Cycle racing Books

Book SynopsisSir Mark Cavendish is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of cycling and is the 'Tour de France's best sprinter of all time', according to L'Équipe.Born and raised on the Isle of Man and having experienced early success on the track, Cav joined professional road cycling team T-Mobile in 2006 as a stagiaire. During the 2008 season, he made his first big impact at the grand tours, winning two stages at the Giro d'Italia followed by four victories at the Tour de France at the age of just 22.Following his early career success, Cav went on to dominate the sport. On the track he became Madison World Champion in 2005, 2008 and 2016 and at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio he represented Great Britain in the Omnium event, winning a silver medal.On the road, Cav has achieved a phenomenal 52 Grand Tour stage wins, has won points jerseys at all three grand tours and in 2011 won the coveted green jersey at the Tour de France for the first time, as well as becoming UCI Road Race World Champion. His achievements led to him winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year, as well as receiving an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen.In the summer of 2021, Cav created history - in what many have called the greatest sporting comeback of all time - by equalling Eddy Merckx's long standing record of 34 Tour de France stage wins and winning the green jersey for the second time in his career in the process. Three years on, he masterfully surpassed Merckx's record with an astonishing 35th stage win.

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Book Synopsis‘I rode back down the hill to the athlete’s village. Some of Team Scotland had been watching on the big screen and I arrived to hugs of congratulations. I went inside for a shower and ceremoniously dropped my heart rate monitor into the bin. It was the first day of the rest of my life.’ A little before 1.30 p.m. on Sunday 21 July 2013, Lee Craigie crossed the finish line at Cathkin Braes in the southern outskirts of Glasgow several minutes ahead of her nearest competitor to become the British cross-country mountain bike champion. Lee’s win was the culmination of seven years of training and sacrifice, but it marked the beginning of the end of her competitive career; less than a year later, at the same venue, this time representing her native Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, she crossed the line and quit professional bike racing for good. Lee Craigie is one of Scotland’s great bike racers, yet she has accomplished much more since retiring. In Other Ways to Win she tells her story of growing up near Glasgow and discovering the freedom of cycling – skipping French lessons and heading off into the Campsie Fells to see just how far she could ride. These teenage adventures established cycling as the thread which would run through her life – not only through her racing life and into a new life of two-wheeled adventure, but also through the positive impact she would have on the lives of others, particularly encouraging other women through her work with the Adventure Syndicate. Written with breathtaking honesty, she recounts epic adventures along the Tour Divide, Silk Road and the Highland Trail 550, and examines themes of friendship, loss, identity and the power of the outdoors – and, of course, cycling. Lee Craigie’s story is a welcome reminder that there is more than one way to win at cycling – and life.

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Book SynopsisWhen Jet McDonald cycled four thousand miles to India and back, he didn’t want to write a straightforward account. He wanted to go on an imaginative journey. The age of the travelogue is over: today we need to travel inwardly to see the world with fresh eyes. Mind is the Ride is that journey, a pedal-powered antidote to the petrol-driven philosophies of the past.The book takes the reader on a physical and intellectual adventure from West to East using the components of the bike as a metaphor for philosophy, which is woven into the cyclist's experience. Each chapter is based around a single component, and as Jet travels he adds new parts and new philosophies until the bike is 'built'; the ride to India is completed; and the relationship between mind, body and bicycle made apparent.Trade Review‘A truly unique reading experience’ Bike Radar, Best Cycling Books 2020

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Book SynopsisAn hilarious tale about an epic event, written from a unique perspective. To be able to appreciate the story, the reader needs to be young at heart, have a vivid imagination and a love for adventure. If that sounds like you, join the writer on his journey, and experience his daily ups and downs with him. The Tour Aotearoa is a mountain bike ‘brevet’ (a timed, long-distance cycling event) covering the length of New Zealand. It starts at the most northern point of the North Island, Cape Reinga, and finishes at Stirling Point, just south of Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. The Tour is held biennially and requires participants to follow a set route covering 3,000 km which consists of existing mountain bike trails scattered throughout the country and connected by back country roads. The Tour is unsupported, so participants carry their own gear. To be awarded the brevet, the riders need to cover the full distance within 30 days. The writer took part in the 2018 edition of the Tour. His experience was different from what he expected. He encountered all types of challenges, from getting lost to physical ailments, serious weather events and loneliness. In between he had plenty of time to contemplate and let his thoughts and imagination run free. It helped him pass the time. He was seen late at night, furiously hammering away on his laptop, regardless of how tired he was, reliving the events and contemplations of the day. It helped him make sense of his journey and how it fitted into the complex world we live in. He called it his ‘administration’.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis''Byrne comes across like a post-punk Michael Palin.'' Sephen Dalton, The Times''An engaging book; part-diary, part-manifesto.'' ObserverDavid Byrne, co-founder of the group Talking Heads, has been riding a bicycle as his principal means of transportation since the 1980''s. When he tours, Byrne travels with a folding bicycle, bringing it to cities like London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila, New York, Detroit and San Francisco. The view from his bike seat has given Byrne a panoramic window on urban life all over the world. An enchanting celebration of bike riding and of the rewards of seeing the world at bike level, this book gives the reader an incredible insight into what Byrne is seeing and thinking as he pedals around these cities.

