Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza & Michael W. Austin 
Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone 
A Philosophical Tour de Force

Covering interesting and varied philosophical terrain,
Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone explores in a
fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and
existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by
human energy.

* Incorporates or reflects the views of high-profile and notable
past-professional cyclists and insiders such as Lennard
Zinn, Scott Tinley, and Lance Armstrong

* Features contributions from the areas of cultural studies,
kinesiology, literature, and political science as well as from
philosophers

* Includes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling
experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and
cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative
potential of cycling for personal growth

* Shows how bicycling and philosophy create the perfect
tandem

* Includes a foreword by Lennard Zinn, author and owner of Zinn
Cycles Inc.

Table of Content

Foreword x
Lennard Zinn

Acknowledgments xii
Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Michael W. Austin

Getting in Gear: An Introduction to Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone 1
Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Michael W. Austin

Stage 1 the Varieties of Cycling Experience 11

1 Warm Up: A Surreal Ride 13
Patrick Vala-Haynes

2 Learning to Ride a Bike 16
Peter M. Hopsicker

3 Becoming a Cyclist: Phenomenological Reflections on Cycling 27
Steen Nepper Larsen

4 Unleash the Beast: Technology and the Time Trial 39
Bryce T. J. Dyer

Stage 2 Velo Virtues 51

5 Warm Up: A Test of One’s Mettle 53
Patrick Vala-Haynes

6 Lance Armstrong and True Success 56
Gregory Bassham and Chris Krall

7 Le Mond, Armstrong, and the Never-Ending Wheel of Fortune 68
Scott Tinley

8 Riding Like a Girl 81
Catherine A. Womack and Pata Suyemoto

9 Bicycling and the Simple Life 94
Russell Arben Fox

Stage 3 Re-cycling 107

10 Warm Up: When Two Wheels Meet Four 109
Patrick Vala-Haynes

11 Philosophical Lessons from Cycling in Town and Country 112
Robert H. Haraldsson

12 The Commutist Manifesto 123
John Richard Harris

13 Critical Mass Rides Against Car Culture 134
Zack Furness

Stage 4 Spinning Wisdom 147

14 Warm Up: Are You Real? Tony Meets Bishop Berkeley 149
Patrick Vala-Haynes

15 My Life as a Two-Wheeled Philosopher 151
Heather L. Reid

16 Cycling and Philosophical Lessons Learned the Hard Way 162
Steven D. Hales

17 From Shoes to Saddle 173
Michael W. Austin

Stage 5 Fair Play on Two Wheels 183

18 Warm Up: Pushing the Envelope 185
Patrick Vala-Haynes

19 What To Do Once They’re Caught 188
John Gleaves

20 Out of Control: The Pirate and Performance-Enhancing Drugs 200
Raymond Angelo Belliotti

21 Is the Cannibal a Good Sport? 214
Andreas de Block and Yannick Joye

Stage 6 Pedaling Circles 227

22 Warm Up: Riding into Awe 229
Patrick Vala-Haynes

23 Taking the Gita for an Awesome Spin 231
Seth Tichenor

24 Stretched Elastics, the Tour de France, and a Meaningful Life 241
Tim Elcombe and Jill Tracey

25 Life Cycles and the Stages of a Cycling Life 253
Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza and Mike Mc Namee

Notes on Contributors: The Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone Peloton 266

About the author

Editors

Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza is Assistant
Professor of Philosophy, and Allen and Pat Kelley Faculty Scholar
at Linfield College, Oregon. He has published in the journals
Sports, Ethics, and Philosophy and Proteus. He is a
category 2 racer.

Michael W. Austin is an Associate Professor of Philosophy
at Eastern Kentucky University, where he works primarily in
ethics. He has published Conceptions of Parenthood: Ethics
and the Family (2007), Running and Philosophy: A Marathon
for the Mind (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), and Football and
Philosophy: Going Deep (2008).

Series Editor

Fritz Allhoff is an Assistant Professor in the
Philosophy Department at Western Michigan University, as well as a
Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National
University’s Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public
Ethics. In addition to editing the Philosophy for
Everyone series, Allhoff is the volume editor or co-editor for
several titles, including Wine & Philosophy
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), Whiskey & Philosophy (with
Marcus P. Adams, Wiley, 2009), and Food & Philosophy
(with Dave Monroe, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007).