Books
Organized by main topics. This is not intended as a comprehensive library,
just some books you might be interested in.
See chapter [Proceedings] about symposia results.
Aircraft, Human Powered
- Burke, James D.: The Gossamer Condor and Albatross: A case study in aircraft design. Report No. AV-R-80/540, 16 June 1980,
AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Professional Study Series, published by Aerovironment Inc.,
Pasadena, CA, no ISBN; available via IHPVA, $13.
Background information, Photos and great blueprints of both HP aircraft. (Condor: Kremer Prize, Albatross: Channel
crossing)(cm 980912)
- Dorsey, Gary <gddorsey@erols.com>: The Fullness of Wings - The Making of a New Daedalus,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Viking Penguin, 1990. Hardcover ISBN: 0-670-82444-5 (out of print) 350 p. (hardcover or paperback),
[16] p. of plates : ill., map ; 24 cm. Nominated for a National Book Award. SUBJECTS 1) Human powered aircraft. 2) Daedalus (Greek mythology) 3) Aeronautics - Aegean Sea Region - Flights.
The book describes the preparations (BURD, Chrysalis, Michelob Light Eagle) of the second US hp aircraft group and their
flight from Crete to Santorini with "Daedalus" in 1988.
Besides technical issues one subject of the book is the development of human relationships and problems during that problem.
Initial enthusiasm decreased and finally was replaced by a stubborn will to keep on until success. Like a novel the book makes
the reader feel as a part of the team.
The end of the project comes quite suddenly and leaves both actors and reader with a strong feeling of emptiness. Finally not
only the heroes ask themselves: Was it all worth it? (cm)
- Dwiggins, Don: Man-powered Aircraft, TAB/Modern Aviation Series No 2254, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214, ISBN 0-8306-9851-5,
ISBN 0-8306-2254-3 pbk. 1979
Foreword from the book: The story of man-powered flight has held the interest of the author since the 1930s, when he
set out to chronicle the history of flight in the United States prior to the Wright Brothers' success at Kitty Hawk in 1903.
Considerable correspondence was held with many inventors long since gone, and much of this material, never before in print, appears
here for the first time.
The 1977 success of the Gossamer Condor in capturing the £50,000 Kremer Prize for the first MPA flight around a
figure-8 course does not, in the author's view, mark the end of the ages-old quest for controlled human powered flight.
Rather its stands as a challenge for the future, where many more astounding flights under muscular power are surely in store
for adventurous souls who still long to fly with the freedom of the birds.
- Grosser, Morton: Gossamer Odyssey - The Triumph of Human-Powered Flight. 1st edition: Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, ISBN 0-395-030531-4, 1981.
2nd edition: Dover Publications, Inc., Ney York, ISBN 0-486-26645-1, 1991, $9.95. Paperback, 298 p.
This book chronicles the development of the Gossamer Condor (which won the Kremer Prize) and the Gossamer
Albatross (which flew the English Channel). While telling the human side of the story, it also has detailed drawings of
both aircraft and includes lots of construction details. The first few paragraphs cover a brief history of human powered
flight. (bhw 3-Mar-96)
- Taylor, Richard L.: The First Human-Powered Flight: The Story of Paul B. MacCready and his airplane, the Gossamer Condor.
ISBN 0-531-20185-6, 59 pages.
Juvenile literature. Description follows soon. (cm)
Bicycle Technology
- Abbott, Allan/Wilson, David Gordon: Human-powered Vehicles.
Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishing, Phone: 1-800-747-4457, 217-351-5076.
1st edition 1995, 288 pages, 8.5 x 11", $45. ISBN 0-87322-827-8.
"Just received my copy of Human-powered Vehicles, Abbott and Wilson, 1995. The only comment that applies is WOW!! What a
wonderful summary of the history, technology, and future of land, water, and air HPVs. This is a must-have book for anyone
who subscribes to this newsgroup.
It is full of details on the technical development of bicycles, with many figures and charts showing significant designs for
all parts of the vehicles. The first three chapters deal with human power in history and theory, complete with physiological
basis and data. Then three chapters on watercraft, nine chapters on land vehicles, three on aircraft, and two on the future.
Excellent photos, figures, and charts.
Hats off to all the contributors and editors for a superior product! This will get a permanent spot on my reference shelf."
Dave Musgrave <DMusgrave@swri.edu>, Manager, Product Design; Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. Mon, 25 Sep 95
- Brandt, Jobst <jbrandt@hpl.hp.com>: The Bicycle Wheel, Palo Alto/CA: Avocet Inc., 3rd Edition 1993. ISBN 0-9607236-6-8.
In Europe not availably in bookshops.
THE standard book about bicycle wheels: Materials, Designs, Loads, Repairs. Finishes off with many myths and superstition.
If you design and true your wheels you should read this book to get better wheel than you can buy in most shops.
Includes spoking instructions. Beautiful layout. (cm 980912)
- Hadland/Hadland: Moulton Bicycle. Sold only by the Moulton Bicycle Club; send £9 + cost of add'l postage, cheque payable
to 'Moulton Bicycle Club' to: Malcolm and Jenny Lyon; 2 The Mill, Mill Green, Turvey, Bedfordshire MK43 8ET, UK.
Foreword by Dr. Alex Moulton. Covers the first 24 years of the saga (1957-1981); very nice reading, well illustrated.
- Kolin, Michael J./de la Rosa, Denise M.: The Custom Bicycle. Rodale Press, Emmaus PA, 1979, ISBN 0-87857-254-6.