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Book SynopsisA lavish, illustrated companion to the Tour de France that makes for the perfect gift for any cycling fan.The Official History of the Tour de France - fully revised and updated for 2025 - is a celebration of one of the greatest annual sporting events on the planet, and the premier competition in world cycling.Through more than 300 photographs, rarely seen documents and items of memorabilia, this book covers more than a century of fascinating stories about the Tour and its many iconic features, from the gruelling challenges of its mountain climbs to its unmistakable yellow jersey.This revised and updated edition includes an authoritative narrative account of each major era, from the origins of the event in the early 20th century, right up to and including the thrilling 2024 Tour. There are features on superstar cyclists and memorable moments from each period of the Tour''s rich history, plus a foreword from legendary Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault. A must-read for cycling fans everywhere, this is the definitive illustrated book on the Tour.

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Book SynopsisAn expanded edition of the popular landscape and photography book, updated with sixteen new climbsTrade Review'A tribute to nature's beauty and man's dogged determination' - i'[A] spectacular portrait of some of the most beautiful and challenging scenery in the world ... offer[s] cycling aficionados plenty of bucket list inspiration' - Elle DecorationTable of ContentsIntroduction by Michael Blann • The Art of Mountains, Susannah Osborne • The French Alps • The Pyrenees & Mont Ventoux • Switzerland • Spain • The Spanish Islands & Portugal • The Italian Alps & The Dolomites • Essays interwoven throughout

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Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for Cycling Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards 2024*From award-winning author Matt Rendell, an examination of the phenomenal success of Alejandro Valverde and the moral decay at the heart of Spanish cycling.''A study of a dominant force, a true gentleman racer despite his shadowy past'' Dan MartinAlejandro Valverde - the ''Green Bullet'' - was an international symbol of Spanish cycling for a quarter of a century before his retirement in 2022. Hard-working and supremely talented, he won the Vuelta a España and stood on the podium of the Giro d''Italia and the Tour de France. World champion in 2018, he was also the world''s number-one-ranked rider four times. A man of indisputable charisma, he was also a convicted doping cheat.When the Spanish police investigation, Operación Puerto, uncovered a vast international blood doping ring, Valverde denied all involvement. The revelations unearthed by Operación Puerto threatened to force cycling off the road.Valverde''s long career was a high wire walk between the venal interests that surround elite sport in Spain. In a nation beset by corruption, political incompetence and social division, Valverde''s talent aided the public image of unscrupulous political and economic institutions.Even today, Valverde maintains his reticence. The Green Bullet breaks the silence.

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Book SynopsisJack Thurston, best-selling author of the Lost Lanes series and presenter of the Bike Show, takes you on a freewheeling tour of the lost lanes and forgotten byways of Northern England - Yorkshire, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and Lancashire. Including beautiful photography, this is the perfect gift for the armchair traveller and cycling adventurer. With downloadable GPX and route guides, and detailed maps, it is highly practical too. Rides graded from easy to challenging, with best pubs and tea stops, wild swims, finest viewpoints and accommodation too.

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Book SynopsisFully updated to include Sir Chris Hoy's incredible, record-breaking golds at London 2012 (making him his country's greatest ever Olympian), this is the story of a sporting legend in his own words.This 33-year-old cycling fanatic from Murrayfield in the suburbs of Edinburgh defied the doubters who thought he would struggle when his specialist discipline, the 1km time trial, was dropped from the Olympics, and went on to reinvent himself as a track cycling sprinter and triple Olympic gold medallist in Beijing. His return to these shores sparked unprecedented celebrations and real admiration that here was a role model who was the epitome of all things that are good in sport.What makes a champion in sport? In his autobiography, Hoy returns to his roots as a child fully engaged with the BMX craze of the Eighties; when, even as a seven year old his will to succeed allied to an unyielding mental strength set him apart from other youngsters of his age. A promising rower and rugby player in schTrade ReviewPraise for Chris Hoy: ‘It’s hard to think of a more deserving recipient of success than Chris Hoy’ Guardian ‘Who is my sporting hero?' It's Chris Hoy.' He's an inspiration…a real role model’ Team-mate Victoria Pendleton ‘To appreciate Hoy, you need to understand his exercise of self-control, plus those nagging doubts, for it is this potent combination that has driven him to such heights’ The Times

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Book SynopsisUpdated 3rd edition of Bikers' Britain with updated content and new maps in a handy format and wiro binding allow the book to fit into a motorcycle tank bag. Clear routes based on mapping from the experts at the AA, excellent coverage of the whole of Great Britain, including North Coast 500 and South Coast 500.

