Penn, an avid cyclist, takes readers along on his journey to build his dream bike--a customized machine that reflects his joy of cycling. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture, science, and history of the bicycle.

Reviews

“Gem of a book”—"Economist"""

“The pages overflow with pioneers, mavericks and geniuses – certainly, it is hard to imagine anyone who reads this book being able to buy a bike ‘off the peg’ again.—Tim, Lewis, "Observer" (UK)

“No matter how shiny and costly the item of bike bling, there is a back story, usually a good one. Artfully, Penn turns his quest for hardware ... into a worldwide spin around cycling and its culture.”—William Fotheringham, "Observer "(UK)""

“[Penn] writes with authority, humour and refreshing candour ... A celebration of craftsmanship over technology and of a bygone era when things were built to last ... If Penn is to be believed, we are entering a golden age of cycling, when it really will be all about the bike once more.”—"Sunday Telegraph" (UK)

“[Penn] writes with a Bill-Brysonesque facility for concentrating a lot of information and research into an easy-to-read