Sport

The 66 via ferrata routes in this guidebook are grouped by area - Geneva and the Northern Alps, Chambery, the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, Grenoble and Briancon - and run the full gamut of challenge, from very easy, protected routes suitable for children, through to extremely exposed and technical routes for experienced ferratists only. Routes are illustrated by topo diagrams on colour photographs, and simple sketch maps. Those used to the older Italian routes will find these French routes quite different, closer to scrambling or rock climbing and often seeking out the most vertigo-inducing terrain. But most routes should be within the reach of any strong hillwalker and protection is high and well maintained. Recent years have witnessed a surge in the number of via ferrata routes set up in the iconic mountains of the French Alps. With routes set on or near many classics including the massifs of Mont Blanc, the Vanoise and the Queyras, this guide shows the best of what is now available.

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A detailed guidebook to walking in Italy's Sibillini National Park. 21 day walks and one 8-day trek of the Monti Sibillini (that belongs to the Appenine Chain) route descriptions are provided in the guidebook, with maps and profiles given for each walk. The day walks range from 3 to 21km in length. The 8-day trek around Italy's Great Sibylline Ring is 120km long, with mountain huts available to stay in along the way. No special equipment or training is required for this route, but a lightweight rucksack, hiking boots and walking poles are recommended. The area has a lengthy walking season from early spring to late autumn, and refuges are open from mid-April to mid-October. Easily accessible the area can be reached from budget airline destinations on the Adriatic Coast, as well as from Rome. The Monti Sibillini straddles the Marche and Umbria, close to the towns of Norcia, Ascoli Piceno, L'Aquila and Perugia. Details of accommodation, refreshments and public transport along all the routes are also included with full-colour sketch maps and profiles.

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They think it’s all over…it is now, with this comprehensive guide to football shirts through the years. From the obscure to the ubiquitous, The Football Shirts Book is packed with over 150 original and super rare shirts from the greatest game on earth. Covering everything from the iconic to the unusual, even the most hard-core fans will find out something new about the kit of their favourite team.Including full-colour photography, as well as interviews with football shirt design teams, musicians, and fashion designers, this guide offers a full exploration of the brands, design, and sponsorship history behind the world’s best-loved football shirts. It is a must-have for those crazy about football shirts, as well as those whose interest is piqued by history, design, and pop-culture.

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With the striking success of Shane Warne and Abdul Qadir in modern Test cricket, wrist-spin bowling is definitely back in fashion. In this fully illustrated and readable book, Peter Philpott shows players and coaches at all levels how to acquire the skills of this highly dexterous style of bowling. Areas include: the basic techniques covered step by step; solving bowling problems; how to bat against wrist-spin; mental and physical preparation for matches and the tactics to use. There is a Foreword by Keith Andrew

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​UPDATED EDITION With over 300 photographs – from the 1950s to the present day and many previously unpublished – this stunning book is the ultimate celebration of Formula One. This new updated version includes photographs from Rosberg's winning and retiring year. From the charismatic rivalries of Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss and the highly competitive Championship battles of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, through to the historic tales of Monaco’s winding course and the atmospheric crowds of Monza, the adrenaline-fueled, high-octane world of Formula One has created some of the greatest moments in sporting history. Chronicling both the changing face of the teams and their cars, from Lotus and Cooper to Williams and Ferrari, and of course the legendary drivers who have pushed their machines and themselves to the limits, these incredible photographs are from the archive of Bernard Cahier and his son, Paul- Henri who have been trackside capturing the drama of the Formula One Championships since the 1950s. Brought to life by Formula One correspondent Maurice Hamilton, they tell the story behind the infamous circuits that have played host to intense rivalries which have produced moments of tragedy and triumph that read like a film script.

