Amid apocalyptic invasions and time travel, one common machine continually appears in H. G. Wells's works: the bicycle. From his scientific romances and social comedies, to utopias, futurological speculations, and letters, Wells's texts brim with bicycles. In The War of the Wheels, Withers examines this mode of transportation as both something that played a significant role in Wells's personal life and as a literary device for creating elaborate characters and exploring complex themes. Withers traces Wells's ambivalent relationship with the bicycle throughout his writing. While Wells celebrated it as a singular and astonishing piece of technology, and continued to do so long after his contemporaries abandoned their enthusiasm for the bicycle, he was not an unwavering promoter of this machine. Wells acknowledged the complex nature of cycling, its contribution to a growing dependence on and fetishization of technology, and its role in humanity's increasing sense of superiority. Moving into the twenty-first century, Withers reflects on how the works of H. G. Wells can serve as a valuable locus for thinking through many of our current issues and problems related to transportation, mobility, and sustainability.

DON'T LET WINTER STOP YOU. RIDE YOUR BIKE ALL YEAR LONG Summer is over, fall is here and winter is on its way. You want to continue cycling through the cold, dark months ahead, but you have some questions: - Do you need a special bicycle built for winter road conditions? - How are you going to stay warm while on your bike? - Will you need to purchase studded snow tires? - What kind of clothes should you be wearing? - Which fabrics are best for winter weather conditions? - How can you be sure that motorists will see you? - Which type of pedal system and shoes are best for winter cycling? - How do you know you're not going to lose a finger or toe when the weather gets too cold? - What is the safest way to ride in the rain and snow? - How do you prevent yourself from crashing? - Is it possible to conduct a long-distance bicycle tour during the winter months? - How do you protect your bicycle from corrosive salt, gravel and sand? - How can you carry a snowboard or set of skis on your bike? - Is there any way to continue cycling during the winter months if you don't want to cycle in the cold, rain, ice, or snow? - What happens if you get caught in a giant winter storm? Whatever questions you might have about riding your bicycle in the wintertime, the information in this book will not only help you stay warm, arrive home safely and weather even the worst possible conditions, but will keep you smiling all winter long. WINTER CYCLING is a book for people who are totally new to riding a bike in the wintertime. This is not a book for experienced bicycle riders already familiar with riding in cold, rain, ice and snow. In this book you will learn how to: - Equip your bicycle for winter weather riding. - Dress properly and stay warm. - Ride safely on ice and snow. - Clean and protect your bicycle after each ride. - Plus a whole lot more No matter what type of cyclist you might be, the content inside "Winter Cycling" is designed for every type of bicycle rider - whether you are a sporty racer, an athletic enthusiast, or a casual commuter. The information in this book will help you survive in warm-weather, cold-weather and off-road winter cycling conditions. Now Available In Paperback & eBook Formats