get to the top of any sport, and these short, inspirational biographies show just how tough it can be. Focusing on top athletes and sport personalities, each dramatic story brings to life the skill, determination and luck needed to break through into top level competition. This title is published by Franklin Watts EDGE, which produces a range of books to get children reading with confidence. EDGE - for books children can't put down.

This title introduces readers to vert skateboarding, covering exciting moments in the sport, top competitors, and the event's history. This title features informative sidebars, detailed infographics, vivid photos, and a glossary.

Over time, science and technology have played their part in making skateboarding a high-tech sport. Modern skateboards and the ramps on which the skaters ride are built with the latest materials and construction techniques. The skaters themselves rely on science to keep their bodies in top shape. They use the laws of physics to pull off the most amazing tricks. This volume explores these developments and how they make skateboarding one of the most exhilarating sports.

This exciting book introduces readers to BMX racing, including its history and growth, rules and events, and the equipment athletes need. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of colorful photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

Charlie Abbot's old friend comes to visit, and Charlie's excited. But when Pat--or Rick, as he's now known--arrives, Charlie can't help noticing how much Pat/Rick has changed. And some of these changes are downright dangerous. Illustrations.

Essential Information for Current and Future Skateboarders Skateboarding is back on top of the teen sport scene, and this new series has all the information teens need to learn about this extreme sport. Packed with full-color photographs capturing skateboarding's exciting action, these six books cover many aspects of the skateboarding world, including the basics of how to skate; the popularity of skateboarding in the X Games; buying, decorating, and repairing a skateboard; and a biography of the guru of skateboarding, Tony Hawk. Included in this series are two how-to titles that utilize step-by-step instructions combining text with stop-action photography. Do you have students who want to be the X Games' next skateboarding champions? Help them safely learn more than a dozen of the hottest advanced skateboard tricks with the step-by-step instructions included in this book. This how-to guide captures through stop-action digital photography a real skater hitting each trick so readers know how it's supposed to be done correctly and safely.

This exciting book introduces readers to mountain biking, including its history and growth, rules and events, and the equipment athletes need. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of colorful photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

This exciting book introduces readers to snowboarding, including its history and growth, rules and events, and the equipment athletes need. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of colorful photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

This exciting book introduces readers to skateboarding, including its history and growth, rules and events, and the equipment athletes need. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of colorful photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

All the moves to become a serious skateboarder.

Praise for "The Skateboarding Field Manual," also by Ryan Stutt:

""Stutt's appealing title is rife with the glossy glamour that should win nods of approval from even proficient shredders." " -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From selecting the right board, to learning which way to stand, to landing a kick flip, "Skateboarding Skills" provides critical instruction for young riders of all experience levels. New riders will learn essential skills to advance their riding ability while experienced riders will learn new tricks to add to their repertoire.

Ryan Stutt shows riders the fundamental techniques that will lead them to success as they practice skateboarding's most important and widely-used flips, grinds and slides. These include: Ollies and Nollies Manuals Boardslides, Lipslides, Noseslides and Tailslides 50-50 grinds, 5-0 grinds and Nose grinds Smith grinds, Feeble grinds and Crooked grinds Kickflips and Heelflips Pop Shuvs Varial Flips and 360 Flips.

With "Skateboarding Skills," riders will learn the building blocks that are the basis of all skateboarding tricks. Instruction for both flatground and vert skateboarding, plus real-time action sequences that capture the tricks step by step, will help riders learn how to execute the same moves that professional skateboarders use.

All photographs show riders wearing the most essential of safety equipment -- a helmet.