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Dutch sportswriter, Nando Boers, and Pedro Horrillo, a Spanish cyclist riding for the Dutch Rabobank team, conceived the idea at the end of 2008 to correspond regularly via email throughout the coming season. They would exchange thoughts about the racing, the results and events in the cycling world. The correspondence, starting early in 2009 begins in that fashion - two friends swapping stories and experiences. Then in May everything changes, utterly: Horrillo crashes, horrifically, in the Giro d'Italia, tumbling 80 metres down a cliff face. Miraculously, after days in a coma, he survives but he will never race again. The correspondence is eventually resumed, and continues in fits and start over the next three years. Boers, infinitely patient and encouraging, is able to cope with long periods of silence from his friend. He understands the psychological healing will take longer than the physical. Then in 2012, Horrillo is able to confront his demons, returning to the scene of his crash where 'my first life ended and my second life began' and describing it in one beautiful, final letter. 'Amigo, here is the story of my pilgrimage to Italy.When you've read this, hopefully you'll understand that I feel free and relieved. ' The book includes 12 pages of black and white photographs by Timm Kolln.

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Miguel Indurain will pass into history not just as the first cyclist to win five straight Tours de France, but also as the standard-bearer for a whole nation. While Spain lived through the dream of his repeated victories the country came to a standstill, for Indur?!in stole people's hearts not just by the number, but by the manner of his victories. Seeing him on the road or away from the action, the gallant loser or the strong, calm victor, the Spanish gained hope, and then faith. And so did many others, for it was the dignity and modesty that Miguel Indur?!in invariably displayed, in victory and defeat, that endeared him to us all. A farmer's son from a small village in Navarra, he never strayed far from his roots, nor did he allow his extraordinary success to go to his head. Javier Garcia Sanchez is a prize-winning novelist with a passion for cycle racing. In this biography of Miguel Indur?!in he takes us on an emotional journey through Indurain's prodigious career. He recounts his exploits and great battles in the saddle, the glory moments and the disappointments, and describes his passions, his ideas, and his land.

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A guidebook to 30 day walks and 2-day excursions, 5 high mountain scrambles and three longer multi-day routes in Spain’s Sierra Nevada. Routes are graded by difficulty: all call for good fitness and hillwalking experience, and the more demanding options involve navigational challenge, prolonged ascents, remote rugged mountain terrain and scrambling. The walks range from 5 to 38km (3–24 miles) and from 3 hours to 2–3 days. The scrambles are graded from Grade 2 to 3S. Also included are a 3–7 day traverse of the range’s 3000m peaks, a 3-day traverse of the 3 highest peaks ('Los Tres Picos') and an overview of the 302km (188 mile) Sulayr GR240. Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping (1:100,000 and 1:250,000 for the longer treks) Photo topos showing the line of the scrambles GPX files available for download Information on water sources, plus additional notes for winter mountaineers Includes ascents of Mulhacén, mainland Spain’s highest summit

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Presents a "Rockfax" guide to the bouldering to be found in and around the Lake District.

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The Costa Blanca has long been the best known Hot Rock winter sun venue for climbers wanting a break from the grim northern winter. The reasons the place became popular in the first place are same reasons that this popularity has endured; easy access, loads of quality accommodation, a benign winter climate, and of course an amazing amount of fantastic climbing on everything from roadside boulders to magnificent mountains. This is the fifth edition that Rockfax have produced to the 'White Coast', with over 22,000 copies already sold over the years. This completely revised and updated volume builds on the success of the earlier ones with increased coverage of the most popular areas and the addition of several new crags. With nearly 4,000 routes and a complete new set of crag shots and action pictures the book stays fresh for years to come.

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Northern Limestone : Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire from Rockfax covers the premier limestone sport crags of the UK with the big three of Malham, Kilnsey and Gordale and their world class climbing. Alongside these titans are numerous other destinations that offer both sport and trad climbing throughout the grades, ranging from the intimidating walls of Blue Scar and Trow Gill to the long lines of newly developed low to mid-grade sport crags such as Moughton Nab and Giggleswick South. Low to mid-grade trad climbing is also well catered for on the walls and escarpments at the likes of Trowbarrow Quarry, Twistleton Scar, Attermire Scar and Witches Quarry.Virtually all of the crags in the book are set in beautiful countryside and are close to fabulous pubs, villages, camping and bunkhouse accommodation.Twistleton Scars, Trow Gill, Robin Proctor's Scar, Crummackdale, Panorama Crag, Moughton Nab, Pot Scar, Giggleswick North, Giggleswick South, Langcliffe, Castleberg Crag, Attermire Scar, Malham Cove, Gordale, Stony Bank, Yew Cogar Scar, Blue Scar, Kilnsey, Dib Scar, Loup Scar, Troller's Gill, Scout Scar, Mill Side Scar, Chapel Head Scar, Humphrey Head, Trowbarrow Quarry, Witches' Quarry.