While completely about conventional bikes, this book has some interesting construction details, comments about framebuilders,
and tips on how to set up a standard bike which have carryover to recumbents. (**)
- Sharp, Archibald: Bicycles & Tricycles - An Elementary Treatise on Their Design and Construction.
London 1896, Reprint Cambridge: MIT Press 1984. 533 Seiten. ISBN 0-262-19156 (paperback), 0-262-69066-7 (hardcover),
available via IHPVA, $15.
Elliptic chainwheels, ovalized tubes, asymmetric chainstay, radial spoking pattern: Nothing new since then...
May beautiful and interesting drawings from that time. (cm 980912)
- Whitt, Frank Rowland/Wilson, David Gordon: Bicycling Science - Ergonomics and Mechanics. Cambridge, Mass., MIT Press [1974], 2nd Edition 1982. ISBN 0-262-73060-X. 247 pages illus. 21 cm.
If you want only one book, this is the one. Comprehensive, fundamental, essential. From the re-inventor of modern recumbent bicycles. (cm)
- Wright, Robert: Building Bicycle Wheels. World Publications, PO Box 366, Mountain View, CA (USA). ISBN 0-89037-106-7, 1977
If you can build a frame from scratch, you can certainly build a wheel from scratch, This little book takes the mystery out of
wheelbuilding, and will allow you to say that you built your new recumbent from the ground up!
Boats, Human Powered
- Anonym: The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction, Gougeon Brothers Inc.: P.O.
Box 908, Bay City, Michigan 48707; 1985, ISBN 0-87812-166-8.
An interesting book on epoxy resin and wood as a composite material for lightweight boats. Also sold by West Systems
(resin manufacturer). (cm 980912)
Frame Building
- Anonym: The Oxyacetylene Handbook, 3rd Edition, Union Carbide Corporation, Linde Division, New York, NY; ISDN 0-914096-10-9,
1976
An extremely complete manual on oxyacetylene welding, brazing and cutting procedures. (**)
- Anonym: The Proteus Guide to Frame and Framebuilding Products, Proteus Design, Inc, 9225 Baltimore Blvd, College Park, MD 207040
(USA)
Proteus offers numerous frame building bits and pieces for sale, including their excellent framebuilding book.
Worth a look for the price. (**)
- Paterek, Tim: The Paterek Manual for Bicycle Framebuilders, Framebuilders Guild: River Falls WI 54022 USA, 1986, suppl.
version. $79.50
This voluminous file of papers is made up like a professional textbook aimed on framebuilding trainee. Many photos for
every step. Includes lug-less brazing, so it is especially interesting for custom-made frames like recumbents. (Review by Stefan
Buballa, translated by cm 980912)
- Talbot, Richard P.: Designing and Building Your Own Frameset - An Illustrated Guide for the Amateur Bicycle Builder,
The Manet Guild, 1st edition 1979: ISBN 0-9602418-1-7, 2nd edition 1984: ISBN 0-9602418-3-3, 160 pages.
The author, using 173 detailed photographs, shows how to build a standard bicycle from scratch. While not building a recumbent,
the author includes so much detail that any amateur framebuilder is bound to profit by reading this book. The first chapter,
in particular, entitled "Frameset Design Principles", has a wealth of information for recumbent builders. A small investment,
considering your considerable time input to a homebuilt frame. (**)
Related Topics
- Costin, Michael/Phipps, David: Racing and Sports Car Chassis Design, Robert Bentley, Inc, 872 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge MA 02139 (USA), ISBN 0-8376-0296-3, 1965.
Because it covers the design of tubular space frames, this book also has application to the construction of
exotic HPV's. It also covers suspension design.
- Mellin, Bob: Railbike, Cycling on Abandoned Railroads. Balboa Publising, 11 Library Place, San Anselmo, CA 94960,
Phone: +1 415 453 8886 Fax: +1 415 453 8888, $16.95 US, $22.95 CAN + $3 shpg
This information is from a postcard that came to me from the publisher: 100 year history and review of patents,
Guide to abandoned tracks and safety issues, Interviews with contemporary railbikes, Design alternatives and do-it-yourself tips,
Resource appendix for contacts, plans, and parts, 144 pages, over 100 pictures and illustrations, Newsletter and other publications
available, Railbike international/Membership application. (bhw 960303)
- Milliken, Douglas L./Milliken, William F.: Race Car Vehicle Dynamics. ISBN 1-56091-526-9, Hardbound US $75/SAE members;
US $85 list. Order No. R-146Order from: SAE International, Dept. 399, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 USA,
Phone: 412-776-4970; Fax 412-776-0790
Written by Doug Milliken (Moulton Aero team) and his father and published by SAE, it deals mainly with race cars.
Doug mentioned: "... while it is really directed toward cars, there is lots of basic information that would apply to hpv
design, both aerodynamic and chassis/steering for trikes. Another group that should like the book are the SAE student chapters
that build and race various small cars (High-mileage, Formula SAE and Mini-Baja)."
The flier Doug sent me details coverage, i.e., chapters that cover such things as tire behavior, aerodynamic fundamentals,
vehicle axis systems, simplified steady-state stability and control and transient stability and control, force-movement analysis,
suspension geometry, etc. (J. A. Seay <jaseay@ucdavis.edu>)
** From the bibliography in Plans for supine recumbent bicycle (no longer in print) © 1980 Easy Racers, Inc.
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