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Book SynopsisVoted the most popular Italian sportsman of the twentieth century, Fausto Angelo Coppi was the campionissimo - champion of champions. The greatest cyclist of the immediate post-war years, he was the first man to win cycling''s great double, the Tour de France and Tour of Italy in the same year - and he did it twice. He achieved mythical status for his crushing solo victories, world titles and world records. But his significance extends far beyond his sport. Coppi''s scandalous divorce and controversial early death convulsed a conservative, staunchly Roman Catholic Italy in the 1950s. At a time when adultery was still illegal, Coppi and his lover were dragged from their bed in the middle of the night, excommunicated and forced to face a clamorous legal battle. The ramifications of this case are still being felt today.In Fallen Angel, acclaimed cycling biographer, William Fotheringham, tells the tragic story of Coppi''s life and death - of how a man who bTrade ReviewSympathetic and perceptive. Times have changed but the myth lives on * Independent on Sunday *The Italian star's rivalry with Gino Bartali makes Armstrong v Contador look like a playground spat -- Tim Lewis * Observer *Admirable. Coppi's melancholy journey from poverty to superstardom is a cautionary tale of the price of fame * Financial Times *The quality of the testimony and the sources used by Fotheringham are of a remarkable breadth and depth. An excellent book * BBC Sport *Fotheringham is at his best when describing the emergence of a new national hero from a world of rubble and grinding poverty -- Richard Williams * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD*The Rhine is one of the world''s greatest rivers. Once forming the outer frontier of the Roman Empire, it flows 800 miles from the social democratic playground of the Netherlands, through the industrial and political powerhouses of Germany and France, to the wealthy mountain fortresses of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out by bicycle from the Netherlands where it enters the North Sea, following it through Germany, France and Liechtenstein, to its source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it. Blending travelogue and offbeat history, The Rhine teTrade ReviewAmong the finest multi-destination books is The Rhine . . . Coates's itchy feet paddle him steadily (after a disaster in a rowing boat) on two wheels from Holland (sleeping in dunes), past Utrecht to the German border (Arnhem redolent of war in A Bridge Too Far) to sleepier Bonn. History shimmers across his hinterland, contested in two world wars, and his curiosity - Coates's great strength - unearths the ways in which the river shaped the destinies of those who made its ever changing banks their home. * Scotsman - Books of the Year *A captivating mixture of travel and history. * Compass *A piece of nonfiction that's both a travelogue and historic account of how the river shaped Europe. * Smithsonian magazine - Books of the Year *Ben Coates discovers how the Rhine influenced history. * Daily Express *He conveys well the role of the Rhine in European culture and history: how it has been seen at different times as a "free-flowing conduit for goods, people and ideas" and as a battleground and frontier. * Daily Telegraph *We might question the Rhine being considered 'Europe's greatest river'. But Ben Coates makes a persuasive and entertaining argument for the accolade . . . My eagerness to devour each chapter was dependent less on the overall theme of the book, but almost entirely on Coates' engaging writing style and the playful way he reveals the history of this part of Europe. * Geographical *What a wonderful surprise. Amazingly talented, Ben Coates fluently uses his metaphoric skills to paint a vibrant portrait of this river's influence in weaving the tapestry of European life. [A] fascinating and compelling story. * Seattle Book Review *He conveys well the role of the Rhine in European culture and history: how it has been seen at different times as a "free-flowing conduit for goods, people and ideas" and as a battleground and frontier. * The Telegraph *The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2018A piece of nonfiction that's both a travelogue and historic account of how the river shaped Europe. * Smithsonian Mag *we might question the Rhine being considered 'Europe's greatest river'. But Ben Coates makes a persuasive and entertaining argument for the accolade...My eagerness to devour each chapter was dependent less on the overall theme of the book, but almost entirely on Coates' engaging writing style and the playful way he reveals the history of this part of Europe. -- Chris Fitch * Geographical *Also among the finest multi-destination books is The Rhine... his curiosity - Coates's great strength - unearths the ways in which the river shaped the destinies of those who made its ever changing banks their home. * The Scotsman *The history is fascinating but it's the author's anecdotes and turns of phrase that keep you entertained as he progresses by bike, boat and (briefly) on the back of a cow. * Cycle Magazine *