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"Winter Climbing+" is the third in the critically acclaimed series of instructional books from Rockfax. Written by two of the UK's most respected winter climbers, "Winter Climbing+" takes a positive approach to the climbing discipline that has traditionally had its delights obscured by its dangers.Filled with inspirational full colour photographs throughout, and a clear, concise text that quickly unravels the mysteries of winter climbing, "Winter Climbing+" wastes no time in revealing shortcuts to the skills that make a sound winter climber. The book assumes the reader has no prior-knowledge of winter climbing and starts with the basic skills and equipment that are needed to safely head into the hills. The book progresses gradually to the more subtle movement skills and tactical elements that allow for rapid progress into higher levels of difficulty.Describing the full range of activities covered by the title, "Winter Climbing+" takes a detailed look at both ice and mixed climbing, examining both the traditional mixed climbing skills as well as those needed for modern sport mixed now widely practised. The book follows the style set in previous titles by including an in-depth look at the all-important psychological aspects of the sport, and finishes with a guide to major winter climbing destinations.

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In Patriot Reign (2004), Michael Holley wrote a bestselling look inside what makes the Patriot organization tick and win. In War Room (2011), Holley explored the draft and personnel strategy that makes the Patriots win year in and year out. Now, in BELICHICK & BRADY, he examines how the relationship between these two men has formed the core of arguably the greatest dynasty in the modern-day NFL. Holley is interviewing current and former Patriots players and coaches to provide an unprecedented portrait of Belichick and Brady, two future Hall of Famers. Timed for the beginning of the 2016 NFL season, this book reveals how their partnership has yielded four Superbowl rings, a feat unsurpassed by any other NFL team in recent history. Holley explores their partnership, how they strategized together, weathered controversies, and the big game wins, all fueled by behind-the-scenes anecdotes and information. It will be required reading for Patriots fans and students of the game of football.

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The Dingle, Iveragh and Beara peninsulas dominate the spectacular landscape of southwest Ireland. Their rugged peaks, dramatic ridges, captivating valleys, glittering lakes and stunning Atlantic coastline form a treasure chest of walking options. This guide describes exhilarating walks in each peninsula, accompanied by the author's photographs and specially drawn maps. These walks provide a range of options, both for those familiar with the region and for first-time visitors. This region attracts thousands of walkers annually and, since most routes are not signposted or waymarked, an up-to-date guidebook is essential. The walk descriptions also include material on the fauna, flora, folklore, history, geology and place names of the area.

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The Iveragh Peninsula, the largest in southwest Ireland, stretches from Killarney to Bolus Head and attracts thousands of visitors annually. The Ring of Kerry coastal road winds along its fringes and sandstone peaks soar high above. It is a landscape of raw and stunning beauty from the lakes that fill the corries to the spectacular cliff scenery along its coast. There is no better way to explore this landscape than on foot. This book helps you do just that with routes ranging from a few hours to full-day walks. Explore Valentia Island, the majestic MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and sections of The Kerry Way. Go off the beaten track and explore the coast, hills and woodlands from Killarney to Cahersiveen to Kenmare. Each route is prefaced with a reference summary and illustrated with maps and photographs. Route descriptions include GPS coordinates, navigation guidance, access notes and short variations. There is also material on the fauna, flora, folklore, history, geology and place names of each area.

