When Alec Stern arrives in Japan, he discovers a land of opportunity. For only in Tokyo could an impressionable young man fresh out of college find, in one stroke, a new job, a new family, and a society that lavishes attention on Japanese-speaking gaijin. Yet, even as Alec claims a place in this new world, he is haunted by memories of the one he left behind—a world once infinitely secure but which disintegrated with the breakup of his parents' marriage. In this incandescently observed novel, John Burnham Schwartz introduces readers to one of the most appealing protagonists in contemporary fiction while enchanting them with the keenness of his eye and the aptness of his voice. Through its exquisitely rendered scenes—a fishing trip of Zen-like serenity; a night at a sex club where giggling businessmen dive into the action—and vividly imagined characters—the laughing mother who taught Alec to ride a bicycle; the beautiful sad Japanese woman who teaches him how to love—Bicycle Days surprises, moves, and enlightens us as very few books do.

An illustrated, deep dive into Albert Hofmann's infamous "Bicycle Day" from Brian Blomerth.

From 1888 to 1895, American cycling underwent a transformative journey from clunky three-wheel tricycles to sleek and efficient two-wheel bicycles, marking a pivotal moment in the history of women’s cycling. The introduction of the "safety" bike, with its equal-sized wheels, replaced the cumbersome big-wheel “ordinary” contraption, and made cycling more accessible to women and reshaped the social and cultural landscape. The transition from sitting securely on three wheels to balancing precariously on two wheels was met with skepticism and intrigue. The novel concept of forward momentum and equilibrium presented challenges in conveying its simplicity, especially to those unfamiliar with the experience. Steering remained a mystery, and the restrictive nature of women’s skirts posed a significant obstacle to mounting a saddle and pedaling. The emergence of the "drop frame" (later known as a "girl's bike"), invented to accommodate women's fashions, was countered by advances in the dress reform movement and a public outcry over the adoption of bloomers and knickerbockers. This volume of the Sports She Wrote series presents 86 articles (121,000 words) and 79 illustrations from this era, subdivided into four sections: Part 1 features ten articles by Grace E. Denison, a notable figure in the cycling community and one of the “Sweet Sixteen” founders of the Canadian Women’s Press Club. Part 2 focuses on the life and writings of Mary Sargent Hopkins, also known as "Merrie Wheeler," one of the most influential women bicyclists of the era, who is also prominent in other volumes of this series. Part 3 presents 38 chronological articles written by more than two dozen women from 1888 to 1895, providing diverse perspectives and lively debate. Part 4 features 53-year-old women’s rights advocate Frances E. Willard's seminal book, How I Learned to Ride the Wheel, offering psychological and philosophical insight into women’s empowerment through cycling, as well as practical advice for women learning to ride and those who were too timid to try. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

This volume of the Sports She Wrote series completes the nine-volume chronological journey of 19th century cycling articles written by women. By the end of the century, the bicycling craze transitioned from a fleeting fad into a deeply ingrained aspect of American culture. Bicycles were no longer mere novelties but essential methods of transportation for the masses, sources of physical exercise, and vehicles for leisure and sports. Forty-eight articles (102,000 words) authored by dozens of women writers and 38 illustrations from 20 periodicals offer insightful discourse on the state and development of women’s cycling. These articles offer a multifaceted exploration of various cycling topics, reflecting the evolving attitudes and practices surrounding the sport. The final cycling article, published in 1900, is emblematic of the progress made and the future prospect for athletic cycling, focusing on women’s “fancy riding,” now known as trick riding. This volume includes the comprehensive book “Bicycling for Ladies,” written by Maria E. Ward, published in 1896. With 34 accompanying photographs, Ward's book serves as a testament to the vibrancy and diversity of cycling culture during this pivotal period in history. In addition to the basics of riding, Ward provides detailed instructions for maintenance and repair of bicycles and demonstrates how to use the necessary tools that many women of the era were unaccustomed to using. The volume concludes with a foretaste of the future penned by Mary Sargent Hopkins, whose cycling articles are featured in several volumes of this series, but in this case introduces readers to a new wheeled contraption destined to revolutionize independent transportation—the automobile. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

"Martijn Doolaard traded in the convenience of a car and the distractions of daily life for a cross-continental cycling journey: a biped adventure from Amsterdam to Singapore. Leaving behind repetitive routines, One Year on a Bike indulges in slow travel, the subtlety of a gradually changing landscape, and the lessons learned through travelling. Venturing through Eastern European fields of yellow rapeseed to the intimate hosting culture in Iran, One Year on a Bike is a vivid chronicle of what can happen when the norm is pointedly replaced by exceptional self-discoveries and beautiful sceneries. Doolaard shares the gear and knowledge that made his trip possible." -- Provided by publisher.

Cyclogeography is about the bicycle in the cultural imagination and also a portrait of London as seen from the saddle. In the great tradition of the psychogeographers, Jon Day attempts to depart from the map and reclaim the streets of the city. Informed by several grinding years spent as a bicycle courier, he lifts the lid on the solitary life of the courier. Traveling the unmapped byways, shortcuts, and urban edgelands, couriers are the declining, invisible workforce of the city. The parcels they deliver keep things running. For those who survive the crushing toughness of the job, the bicycle can become what holds them together.

“What a wonderful idea for an adventure! Absolutely inspired, timely, and important.” —Alistair Humphreys, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and author of The Doorstep Mile and Around the World by Bike Outdoor educator and field researcher Sara Dykman made history when she became the first person to bicycle along­side monarch butterflies on their storied annual migration—a round-trip adventure that included three countries and more than 10,000 miles. Equally remarkable, she did it solo, on a bike cobbled together from used parts. Her panniers were recycled buckets. In Bicycling with Butterflies, Dykman recounts her incredible journey and the dramatic ups and downs of the nearly nine-month odyssey. We’re beside her as she nav­igates unmapped roads in foreign countries, checks roadside milkweed for monarch eggs, and shares her passion with eager schoolchil­dren, skeptical bar patrons, and unimpressed border officials. We also meet some of the ardent monarch stewards who supported her efforts, from citizen scientists and research­ers to farmers and high-rise city dwellers. With both humor and humility, Dykman offers a compelling story, confirming the urgency of saving the threatened monarch migration—and the other threatened systems of nature that affect the survival of us all.