Hi all. Sloane's book was easily the first "comprehensive", not overly technical text on modern, derailleur geared bikes. I loved the copious illustrations even if there was a fair amount of improper captions. But my favorite text from the time is Richard Ballantine's RICHARD'S BICYCLE BOOK 1972. It offered great, real world info and portrayed a sensibility that was not only relevant to cycling but to being a competent and decent human being. I still give away copies of that book to young enthusiasts. Thank you, Richard. And from a more general mechanical perspective, i also cherish Tom Cuthbertson's ANYBODY'S BIKE BOOK 1971 w/ the great drawings that helped me so much as an untutored mechanic. And just for sheer visual sumptiousness R. John Way's THE BICYCLE 1973, from across the pond is still a favorite. All these books and many others helped reconstitute a cycling culture in the U.S. which had largely been obliterated by [among other things] affluence. Today we should all be grateful for things like the Rivendell Reader and Vintage Bicycle Quarterly, this list, and Chuck Schmidt's Velo Retro reprints. Regards to all, Billy Ketchum; Chicago, IL; USA.