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Composites have been around since ancient civilisations began making bricks from clay and straw. Glass fibre, carbon fibre and aramid fibres - to name but three - are recent innovations, yet today there are few competition cars that don't have at least some components made out of one or more of these materials. However, while it is well known that glass fibre technology can be used in the home workshop, what may not be so widely realised is that more advanced fibres also lend themselves to DIY methods.This revised edition of Competition Car Composites starts by examining the materials and methods that can be used, explaining basic 'wet' and 'dry' laminating techniques, pattern making and mould construction, and the design and manufacture of components. It then goes on to cover material and technology upgrades, and how more advanced materials can be exploited to achieve improved properties and reduced weight. The use of thermoplastic materials, resin infusion methods, and, especially, 'pre-pregs' in the home workshop, are also discussed, as are the composite techniques used by top racecar constructors.

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Lawrie Reilly is one of Hibernian and Scotland's greatest ever players. A member of Hibs' legendary Famous Five forward line, he played a key part in the most successful period in the club's history. Lawrie's career was a real success story. He won the Scottish League title three times with Hibs and was the club's leading goal scorer for seven successive seasons - a record that remains unmatched. In Last Minute Reilly, Lawrie now reveals for the first time what it was like to be a member of the Famous Five, what made him the incredible player he was, his views on why his Hibs team never won the Scottish Cup and his thoughts on the characters in the game. He also tells the full story of why he decided to go on strike, who brokered the deal to get him back on the field doing what he did best and how he sustained the injury that ended his career before the age of thirty. In his international career, Lawrie Reilly achieved a goals per game record for Scotland that has never been bettered - 22 goals in 38 games. He was always at his very best against England and his knack of scoring late equalisers against the Auld Enemy earned him his nickname of 'Last Minute Reilly' along with everlasting popularity amongst Scotland fans. Last Minute Reilly is the story of a genuine footballing great, a legend of the game and one of football's true gentlemen.

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The captivating and heroic story of Hudson Stuck—an Episcopal priest—and his team's history-making summit of Denali.In 1913, four men made a months-long journey by dog sled to the base of the tallest mountain in North America. Several groups had already tried but failed to reach the top of a mountain whose size—occupying 120 square miles of the earth’s surface —and position as the Earth’s northernmost peak of more than 6,000 meters elevation make it one of the world’s deadliest mountains. Although its height from base to top is actually greater than Everest’s, it is Denali's weather, not altitude, that have caused the great majority of fatalities—over a hundred since 1903. Denali experiences weather more severe than the North Pole, with temperatures of forty below zero and winds that howl at 80 to 100 miles per hour for days at a stretch. But in 1913 none of this mattered to Hudson Stuck, a fifty-year old Episcopal priest, Harry Karstens, the hardened Alaskan wilderness guide, Walter Harper, part of the Koyukon people, and Robert Tatum, a divinity student, both just in their twenties. They were all determined to be the first to set foot on top of Denali. In A Window to Heaven, Patrick Dean brings to life this heart-pounding and spellbinding feat of this first ascent and paints a rich portrait of the frontier at the turn of the twentieth century. The story of Stuck and his team will lead us through the Texas frontier and Tennessee mountains to an encounter with Jack London at the peak of the Yukon Goldrush. We experience Stuck's awe at the rich Inuit and Athabascan indigenous traditions—and his efforts to help preserve these ways of life. Filled with daring exploration and rich history, A Window to Heaven is a brilliant and spellbinding narrative of success against the odds.

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This fully updated 6th edition has had a complete facelift and is now published in full colour in a new format. Throughout, the work has been updated, and in places expanded. It now includes a list of useful waypoints and routes ofr the entire Mediterranean which are shown on overprinted charts folded into the back of the book. The Mediterranean Cruising Handbook is a constant companion to the Imray Mediterranean Almanac and provides information on climate, equipment, radio, naviagation, routes to the Mediterranean, history, marine life, food and basic information on each Mediterranean country.

