In this concise account, experienced touring cyclist Patricia Vance shares the lessons she learned over many years on how to plan, prepare for, and carry out a successful bicycle tour. Whether you're traveling light and staying in hotels or going off the beaten path complete with camping gear, Bicycle Touring will show you in detail how to handle each situation, all presented in a lively personal style of writing. Unlike other bicycle touring books on the market today, Bicycle Touring does not emphasize the mechanics of the bicycle; after all, there are plenty of good repair manuals available, if that's what you want. Instead, the book concentrates effectively on the things you really need to know to make every bicycle tour a success. It's really 20 years of touring experience condensed and clearly presented. This book is illustrated both with diagrams and black & white bicycle touring photographs and contains solid information as well as personal experiences.

In a series of ten short, easy routes, Intimate Bicycle Tours of Philadelphia takes readers through vibrant Philadelphia neighborhoods, revealing a treasure trove of cultural riches normally missed when traveling by car. On tiny streets, elegant boulevards, and bicycle paths, readers are guided past historic sites, public parks and squares, exceptional architecture, and one of the world's best collections of public art, all accompanied by Patricia Vance's engaging, lively narrative. As any avid cyclist knows, the bicycle is an ideal vehicle for sightseeing. It is possible to travel farther than on foot, yet the pace is slow enough to afford opportunities to take in all the details-and parking is as close as a bike rack or signpost. This is the only Philadelphia guidebook written specifically for cyclists and, unlike most guidebooks, it includes ready-made tours. Intimate Bicycle Tours of Philadelphia removes all the guesswork and is easy to follow, fun, and informative. The tours take cyclists from Center City's world-renowned museums and cultural institutions, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Independence Hall, to the neighborhoods of West Philadelphia, through Fairmount Park, and on to the idyllic, tree-lined streets of Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy. Every tour includes directions to the start, a map of the route, and information about visiting each site. Such practical information as where to find restaurants and bicycle shops is also included.

From Philadelphia to the Amish country, this all-new guide to cycling eastern Pennsylvania's scenic roads includes tours for both road and mountain bikes. Patricia Vance has explored hundreds of miles of roads in eastern Pennsylvania to find the most scenic, uncrowded, and enjoyable cycling on both paved and dirt roads. Areas covered include: Philadelphia Valley Forge The Brandywine River Valley Bucks County The Poconos The Endless Mountains Pennsylvania Dutch Country Gettysburg Rides range in length from a 10-mile spin through the row houses of Old City Philadelphia to a 55-mile ramble in the rolling hills of the Pocono Mountains. Each chapter includes a detailed map, mile-by-mile tour directions, and information on mileage, terrain, and difficulty, as well as nearby bicycle rental and repair shops. An overview chart at the beginning of the book provides information at a glance to help you choose a tour. And throughout, Vance provides fascinating commentary on the history and culture of this picturesque region. 25 black & white photographs, 26 maps.