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Book SynopsisExplore 35 of the most notorious, gruelling cycling climbs the world has to offer, guided by the experts at Cyclist, the world's biggest road cycling magazine.Route maps, altitude charts, first-hand ride reports and incredible imagery from the finest cycling photographers combine in this tribute to the peaks, hills and ascents that every cyclist should try.Tracing the routes of the greatest rides across France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, this beautiful book also includes lesser-known climbs covering northern and eastern Europe and the USA - with every single ride tried, tested and conquered by the experts at Cyclist magazine.Climbs include:Monte Grappa, ItalyZoncolan, ItalyPasso dello Stelvio, ItalyAlto de l'Angliru, SpainSa Calobra, SpainKoppenberg, BelgiumAlpe d'Huez, FranceCol Agnel, FranceCroix de Fer, FranceThe Trollstigen, NowayMauna Kea, USA

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Book SynopsisRobert Penn''s It''s All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels is a paean to the humble bike; it''s the story of why we ride, and why this simple machine holds the power to transport us all. Robert Penn has ridden a bike most days of his life. He rides to get to work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to stay sane and to feel free. This is the story of his love affair with cycling and the journey to build his dream bike; a freewheeling pilgrimage taking him from Californian mountain bike inventors to British artisan frame builders, and from perfect components to the path of true happiness. ''A gem of a book ... a joy''  Economist ''Infectious, exhilarating, highly engaging''  Independent ''Be swept along by Penn''s enthusiasm, humour and refreshing candour''  Sunday Telegraph ''Enriches your enjoyment of a ride''  Sunday Times ''As a depiction of a world you might vote for, Penn''s does not sound bad at all''  Observer Robert Penn writes for the Financial Times, Observer and Condé Nast Traveller, as well as a host of cycling publications. He is the author of The Wrong Kind of Snow. Robert lives in the Black Mountains, South Wales with his wife and three children and commutes to work across a heather moor on a mountain bike.Trade ReviewGem of a book * Economist *Penn writes with a Bill-Brysonesque facility for concentrating a lot of information and research into an easy-to-read ... Best of all ... his account enriches your enjoyment of a ride -- Tim Dawson, Cycle Guy * Sunday Times *Fantastic ... Well worth a read if, like me, you love cycling! -- Paul SmithArtfully, Penn turns his quest for hardware ... into a worldwide spin around cycling and its culture -- William Fotheringham * Guardian *The pages overflow with pioneers, mavericks and geniuses - certainly, it is hard to imagine anyone who reads this book being able to buy a bike "off the peg" again -- Tim Lewis * Observer *I've just spent a week pedalling slowly from Windermere to Aviemore with a copy of Penn's zealous eulogy in my pannier. His infectious admiration for the exhilarating sociability of cycling, coupled with reverence for quality craftsmanship, made highly engaging company ... appreciate the wit and enthusiasm of this unusual odyssey -- James Urquhart * Independent *Penn tells us that the bicycle, as we know it, was invented in 1885 and is the most efficient form of transport ever devised... A joyful book -- William Leith * The Scotsman *Bike-lit is booming, and while 'cross-country hardtail' might not have the same ring to it as 'penny-farthing', there's evidently little to do with cycling about which Robert Penn can't wax lyrical. Whether his subject is spokes or saddle sores, he is relentlessly enthusiastic... Penn's amiability is puncture-proof -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *[H]is adrenalin-charged enthusiasm... delivers a good ride... The social history is snappy and his almost religious quest for ultimate craftsmanship full of wit. -- James Urquhart * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThis inspiring illustrated guide from National Geographic reveals the ultimate bucket list destinations for cyclists, from the vineyards of New Zealand to the peaks of Patagonia.Get your pedals turning with this ultimate guide to the 100 greatest bike routes around the world. Beautifully illustrated with National Geographic photography and divided by region, 100 Bike Rides of a Lifetimetakes you across six continents to the most epic bike rides on the planet.Geared to everyone from expert riders to casual enthusiasts, this vibrant book offers a route for every type of biker, from quick jaunts in your own neighborhood to multi-week challenge. You’ll also find essential information—the best time to ride, the best spots to refuel, cultural highlights along each route, where to stay, and how to relax post-ride.Bucket list recommendations include:Delightful excursions on 45 miles of scenic, traffic-free carriage roads through

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Book Synopsis‘They’re all scared. Everybody’s afraid’ – Eddy Merckx ‘Nothing compares to the Ventoux’ – Lance Armstrong 'Heart-stirring and jaw-dropping in equal measure' – Tim Moore The French call Ventoux ‘the killer mountain’ and in 1967 it claimed its most famous victim, as former world champion Tom Simpson died near the summit during that year’s Tour de France. The terrible ascent of Ventoux’s south side encapsulates both the brutality and beauty of this cruel sport, but also highlights cycling’s ongoing battle to distance itself from its demons.  Yet it was the legendary and extreme climb of Mont Ventoux that first inspired award-winning author Jeremy Whittle’s love of cycling, so much so that he bought a house in its shadows. Ventoux is his memoir to the Giant of Provence in which he reveals the little-known history of the VentTrade Review'Heart-stirring and jaw-dropping in equal measure' -- Tim Moore'Highly recommend Jeremy Whittle's Ventoux - a fascinating and expert insight into the mountain and into the current state of pro racing' -- Peter Cossins'My favourite sports book of this year. Really textured, well-written, atmospheric and intelligent.' -- Ed Pickering'A really excellent book' -- Richard Williams'A terrific book' -- Matt Dickinson'An intense hit. A must-read' -- Ned Boulting