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Hundreds of first-person reports and photos The AAJ goes beyond social media and marketing copy with in-depth reports, carefully edited by a team of experts The Recon section covers the climbing history and new-route potential of Ushba, the Matterhorn of the Caucasus in eastern Europe Published annually since 1929, the American Alpine Journal is renowned as the world's journal of record for long new climbs of all kinds. The AAJ publishes each year's most compelling mountaineering stories, told by the climbers themselves and carefully edited by a team of experts. Each year's edition reveals newly discovered climbing destinations and unclimbed summits, from Alaska to the Karakoram, with hundreds of color photos.

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Packrafts are rugged, portable rafts, small enough to attach under a rucksack, but stable on the water to reassure first time paddlers. Weighing from 1-3 kilos, they open up a whole new world of amphibious adventuring, from navigating easily accessible waterways to discovering more challenging rivers and lochs only reachable on foot or bicycle. Packrafting: A Beginners’ Guide is a perfect introduction to the game-changing recreational opportunities opened up by packrafting. It takes you through the different types and features of packrafts to ensure that you buy a boat that is right for you and have the right gear to use with it. It clearly explains the basic paddling skills and how to safely evaluate risks on the water. It also introduces the different types of adventures you can undertake with your packraft, from paddling a local canal or river to lashing a bicycle over the bow or using a packable sail to traverse open water. The book is comprehensively illustrated with over 120 colour photographs making it easy to understand and clear to follow.

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR WATERSTONES BEST BOOKS OF 2022 – SPORT 'This book is a work of art about football's works of art... Loved it.' - Kevin Day, broadcaster 'A beautiful showcase of such a distinctive part of the game's culture... impossible not to get lost in the book' – Miguel Delaney, The Independent 'Gorgeous to behold... Unmissable' – Danny Kelly, TalkSPORT radio presenter ‘I absolutely love this book' – Jules Breach, football presenter On high-rise buildings, street corners and stadium walls in countries around the world, eye-catching murals pay tribute to footballing greats. From Messi and Ronaldo to Rapinoe and Cruyff, these striking displays are remarkable testaments to the awe and affection fans feel for these football legends and cult heroes. Join renowned football writer and broadcaster Andy Brassell as he explores this fascinating phenomenon. Offering a fresh, highly visual perspective on the global game, Football Murals is the first book to celebrate these towering works of art. Beckenbauer and Cruyff, Rooney and Ronaldinho, Totti and Salah, Zlatan and Zidane – being honoured with a mural cements a player’s place in a club's heritage and links them to the heart of the community. This richly illustrated book showcases the most impressive examples, explores their inspirational qualities and examines what they say about these icons and their sport. Written and curated by respected football writer Andy Brassell, this ground-breaking book features more than 100 murals from around the world, capturing the scale, grandeur and wit of this powerful and popular art form. Through a series of short essays and extended captions, Andy shares the players’ stories, discusses the cultural politics and explains just why these men and women have been immortalised in mural form. Covering such diverse topics as Home Town Glory, Football Fame and The Cult of the Coach, Football Murals addresses the issues important to fans worldwide. It spans Marcus Rashford's inspirational mural in a Manchester suburb, the George Best tribute on the East Belfast estate where he was born, the 15-foot depiction of Megan Rapinoe in St Paul, Minnesota, and the Naples ‘shrine’ to Diego Maradona. 'I can't tell you how nice it is for players to see their face on a mural.' – Jermaine Jenas, The One Show

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Out now: the autobiography of the legendary sports promoter, Barry Hearn.THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'I am the largest sports promoter in the world. I promote 11 sports to a global audience of billions of people every day of my life'__________A larger than life working class hero, Romford born and bred - always ready with the perfect soundbite - Barry Hearn was famously described as 'roguish but never a rogue'. Hearn is credited with turning snooker into one of the biggest sports in Britain. He essentially turned a sport in which competitors wear bowties into a massive, globally televised event. Away from the table, his promotions empire casts its net over a dozen sports - from professional boxing to darts, fishing to ten-pin bowling - and his career spans four decades. He also previously owned Leyton Orient football club. Packed with hilarious anecdotes from the golden age of snooker, and behind-the-scenes insight into boxing negotiations and darts bust-ups, Hearn's book is a joy to read from start to finish.

