37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
Like a personal trainer --- only more economical!, 2000-04-25
The subtitle of this book is "Gearing Up A Level" and that's just what following the recommendations in this book will do! This is an essential volume for any woman cycling enthusiast (including Spinning/indoor cycling nuts) who is ready to do a century ride, AIDS ride, race or something similar but who isn't sure where to start -- and can't afford to hire a coach! The only disagreement I have with the author is some of the nutrition recommendations (being a vegetarian myself -- she recommends more of a "Zone" approach). But this does not detract from the overall excellence of the book, especially the bike fit chapter -- as someone who works part-time in a bike shop, I have helped other 'gals' who have run the gamut at other shops and been totally frustrated trying to get a good fit! My recommendation is - if you're 'gearing up a level' and planning on buying a new bike - buy this book first, read the bike fit chapter (or better yet, bring the book with you when you're trying out bikes) and THEN buy your dream bike!
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
An Engineer Reviews " The Female Cyclist", 2000-04-10
One of the advantages of a Coach, who is educated as an Engineer, is their ability to bring science to the art of Coaching. This Gale Bernhardt has done, in "The Female Cyclist". By taking the Scientific Literature and distilling it into a readable text, Gale has written a body of work that will certainly stand the test of time among female cyclists.This book has been needed ever since parity was acheived in Sports. Gale Bernhardt covers all the areas that the guys just don't understand. Her writings on bike fit are outstanding and very gender specific. If you are a women cyclist who wants to become fit and very fast, this book is for you. If you are a guy who wants an excellent description of periodization of training read this book. I have watched my wife apply Gale's concepts to her own training and I now get dropped by my "better half". Most of the women who ride with our group swear by the weight and nutrition programs in Gale's book. Weights, training, nutrition, periodization of training and bike fit are all there in "The Female Cyclist".
If you are a women who wants to become a better cyclist, the chapters of bike fit and nutrition alone are worth the purchase price of this book. This book is a must read for any serious women rider. This book fills a gap in the available serious literature for female athletes and is long overdue. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of this talented authors writing career.
Jim Green is the author of the Engineering Text: "Bicycle Accident Reconstruction and Litigation, 4th edition.