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023**''Full of delightful anecdotes and interviews and fascinating historical tales'' Mail on SundayA panoramic portrait of the wonderous vehicle whose passenger is also its engine.A toy, a tool, a liberator, or complete nuisance: the bicycle has been many things to many people over the decades, yet it endures as the most popular form of transport in the world. How has such a simple machine achieved so much?Combining history, travelogue and memoir, Jody Rosen reshapes our understanding of this ubiquitous vehicle from its invention in 1817 to its present-day renaissance as a ''green machine''. Readers meet unforgettable characters: women''s suffragists who steered bikes to the barricades in the 1890s, a Bhutanese king who races mountain bikes in the Himalayas, astronauts who ride a floating bicycle in zero gravity.By examining the bicycle''s past and peering into its fuTrade ReviewWhen I fell in love with riding a bike in New York City last year, what I found myself craving was a history-of the bicycle... that whoever wrote this history would find a way to make it personal and ruminative... Lo and behold: Jody Rosen has written that very book. My wish has come true and a door's been blown open. I got more than I knew I wanted * New York TImes *Two Wheels Good is full of interesting moments...and is often written with real verve... his [Rosen's] enthusiasm for what is sometimes described as mankind's "noblest invention" is infectious * Times Literary Supplement *The engaging tone of Rosen's memoir-travelogue-history is the grim cheerfulness of the urban cyclist. He gives a vivid sense of the cinematic pleasures of cycling through a city. * Spectator *A jovial historical narrative ... Rosen rightly get us to expand our narrow Western image of the bicycle to a global perspective [and] is skilled yet selective in navigating the complex and rich history of the bicycle, taking us across continents and through centuries ... a thoroughly enjoyable, and sometimes surprising read * Cycle *The bicycle has been loved and loathed... Rosen's vibrant history explores it all * BBC History Magazine *Comprehensive . . . [Two Wheels Good] often feels like a leisurely ride, full of spontaneous detours into unexpected delight. But what makes the book essential is its rigorous reporting * The Atlantic *The best thing I've ever read on a single subject... With curiosity, conscientiousness, and an exquisitely light touch, [Joden] makes a convincing case that the story of the bike is the story of modern life -- Lauren Collins, author of When in FrenchWide-ranging and inquisitive, Two Wheels Good is like an entire library of books on the bicycle -- Lucy Sante, author of Low LifeTakes us on a ride-across the centuries and around the globe, through startling history and vivid first-person reporting-offering not just a wry, rich, deeply researched meditation on the bicycle and our relationship to it, but the headlong rush of cruising on two wheels into the unknown -- Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Empire of Pain and Say NothingThe stores are filled with books on little things that changed everything, but Jody Rosen's new book offers us a real little thing-the simple bicycle-that really did change everything, from the shape of our streets to the inner life of our imaginations... this is social history as it ought to be written: funny, precise, surprising, anti-dogmatic and unafraid of following a story, brakes off, to wherever the tale might want to glide -- Adam Gopnik, author of Paris to the MoonLove for two-wheeled transport runs through every sentence in the book... anyone who goes about mostly on two wheels, in defiance of the ever larger, ever more numerous powered vehicles on the road, will enjoy this entertaining ride. * Economist *[A] complex cultural history. . . . The strength of Two Wheels Good is the journalist's eye [Rosen] brings to a basic technology that has had radically disparate identities at different times and in different parts of the world * Curbed *A lively biography of a tool central to the greening of urban spaces. It's also a fascinating, sweeping everyday explainer, moving from the bike's 19th-century origins to its importance globally * Chicago Tribune *Full of delightful anecdotes and interviews, and fascinating historical tales, Two Wheels Good will expand your understanding of what a bicycle is and what it can do * Mail on Sunday *An enthralling overview of a quiet transport revolution * History Today *A terrific book... Rosen covers all the aspects of cycling you could imagine * Reader's Digest *Excellent * Cycling Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'An exceptional read' - Paul Kimmage, author of Rough RideA meditative love letter to the sport of cycling, THE ART OF CYCLING traces the journey of a former professional racer regaining his love for the sport and shows how cycling can shed new light on age-old questions of selfhood, meaning, and purpose.Interweaving cycling, philosophy, and personal narrative, THE ART OF CYCLING provides readers with a deep understanding into the highs and lows of being an elite athlete, the limits of approaching any sporting pursuit from a strictly rational perspective, and how the philosophical and often counterintuitive lessons derived from sport can be applied to other areas of life.Accessible to everyone from the hardened racer to the casual fan, THE ART OF CYCLING engages the history of thought through the lens of cycling to undermine much of what is typically thought of as "intellectual", breathing new vitality into life, and countering society's obsession with progress and drive towards the abstract, detached, and virtual.'Cycling is an extended form of thinking and The Art of Cycling is a dazzling trip on both counts. Taking a racing line between Descartes and Nietzsche, Moser and Merckx, James Hibbard dismantles what it means to be a cyclist and puts it together again in thought-provoking ways - and, like a Zen master or cyclist in the mountains, achieves moments of transcendence'Max Leonard, author of Higher Calling'When you "draft" in cycling, you tuck yourself behind a lead rider and let him or her take the wind and pull you along. This is what one gets to do in reading Hibbard's The Art of Cycling - draft off a strong writer and thinker through a meditation on a very basic, but incredibly beautiful, method of going from here to there at high speed. Drafting can be dangerous if the lead rider is unsteady, but Hibbard proves a reliable guide. The Art of Cycling is worth the ride.'John Kaag, author of Hiking with NietzscheTrade ReviewProfessional bike racing has never lent itself to deep thinkers. Winning is a cruel and ruthless business where the best are taught to keep their head down, arse-up, and brain in neutral. So it's fair to say that James Hibbard was an exception, and that The Art of Cycling is an exceptional read * Paul Kimmage, author of 'Rough Ride' *

