Bike Snob by BikeSnobNYC (aka Eben Weiss)

$9.75 in hardcover (Worth it.) from Amazon.com

Buy it if: You’ve been on two wheels long enough to differentiate between marketing and reality, fashion and function, Shimano and Campy…

Don’t buy it if: You think cyclists belong on sidewalks, lycra is lame and only Lance matters. (Then again, this also makes you the ideal reader…)

Don’t be put off by the title. Or the author’s name for that matter. (Until recently, BikeSnobNYC was the ‘nome de plume’ associated with this book and the site (bikesnobNYC.blogspot.com) that spawned it. Clever nomenclature aside, the Snob is anything but. Instead, this small tome reads as a distilled guide to the core of cycling. Gram counting racers and weekend joyriders alike will find a kindred spirit among these pages. Brakeless hipsters and joyless spin-classers...not so much.

Amazingly, in only 222 jersey-pocket-sized pages, the Bike Snob manages to break it all down. Really. History of the bike? It’s there. Why do messengers ride single speed fixies? It’s answered. I want to ride, what do I really need to buy? Covered. (And the truth is far simpler than the Bicycling Magazine Buyer’s Guide would have you believe. Turns out you only need a bike!) Forget anything on the bookshelf that starts with “Guide to…” and give this to any potential enthusiast. Bike Snob will do more to kickstart their obsession than any generic ‘How To’ book.

But it’s not just informative. Indeed, if you’re at all serious about riding there are far more copious and dense sources of information. Instead, the real strength of the book is its ‘forest for the trees’ gestalt. On a bike? The Snob says you're a cyclist. The book is fantastic reminder that common sense is the most useful thing to have along in your saddlebag. From locks (Heavy and strong is better) to helmets (They protect you, but not nearly as well as skillful riding) to style-detracting brakes and fenders (Here’s a hint, function trumps cool) the Snob is the great equalizer. He brings the Cat 3 weekend warrior and style-obsessed city dweller back to earth, all while being a willing participant in both scenes.

You want to ride? Ride. As long as it’s got two wheels, some pedals (and preferably a brake or two) the Snob might just be the thing you need to get out the door and moving. Forget being worried about your cheesy USPS jersey. Don’t stress about your outdated Shimano 8-speed groupo. It’s a new day to be alive and seeing the world on a bike. According to the author, as long as you are, you’re better off than the rest of the world. That’s the only actual snobbish perspective in the whole book…and I agree.