Sean Conway was stuck in a life dead end of his own making when he heard about a round the world cycling race. He was immediately inspired - but it was a huge undertaking and he'd hardly been on a bike in years. Could he really cycle all the way round the world, solo and unsupported? Six months later, after completing a punishing training schedule and packing up everything he owned into boxes, Sean was in Greenwich Park on the start line of the adventure of a lifetime. Soon he was way ahead of schedule, averaging 180 miles per day, and on course to break the round the world cycling record. But then disaster struck, and Sean was forced to confront the possibility that he may not be able to complete the race... In the course of his 16,000-mile journey, Sean travelled the famous pan-American highway across the Atacama Desert, outran tornados, relied on fellow travellers to ferry water across the Australian outback, and inadvertently joined a cycle club in Mumbai. He learnt things about himself he didn't know and rediscovered a spirit of adventure that changed everything. This is a book about an amazing and sometimes incredibly difficult journey, but it's also a book about never giving up when there's an opportunity to follow your dreams.

The world as seen from a bike 'Understated, comic and melancholic... It'll inspire you to get back on your bike.' Martin Love, The Guardian 'One of the most entertaining sports books I have ever read' Joe Short, The Daily Express In this award-winning collection of cycling tales, Wilfried de Jong uncovers the true soul of cycling - why we do it, why we watch it, why we hate it, why we love it - stripped bare. With his distinctly comic and melancholic charm Wilfried ponders life, love and death on his trusted bike, chasing the essence of our existence against the backdrop of major cycling events or while roaming alone in nature. Whether he is describing being ejected from Paris-Roubaix, a terminal incident with a bird while out riding, or explaining why he is standing stark naked on Belgian cobbles with a tyre in his hand, Wilfried unlocks a sport that involves so much pain, punishment, and a high probability of failure, but that will always liberate and inspire us.

Rod Ismay has a passion (some would say obsession) for the Tour de France. If you think you know someone who is obsessed, think again, but fortunately Rod's issues found their natural home when his native Yorkshire became the host for the 2014 Grand Depart. Rod also has another passion - as well as cycling he is quite keen on bell-ringing, so why not combine the two? Why not get all the bells ringing along the Tour route, why not organise countless events, countless meetings, why not drag in churches far and wide, why not involve your employer, your friends, your family, why not photo-bomb five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault? Rod threw himself, his King of the Mountains jersey and his endless enthusiasm head first into making this Grand Depart about as good and memorable as it could be. Rod has written with passion about Yorkshire, its people, those two stages of the world's greatest cycle race and the churches, ringing their bells all along the race route. If you like cycling then you will love this book. If you know Yorkshire then you will read this book with pride. If you are thinking of marrying a Tour de France obsessive then you need to read this book first.

All routes available to download as .gpx files from https://www.100climbs.co.uk/ride-britain-gpx 'If you're looking for post-lockdown riding inspiration, this book delivers it in spades' ROAD.CC 'This is a truly beautiful book' CHRIS SIDWELLS, author of Wild Cycling and Really Wild Cycling 'Impeccable design and compulsive content . . . phenomenal . . . glorious photography, often colourfully spread across two wide-format pages, each numbered and graded ride is accompanied by a map, a profile that usually resembles the teeth of a tyrannosaurus, a summary of the key climbs, the total distance covered and the total vertical distance achieved on completion' thewashingmachinepost In this inspirational book, filled with amazing photographs, Simon has showcased Britain's beautiful landscape in the same way that Michael Blann and others have done for the mountains of continental Europe. The aim is always to make people want to get out and ride Britain's roads, to entice people to put themselves in the pictures on every page and ride through the stunning scenery. The book is a seamless blend of beautiful photographs and information on the rides, including gradient diagrams and maps. This is Simon Warren taking his well-deserved reputation as the King of Climbs and displaying it in a bold new format, from pocket guide to cinemascope. The book contains 40 inspirational rides split across eight chapters covering the whole of mainland Britain. From Dartmoor through Wales, the Peak District and the Pennines all the way via the Lakes to the Highlands of Scotland. From Surrey and Kent to Lincolnshire and Northumberland, if there are hills Simon has found them and plotted a route to share his knowledge. Each ride includes a profile of the route, a detailed map and breakdown of the key climbs, also a description of what to expect along the way, all illustrated by inspirational photography. The eight chapters cover the South-west, the South-east, the Midlands, Yorkshire, the North-east, Scotland, the North-west and Wales, so, no matter where you live, there will be something close to your doorstep. There is even a route in Norfolk!