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Book Synopsis"Mountain Biking Tricks and Techniques" is the definitive guide to riding a mountain bike. Within its pages, you will find everything you need to know from the basics of how to balance on a bike right through to how to back flip one giving aspiring riders the skills they need to be a better biker - whatever type of riding they do. Your guide is Martyn Ashton, a man who's spent nearly 20 years at the top of the UK scene, and the book is beautifully illustrated throughout by photographer Robin Kitchin. Martyn's guide to mountain biking skills takes you from first principles to professional moves in ten chapters, with each trick described in enthusiastic detail and illustrated with images that are both inspirational and educational. This is not a book for showing off: the techniques are the building blocks for all your riding, giving you the skills you need to make yourself a more complete biker.

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Book SynopsisThis guidebook (Volume 1 of a two-volume set) describes the Danube Cycleway from the Black Forest to Budapest. Passing through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, it covers 1261km and takes 2â??3 weeks to complete. Described across 29 stages, the route is net downhill and suitable for tour cyclists of all abilities.

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Book SynopsisJan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France.In 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. So awesome was his display that it sent shockwaves throughout the world of cycling and invited headlines such as L’Équipe’s ‘The New Giant’. He went on to become Germany’s first ever Tour winner, storming to victory in that edition by almost ten minutes, a result that was greeted as an era-defining changing of the guard. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich was the future of cycling. He was soon also voted Germany’s most popular sportsperson of all time, and his rivalry with Lance Armstrong defined the most controversial years of the Tour de France.Now, Daniel Friebe – who has covered twenty-one editions of the Tour de France – has gone in search of the man who was said in 1997 would go on to dominate his sport for a generation, but never quite managed it.Just what did happen to the best who never was?This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny.Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price can you give sporting immortality?Trade ReviewMagnificent -- Matt Dickinson, The TimesA superlative biography as well as social and sporting history * Observer *One of the best books about cycling * The Irish Times *One of the best cycling books there ever was. So well written and such deep research -- Edward Pickering, editor of Rouleur and author of The Ronde: inside the World's Toughest Bike Race'Masterpiece' is arguably an over-used word, but if ever a book was deserving of such a description, this is probably it - The Washing Machine PostA well-researched biography . . . painting a consistent picture of this all-too-human character from Rostock * Cycling Plus *Richly researched and sympathetically written . . . extensive, thoughtful * TLS *This biography peels back the layers of not just a legendary cyclist, but an interesting character -- Joe Laverick * Cycling Weekly *A fascinating illustration of a richly gifted but deeply flawed character * MSN Ireland *Terrific . . . comprehensive -- Best of 2022, Cycling Plus