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Come together around the campfire with more than 30 delicious, family-friendly recipes for outdoor adventures, including: Skillet Hash with Sausage and Eggs, Campfire Grilled Pizza, Charred Corn Salad with Spices, Pendleton Campfire Popcorn, Giant Snickerdoodle S'mores, and so much more. Discover expert tips on how to prep ingredients ahead of time, easily transport supplies, and cook over an open fire or camping stove. Brimming with Pendleton's signature patterns and timeless wisdom, this handsome book is a wonderful companion for families and friends who love spending time in nature.

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'An important, inspiring book by someone that has encouraged million of people to experience the wonders and friendships of Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' ROBERT MACFARLANE'A treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into rivers, estuaries, lakes and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim or a great adventure. I loved this book!' LYNNE COXCapturing the freewheeling spirit, community and wisdom that defines The Outdoor Swimming Society movement, founder Kate Rew reveals everything you need to know to explore rivers, lakes, seas and estuaries. Sharing tales of her own inspiring swims, Kate explores the rich and varied life of outdoor swimmers, from the physiology of cold to planning lazy hazy downstream swims. An exquisite guide for beginners and enthusiasts alike, The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will lead you to the shore and become your trusted companion for the adventures ahead.

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This book, written with the full co-operation of the factory, brings to life the golden era of Peugeot bicycles. After a brief look at the company's pre-war days, the richly-illustrated pages focus on a period when the Peugeot name was synonymous with the Tour de France and racing, and brings the story up to date with coverage of later machines. Both road and race bikes are looked at in detail, with the book written in a fashion that makes it equally suitable for both reference and as a coffee table tome for the enthusiast.

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“No matter what or how you ride, read this book and remind yourself just how enjoyable cycling can and should be.”—Eben Weiss, author of The Enlightened Cyclist Just Ride is a revelation. Forget the ultralight, uncomfortable bikes, flashy jerseys, clunky shoes that clip onto tiny pedals, the grinding out of endless miles. Instead, ride like you did when you were a kid—just get on your bike and discover the pure joy of riding it. A reformed racer who’s commuted by bike every day since 1980, whose writings and opinions appear in major bicycling and outdoor magazines, and whose company, Rivendell Bicycle Works, makes bikes for riders ready to opt out of a culture overrun by racing, Grant Petersen shares a lifetime of unexpected facts, controversial opinions, expert techniques, and his own maverick philosophy. In 87 short, two-to-three page chapters, it covers: ·Riding: Count Days, Not Miles; Corner Like Jackie Robinson; Steer with Your Hips, Shift with Your Legs ·Suiting Up: The Shoes Ruse; Ponchos—the Ultimate Unracer’s Garment ·Safety: #1 Rule—Be Seen; Helmets Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up to Be ·Health and Fitness: Why Riding Is Lousy All-Around Exercise; Saddles Don’t Cause Impotence; Drink When You’re Thirsty—Not Before Also includes chapters on Accessories, Upkeep, and Technicalities, and a final chapter titled “Velosophy” that includes the essential, memorable thought: Your Bike Is a Toy—Have Fun with It.Winner Silver Medal 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards

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Manchester United:The Biography will do for the football team what Peter Ackroyd did for London in his huge biog of the same name. The book follows the club's extraordinary journey from its birth in the railway works of Newton Heath to its current status as Premier League and European champions. The key stages in United's history will, of course, be covered: the Munich Air Crash of 1958, which saw the best part of an entire team (the Busby Babes) being killed; becoming the first English team to win the European Cup in 1968 (with Bobby Charlton and George Best); the dominance of the club in the Premiership; the controversial sale to American tycoon Malcolm Glazer, right up to Moscow 2008. But by drawing on the recollections of everyone from players and managers to fans and backroom staff, Jim has unearthed enough new material to interest die-hard fans and casual supporters alike. A fascinating history of a remarkable football club, by one of Britain's best-known and most popular sports writers.

