BOOKS : Bicycling for Wine

THINKING ABOUT visiting the wineries? Touring wine country by bicycle? You are going to need some help. Knowledge of the terrain is, of course, vital for the cyclist. A book, “Touring the Wine Country by Bicycle,” has come to the rescue.

Peter Powers has included in his handy tome 34 routes in five wine districts from Mendocino to Santa Barbara. The 17 mapped areas are represented with the following: a computer-generated, topographical, three-dimensional map featuring locations of the wineries; a basic road map showing direction of travel; and a route profile, a cross-sectional view of the elevations with mileage references. On each map two loop trips in a particular winegrowing area are detailed--one for the novice rider, another for the more advanced cyclist.

At the end of each map set is a list of wineries, wine-tasting hours and picnic sites, as well as a calorie counter that estimates total calories burned cycling each route.

“Touring the Wine Country by Bicycle” is small enough (3 1/2x7 inches) to fit in your fanny pack or shirt pocket.

“Touring the Wine Country by Bicycle” is available in bookstores and bike shops, or by mailing $11.40 to Terragraphics, P.O. Box 1025, Eugene, Ore. 97440.