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Book SynopsisWhere do you turn when you want to ride in the mountains, to follow in the wheeltracks of professional racers by climbing the famous passes of the Tour de France? There are several books and websites that highlight these renowned ascents, detailing their location, length and every little change in gradient. But how do you go about finding a route that links these passes together, that describes not only where they are and what they're like to ride, but highlights which is the best side to tackle them from and which roads to avoid? Award-winning author Peter Cossins's new series of guides to riding in the Western Europe's high mountains will provide these details - and much more. Inspired by Alfred Wainwright's walking guides to the Lake District, they are intended as the bible for any cyclist riding in Europe's most stunning terrain. The first in the series is The Roads, Cols and Passes of the Pyrenees, which is due for publication by Great Northern Books in June 2020. Featuring 120 routes, 400 Pyrenean climbs and more than 12,000 kilometres of riding, it will detail the best road cycling routes on both the French and Spanish sides of the 600km-long Pyrenean chain, as well as in Andorra. The routes will range from 50-kilometre loops passing some of the most extraordinary of France's Cathar Castles perched on almost impregnable pinnacles to 200-kilometre Tour de France-like epics over several passes. It will not only include illustrious Tour ascents such as the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d'Aubisque and Plateau de Beille, but also draw attention to other climbs and regions that also merit exploration on two wheels, highlighting points of historical significance and the best the roads on which to access them, always aiming to make the riding experience as pleasurable as possible. The book is aimed at anyone who wants to ride in the Pyrenees, from newcomers to road riding who want to take their first tentative steps in the high mountains right through to very experienced cyclists who want to push themselves and explore new terrain at the same time. There will be something for everyone, in every part of the Pyrenees.

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Book SynopsisNow in a fully updated 4th editionfor 2024, Brompton Bicycle tells the fascinating story behind one of theworld's most unusual and popular folding bikes.

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Book SynopsisJan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France.'Magnificent' – Matt Dickinson, The Times'A superlative biography as well as social and sporting history' – ObserverIn 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals at the Tour de France and becoming Germany’s first ever winner. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich would dominate the future of cycling. But he never quite managed it.This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny.Acclaimed journalist Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price are you willing to pay for immortality?Trade ReviewOne of the best cycling books there ever was. So well written and such deep research -- Edward Pickering, editor of Rouleur and author of The Ronde: inside the World's Toughest Bike RaceA beautifully written, vivid portrait -- Scotsman, on Eddy Merckx: The CannibalWell written and well researched -- Cycling World, on Eddy Merckx: The CannibalA fascinating illustration of a richly gifted but deeply flawed character * MSN Ireland *Magnificent -- Matt Dickinson, The TimesA superlative biography as well as social and sporting history * Observer *One of the best books about cycling * Irish Times *'Masterpiece' is arguably an over-used word, but if ever a book was deserving of such a description, this is probably it * Washing Machine Post *A well-researched biography . . . painting a consistent picture of this all-too-human character from Rostock * Cycling Plus *Richly researched and sympathetically written . . . extensive, thoughtful * TLS *This biography peels back the layers of not just a legendary cylist, but an interesting character -- Joe Laverick, Cycling WeeklyTerrific . . . comprehensive -- Best of 2022, Cycling Plus

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Book SynopsisRiding on the edge. The daredevil life of the Wall of Death drivers in the motordrome. Donald Ganslmeier and his colleagues on the Wall of Death of the motordrome are amongst the last of their kind. Their art is threatened with extinction. The photographer Florian Holzherr has created a powerful memorial to the action-packed life around the boards that signify the world. His black-and-white photos of the daredevil motorcyclists and the accompanying texts show the myth of the Wall of Death in a fascinating new way. For several years the Munich photographer Florian Holzherr accompanied the steep-wall motorcyclists around Donald Ganslmeier with his analogue camera while setting up the Wall of Death and riding and then dismantling it again, and then in their lives on the road. The result is images which show the story of an artistry that is threatened with extinction. In impressive, unfiltered black-and-white pictorial language accompanied by powerful texts, the volume enables the reader to learn of the fascination and passion, and also of the risk, as it provides an insight into the lives of the artists beyond the show.

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Book SynopsisJobst Brandt (1935-2015) was a California cyclist and engineer whose passion and intellect changed the way we ride bikes today. Years before the evolution of mountain bikes and gravel bikes, his legendary 'Jobst rides' took riders and their bikes to places they hadn't gone before. Jobst spent almost fifty summers in the Alps, lightweight touring and adventuring over 2,000 miles each time, always carrying a camera to document his trip. He was also the brilliant mind behind many innovations such as the bike computer and smooth tires, and he even influenced the birth of the mountain bike

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Book SynopsisIn ETAPE, critically acclaimed author Richard Moore will take readers on a virtual Tour de France, with each chapter focusing on a single rider in a single stage that came to define the Tour's history.In Étape, critically acclaimed author Richard Moore tells the stories behind some of the defining stages in the Tour de France's history through the eyes of the protagonists: the heroes and villains, stars and journeymen.Featuring exclusive new interviews with Mark Cavendish, Lance Armstrong, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, David Millar, Chris Boardman and many other Tour riders past and present, Étape spans six decades in conveying the mystery, beauty and madness of the world's greatest bike race.The book includes Boardman's famous debut in 1994, Cavendish's best and worst stages, an emotionally charged win for Armstrong in Limoges in 1995 and his dramatic, drug-fuelled victory eight years later at Luz Ardiden, as well as iconic stages featuring giants of the sport: Merckx's tTrade Review“For a truly luscious souvenir of this year…I'd go for Richard Moore's Etape which revisits the men behind some of the most dramatic, evocative and controversial stages in Tour de France history” – The Observer "Spellbinding and Moving" The Herald “A wonderfully readable romp through 20 of the most compelling and newsworthy stages in Tour de France history” – The Tour

