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Mike Burrows
and talking like a normal human being; rocketing down an alpine descent with all brakes smoking . . . the pictures span more than a quarter of a century, and form a tapestry which attests Mike’s enormous quantity of practical experience. Mike clearly has many extraordinary gifts and talents, but the fact that he rides the dirt, track and street with the machines he is building, and finds out for himself what is happening, is what makes him one of the leading bike designers in the world. It’s fun!
Mike’s ever-inquiring mind and bright curiosity means that he loves talking to people – and the benefit is two-way, because Mike has a positive genius for cutting through to essentials. Partly this is due to his practical nature, but also, he truly loves cycling, and wants what he shares and says to be on target. Characteristically, Bicycle Design is always to the point, and useful. And from a technical viewpoint, the book is a milestone, because it is the first to deal properly with the impact of modern materials and manufacturing methods on cycle design. Here, Mike is at the fore. As a designer, Mike’s greatest contribution is his commitment to continuing innovation. Above all else, Mike shows that bicycle design is not static, it is dynamic and ongoing. –– Richard Ballantine London, 2008