Richard Ballantine

Richard Ballantine is a cycling writer, journalist and cycling advocate. Born in America the son of Ian and Betty Ballantine of Ballantine Books fame, he is now principally resident in London, England. He is most famous for his 1972 book titled "Richard's Bicycle Book" and its subsequent editions. He is also an editor at Rufus Publications (founded by his parents) and has founded several magazines including Bicycle Magazine.

Richard's Bicycle Book

Ballantine's "Richard's Bicycle Book" was first published in 1972 and was influential at the time when cycling began to recover in popularity due in part to the world oil crisis. Along with bicycle history, bicycle maintenance, and descriptions of various bicycles and bicycle types, it advocated the joys of bicycle touring. It was also an early example of bicycle advocacy - he stated that cyclists had a right to use the road, and that their safety, not the convenience of others, should be of importance.

Richard's Bicycle Book has been through several incarnations such as "Richard's New Bicycle Book" (1987) and most recently "Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book" (2000).

Ballantine and the HPV movement

Ballantine has been prominent in the human powered vehicle movement since its inception in the 1980s and active in the HPV racing movement. He is currently chairman of the British Human Power Club and of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association.

Bibliography

* "Richard's Bicycle Book" (1972)
* "Richard's New Bicycle Book" (1987)
* "Cyclist's Britain" (1989)
* "Bicycle Repair Manual" (1994)
* "Ultimate Bicycle Book", with Richard Grant (1998)
* "Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book" (2000)
* "Living Ultimate Bicycle Book", DK Living, with Richard Grant (2000)
* "City Cycling" (2007)

External links

* [http://www.bikereader.com/contributors/Ballantine/ballantine.html Some of his articles on "BikeReader"]