David B. Perry

This book is indeed the Ultimate Guide. Its a fat encyclopedia of all things bike-related. Which is good when you are curious about the origins of the recumbent bicycle, or bicycle activism in different countries. But its a bit absurd to list such minutiae as the episode of Hart to Hart in which Mrs. Hart's bicycle was sabotaged, as well as dozens of other minor appearances of bicycles in film, TV and theater.
The level of detail included seems uneven. Some bike topics (probably of most show more interest to the author) are thoughtfully and extensively covered while other topics seem scattershot and the writing pasted together, like a clippings file gleaned from daily newspapers.
That said, I doubt anyone equally obsessive is going to compile a competing bike encyclopedia any time soon. Better get yourself a copy of this one. show less