UKC

Seems that Richard Ballantine of 'Richard's Bike Book' fame has died, Maybe some of the youngsters don't remember this book but for many cyclists in the 70 & 80s it was our bible

"Sex," as one interviewer asserted, "had Dr Alex Comfort. Cycling had Richard Ballantine."


RIP, if there's a heaven, I'm sure he'll be cycling around

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/07/richard-grant

In reply to Doug:
Very sad.
I still have his book on my shelf it is a classic

In reply to Duncan Bourne:

Indeed and it is. Worth a read by anyone even remotely interested in two wheeled transport.

In reply to Doug:

Indeed - i was bought a copy as a kid and then got three paper rounds to pay for all tyhe bike bits I needed.
It had pride of place on my desk, next to the Parkers price list and my jar of bike pennies.

He had a strange obsession with Stevenage

In reply to Doug:

Yes, I still have my paperback copy, complete with black, grease stained pages. IIRC there was a short section on defending yourself from, and ultimately killing, a dog!!
Classic.
RIP Richard.

N

In reply to Nevis-the-cat:


It's a great book and definitely quirky. I remember a section stating that drivers of certain cars had small penises. Also somewhere the front a reprint of an article where a cyclist cycles along a bridge parapet.

In reply to cousin nick: That's right. You administered the coup de grace by stuffing your cycle pump down its throat.

In reply to John2: Or kicking it in the ribs...

In reply to Nevis-the-cat:


Likewise, except my cycling equivalent of the Freeman's underwear section was the Freewheel catalogue.

In reply to Doug: amazing. Only a few hours ago I was just describing the various graphic ways of killing a dog as mentioned by the great Mr Ballantyne... What a legend!

His description of car drivers is no better!

In reply to Doug:

Sad news.

If I look across the kitchen to the bookshelf I can see a copy on the bottom shelf.

In reply to Doug: I had that. Taught me how to take it all to bits and better still, put it back together again. RIP.