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Football isn't life or death - it's much more serious than that...Which players will the fans never forget? Who are the Premier League's best buys? Who were the best link ups in history? In Match of the Day Top 10 of Everything, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards bring all of the charm, wit and punditry of their hit BBC Sounds podcast onto the page, arguing the toss over their favourite strikers, Premier League managers, shock transfers, cult heroes, hard men, FA Cup Finals, and much, much more. The question is...will you agree with their picks?

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Please Don't Take Me Home is the emotional tale of Italian immigrant Simone Abitante's 20-year love affair with Fulham Football Club. After leaving his native country, Simone falls in love with London and its oldest club, embarking on a personal mission to spread the word and get Fulham recognised beyond Britain by as many people as possible. Following the Cottagers through the most successful spell in their modern history, Simone takes his nephews to Craven Cottage where - together with new friends and Whites addicts Jeff, Mark and Ben - they experience unforgettable wins, exhilarating highs and devastating lows, amid rivers of beer, true friendship and an unquenchable passion for the beautiful game. Even after leaving London for Mallorca, Simone keeps following his beloved Fulham, with that famous white jersey serving as a second skin. Played out against a backdrop of heartbreaks, departures and life-changing decisions, Please Don't Take Me Home is a footballing story every fan can relate to.

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West Ham United: From East End Family to Globalised Fandom is the story of the evolution of West Ham. It charts how a works football team was transformed into a club that represented east London's working classes, only to be transformed again in the late 20th and early 21st centuries into a global brand with supporters in every habitable place on Earth. Starting as the Thames Ironworks Ltd works team, they changed their name to West Ham United in 1900, shortly before moving to the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park. For nearly a century they were supported by local working-class men from across the East End of London until a series of economic, social, cultural, geographical and technological changes brought the club a global fanbase. Through surveying West Ham United fan groups across the world, this book attempts to explain this phenomenon and to get a sense of what the club means to those who originally came from the East End, as well as to those who have no biographical connection to the area.

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As Marcelo Bielsa's interpreter, Salim Lamrani was his right-hand man throughout his first season in charge of Leeds United. As a privileged witness to that remarkable 2018/19 campaign, Lamrani tells the inside story of how the club came within a hair's breadth of returning to the Premier League before winning promotion in the very next season to end a 16-year exile. Lamrani lays bare the secrets behind Bielsa's methods, starting with the demands he makes in an intense pre-season, through to the Argentinian tactician's unwavering loyalty to a highly effective style of play - a style based on possession, collective coverage, rapid transitions, changes of tempo and constant attack. For him, beauty is non-negotiable. Thanks to Bielsa, the players of Leeds United were the actors in an unforgettable epic, which made an indelible mark on millions of supporters. Taking us match by match through Bielsa's first year in English football, Lamrani weaves a fascinating narrative and paints an intimate portrait of a unique football genius.

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The entire Ecuador team - all eleven players - were sent off in an international match in 1978! Because of a colour clash, Blackburn Rovers' players wore white evening dress shirts for their 1890 FA Cup final encounter with The Wednesday! In May 1950 Blackpool signed Billy Wright from a local junior club for a set of tangerine jerseys! These are just a few of the many hundreds of startling, unusual and improbable stories thrown up by the beautiful game over the years.In one of the most individual and irreverent collections of footballing facts ever produced, Tony Matthews has unearthed tales of the unexpected that will delight footy fans everywhere. Did you hear the one about the Argentine full-back who scored a hat-trick of own goals in less than an hour? Remember the England goalkeeper who was sent off after just twenty-seven seconds of a Premiership game in 1995? Read about them - and many, many others - here.

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This is the remarkable story of Barry Sheene, the cheeky cockney boy who grew up to become a sporting legend. He won the British motorcycling 125cc championship aged just twenty and twice became World Champion in the 500cc class, despite two life-threatening crashes. In an era when sport and its personalities rarely made it off the back pages, Barry Sheene crossed the bridge between sport and celebrity in a style that only George Best had achieved previously.Barry is an intimate and revealing account told by three people who knew him better than most. Steve Parrish, fellow bike racer and now BBC commentator, Nick Harris, who wrote and broadcast on all Barry's major successes, and Barry's widow, Stephanie. Frank and fascinating, Barry is an exclusive look into the extraordinary life of a charming and complex man.

