There are at least two reasons to like the bike book: If you can memorise just a fraction of it, you'll be the funfact king or queen in any conversation that's even remotely about bikes. The second reason is more profound: it's simply fun to leaf through the more than 300 pages and look at over 1000 illustrations, graphics and maps full of information on history, cycling technology, body and training, cycling sports and races, cycle touring, mobility, business and cycling culture.
The graphics are by no means dull or complicated. The makers behind the book - Marmota Maps - have that down pat. They are perhaps better known for their maps for hanging in the living room, such as the 610 ski resorts in the Alps. Statistics, background information or lists are presented graphically on a single or double page and enriched with a short explanatory text. Amazing, for example: Only 12.3 % of bike travellers are on an MTB!
The bike book does not focus on one type of our favourite vehicle. It is equally concerned with MTBs, racing bikes and cycling in general. For example, the illustrated overview of fines. Attention: Anyone who rides their bike over a closed level crossing can be fined 350 euros!
No other invention combines the useful with the pleasurable as closely as the bicycle. Adam Opel, German entrepreneur
The author devotes a total of four double pages to "Songs about the bicycle. (Almost) all the songs are listed on a timeline with thematically appropriate illustrations, starting with Pink Floyd's "Bike" from 1967 and including Kraftwerk, Queen, Fischmob and Katie Melua as well as Jan Böhmermann and Ski Aggu X Domiziana, who released their track "Tour de Berlin" in 2022 - who hasn't heard it?
The bike book is a Kickstarter project
The Hamburg-based publishing house Marmota Maps, which publishes this book as well as the maps, had launched a crowdfunding campaign in advance to raise at least 5,000 euros to finance the project. In the end, 189 supporters contributed 7,852 euros to realise this Kickstarter project.
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The author of the bicycle book is Jan Wittenbrink, born in 1990. He works as a freelance journalist and author in the city of Cologne. In 2022, he published "Das Nordseebuch", his first infographic book with Marmota Maps. Now he is devoting himself to another great passion - cycling. Jan doesn't own a car, but five bikes. The most creative ideas often come to him when he gets on his bike. His favourite way to collect altitude metres is on his racing bike.
The bike book - simply read instead of cycling
You can always pick up this entertaining book and look at just two pages or be inspired by the wealth of information and read through entire chapters. At 40 euros, the price is not too high, making it a good gift for people who love bikes - whether for Christmas or an upcoming birthday.
New publication: 09.10.2023
Author: Jan Wittenbrink
Size: 21 x 27 cm
Page number: 330 pages
Language: German
ISBN: 978-3-946719-46-5
Price: 39,90
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Marc Strucken
Editor