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Book Synopsis'It wasn't a race but a war game' Bernard Hinault 'Without question, the hardest one-day bike race ever created' George HincapieThe Tour of Flanders – known to cycling fans as the Ronde – is the biggest one-day bike race in the world.   It is a potent mix of grit, cobbles, steep climbs, narrow roads, national pride, beer, brutal weather and the maddest, most passionate fans in the sport. It’s the Tour de France boiled down into a single day of non-stop action – the Belgian equivalent of the Grand National, Wimbledon and the FA Cup final. And there’s yet more to it than that.   Edward Pickering tells the story of the Tour of Flanders, its history, culture and meaning, through the prism of the 2011 Ronde, an incredible edition that was one of the most exciting bike races of the past half-century. He weaves the narrative of thTrade Review'With regard to the Ronde, Edward Pickering has written what can only be regarded as the definitive book on the subject. if you wish to bear even a minuscule degree of self-respect as a cycling fan, you must buy this book and read it from cover to cover before this year's event...superbly written, well presented and compulsive to the last.' * The Washing Machine Post *'The Tour of Flanders is such a great race, arguably the greatest one day race because of the way it subsumes the region for a day like no other event. So when a book shows up there’s anticipation mixed with risk: can it live up to the promise? It does and you’ll put the book down knowing a lot more about the race and the region. Don’t read it expecting tips on what gearing or tire pressure to use up the Koppenberg, it’s much more the psychogeography of the Ronde and Flanders and all the better for it.' * The Inner Ring *'The race is, as Pickering explains in this beautifully written book, inseparable from the landscape, and the people who inhabit Flanders. The Ronde is exquisitely written and its style, at least to me, is fascinating... Read this wonderful book about the world’s greatest race. Unleash your inner Flandrian: the ten-commandments on how to be a Flandrian are revealed within: You will not regret it.' -- Nick Dey * Cycling Shorts *

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Giro d'Italia - Italy's equivalent of the Tour de France, and its superior in the eyes of many - is as dramatic and full of extraordinary characters as the story of Italy itself. Heroism, suffering, feuds and betrayals, tradition under threat from modernity all play out against a timeless landscape. The iconic riders, mythical stories and career defining exploits are conveyed in rich, vibrant prose.Trade ReviewThere is a feast of anecdote to enjoy ... a marvellous account ... and a tremendously exciting story. -- Tim Parks * Guardian *The Giro and Italy, Italy and the Giro: this book helps to explain how each has helped shape the other ... This book gives an excellent introduction to the history of the Giro and all that it means to Italy and cycling * Road.cc *

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Book Synopsis''Beautiful, an instant classic, a poignant voyage through Barry''s love for cycling and the turmoil he lived through because of it.'' DAVID MILLARIn Shadows on the Road, Michael Barry explores the dreams and passions of cycling in this moving and controversial account of life at the heart of the Peloton, from the one day classics to the Tour de France, from US Postal to Team Sky.In 2012, veteran cyclist Michael Barry announced his retirement from the sport after fourteen years. Weeks later he testified against his former teammate Lance Armstrong, as part of the USADA investigation.In Shadows on the Road, Barry recounts what it was like to ride for US Postal and Team Sky alongside Lance Armstrong, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, and how his early idealistic dreams and passions were compromised by a sport in crisis. Offering a dramatic insight into the life and mind of a professional sportsman - the pressures, sacr

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Book SynopsisExplore, travel, and get fit on two wheels Biking For Dummies will teach you the basics of riding your bike as a workout or as a mode of transportation. Great for people of all ages and fitness levels, this book shows you how to select the best bike for your needs, how to ride safely, and how to maintain your bicycle, so you can enjoy the many adventures that lie ahead. This entertaining Dummies guide answers all your questions about e-bikes, cycling etiquette, must-have gear and gadgets, and staying safe out there. Plus, you'll find bicycle maintenance advice and tips that will help you get faster and ride farther, even if you're starting from zero. Become a cyclist, the Dummies way. Choose the right bike for you and find places to ride itUse correct form, learn the rules of the road, and enjoy every rideLearn to keep your bike or e-bike in good shape for years to comeDiscover which equipment you need, and which you can live withoutBiking For Dummies is for beginners who want to start

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