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'Epic... Wilson writes captivatingly with humour...anyone with an interest in eastern European sport will be consulting this book for years to come' FINANCIAL TIMES'This fascinating and perceptive travelogue includes a fine collection of anecdotes too colourful for fiction' SUNDAY TIMES'A blissful book, lovingly and stylishly written' DAILY TELEGRAPHFrom the war-ravaged streets of Sarajevo, where turning up for training involved dodging snipers' bullets, to the crumbling splendour of Budapest's Bozsik Stadium, where the likes of Puskás and Kocsis masterminded the fall of England, the landscape of Eastern Europe has changed immeasurably since the fall of communism. Jonathan Wilson has travelled extensively behind the old Iron Curtain, viewing life beyond the fall of the Berlin Wall through the lens of football. Where once the state-controlled teams of the Eastern bloc passed their way with crisp efficiency - a sort of communist version of total football - to considerable success on the European and international stages, today the beautiful game in the East has been opened up to the free market, and throughout the region a sense of chaos pervades. The threat of totalitarian interference no longer remains; but in its place mafia control is generally accompanied with a crippling lack of funds. In BEHIND THE CURTAIN Jonathan Wilson goes in search of the spirit of Hungary's 'Golden Squad' of the early fifties, charts the disintegration of the footballing superpower that was the former Yugoslavia, follows a sorry tale of corruption, mismanagement and Armenian cognac through the Caucasuses, reopens the case of Russia's greatest footballer, Eduard Streltsov, and talks to Jan Tomaszewski about an autumn night at Wembley in 1973...

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Presentation Fly-Fishing is your comprehensive guide to fly-fishing for trout and grayling, using a minimalistic approach. It explores leader-to-hand and leader-only techniques with nymphs and dry flies, and from the basis of the contemporary state of the art in fly tackle and skills pushes the boundaries of the sport. The established dogma of the old school is questioned, reaching the limits of what is possible with the conventional approach, and presentation-based technique, which is radically changing the single-handed fly rod sport, particularly on rivers, is explained. Both the fly line-dominated Western style and the Japanese fixed-line style are considered, converging into the leader-only style. Watercraft, techniques, tackle and flies are explained in depth, with consideration of the potential for development on both rivers and lakes. Taking on a fish-orientated approach, rather than one that focuses on the fly, casting or tackle, has been enormously liberating within the sport, and has resulted in a form of fly-fishing that is comprehensively more effective and efficient than hitherto, whilst also being supremely elegant. This book is ideal for anyone who is interested in the many benefits of this groundbreaking approach to the sport.

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The Netherlands has been one of the world's most distinctive and sophisticated football cultures. From the birth of Total Football in the sixties, through two decades of World Cup near misses to the exiles who remade clubs like AC Milan, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea in their own image, the Dutch have often been dazzlingly original and influential. The elements of their style (exquisite skills, adventurous attacking tactics, a unique blend of individual creativity and teamwork, weird patterns of self-destruction) reflect and embody the country's culture and history. This book lays bare the elegant, fractured soul of the Dutch Masters and the culture that spawned them by exploring and analysing its key ideas, institutions, personalities and history in the context of wider Dutch society.

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This is the complete official guide to walking the well-loved and popular North Downs. Whether you're an experienced long distance walker or a weekend stroller, this is the only companion you need to this beautiful and scenic route. The North Downs Way is the National Trail that follows the official acorn waymarks from Farnham to the coast at Dover. This picturesque trail takes in chalk ridges, river valleys and sections of the Pilgrims’ Way. At the eastern end you can either walk via Canterbury (a total distance of 130 miles, 208 km) or follow the southern route (123 miles, 197 km). With Ordnance Survey mapping for the entire route, this is a superb guide to the North Downs Way National Trail which can be enjoyed by all.

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