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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading
This second volume in this successful series adds another 30
circular road cycle routes of 28 miles to 115 miles, exploring the
best of Scotland's panoramic back roads from the Outer and Inner
Hebrides to the Borders. The routes include a Tour of the Border
Abbeys, the famous Five Ferries route round the Firth of Clyde, a
journey through the Flow Country, routes on Mull and Skye and the
Golden Road on Harris. These day circuits include detailed
descriptions and Ordnance Survey mapping, plus variations and
extensions to ensure you get the best from your day
This guide to the best single track mountain biking in Spain offers
comprehensive travel and cycling information advising riders what
to do both on and off their bikes.
A second volume of photos from the archive of the oldest off-road
cycling club in the world is a further look into an unseen corner
of cycling, social history and outdoor culture. Since 1955 the
members of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship - the world's oldest off-road
cycling club - have explored the 'rough stuff' where the roads end.
From tight thickets to sheer rock faces and the wide open spaces of
the mountains, these pioneers of riding off the beaten track have
recorded their adventures at home and abroad in stunning photos and
ride reports.
This book draws upon the Magnum archive to present a celebration of
the great photographers who have captured those most fugitive of
moments in cycling: the personalities, emotions and human
endurance. It is grouped into thematic chapters, with works by a
range of photographers, showing carefully picture-edited images
with discursive captions. Each chapter also features one `story' of
an iconic moment, event or scene captured by a single photographer.
They explore themes such as the Tour de France, track racing in the
velodrome, winter training and the revelry of the fans and crowds,
with images by a variety of iconic photographers, including Henri
Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Guy Le Querrec and Harry Gruyaert.
Guidebook to 35 full and half day mountain biking routes in
Slovenia. The graded routes, which range from technically not
difficult but requiring a reasonable level of fitness to highly
technical, requiring a high level of fitness and confident bike
handling skills, vary in length from 12km to 59km. Routes are
located in Gorenjska, Soca Valley, the South, as well as Central
and North Eastern Slovenia. Full route descriptions are accompanied
by gradient profiles and 1:75,000 mapping, together with practical
information such as getting to and around Slovenia, travelling with
the bike, arranging accommodation and dealing with emergency
situations. A handy Slovenian language glossary is also included.
Showcasing a remarkably diverse landscape, Slovenia is an idyllic
mountain biking destination. From the towering peaks of Gorenjska
and the stunning riverside trails of the Soca Valley to the
tremendous limestone caves of the Karst region and the forests of
the Nanos plateau in the country's south, there is endless
opportunity for tough climbs, long descents and technical trails -
as well as slow, scenic trips lakeside and through vineyard-laced
landscapes - making it a perfect travel destination for the avid
mountain biker.
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS CYCLING BOOK OF THE
YEAR* The gripping and revealing autobiography of one of Britain's
most successful international cyclists of the modern era 'Getting
in a break was my one chance of winning. The hard part was working
out, again and again, how to make that chance count' Sharp,
resourceful and a permanent outsider; for nearly 20 years Steve
Cummings determinedly blazed his own winning trail in international
cycling. A maverick who defied the dominant teams, to record a
sequence of gloriously improbable victories, he has lived and raced
with legends of the sport - Cavendish, Wiggins, Froome, Thomas and
others - about whom he has strong views and untold stories. This
autobiography of one of Britain's most successful international
riders of the modern era takes the reader from Steve's earliest
days as a junior, pounding across the flatlands of the Wirral,
through his love-hate relationships with the British Cycling track
cycling squad, to his series of top-level breakaway victories in
the Tour de France, Tour of Britain and Vuelta a España and -
rather than standout physical talent - how developing his own
strategies and training techniques enabled him to succeed against
the odds. The Break will be the first full-length account of the
life and times of, in the words of ProCycling magazine, a
'universally popular and respected rider in the cycling world'.
How would any of us feel if we could meet our teenage selves, a
ghost on the road? Everything Passes, Everything Remains is a
confluence of journeys, made by Chris Dolan, his friends, and
writers before him. It's a bit about cycling, a bit about walking,
and a bit about buses. It's a kind of travelogue, over time, and
through some lesser-known parts of Spain. It's an obsession with
Spain's writers and its history, from the Inquisition to the Civil
War to the questions it faces as a country today. What makes a
nation, or a family for that matter, or a group of friends? In many
ways it's as much about Dolan's native Scotland as Spain. But
mostly, it's about the highs and lows of growing up and growing
older - how the past plays merry hell with the present. About
friendship, loss, music, memory, and the demons that follow us as
we try to make sense of our history and our place in the world.
An 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’.
Having documented the famous cycling climbs of France and Italy,
Simon Warren completes his trilogy on cycling's Grand Tour nations
with the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of Spain. Packed full of the
legendary roads on the Spanish mainland which have found fame in
the Vuelta a Espana, such as the Angliru, Alto de Velefique, Lagos
de Covadonga and the mighty Pico Veleta, the featured climbs travel
the length and breadth of the country - from the Pyrenees, across
the Basque Country to Asturias, around Madrid and down through
Catalunya to Andalucia. The book also travels out to sea to cover
Mallorca and the Canary Islands. These perennially favoured
destinations for cyclists searching year-round sun are home to some
extraordinary climbs, from Sa Calobra on Mallorca, to Teide on
Tenerife, and the incomparable Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma.
This guidebook provides 14 stages of route description to cycling
along the Moselle river, a route that offers stunning scenery,
plentiful accommodation and places to eat and drink, and
straightforward cycling throughout. A well-waymarked, generally
downhill 512km route, it is mostly off-road and on well-surfaced
cycle tracks (mainly asphalt) with virtually no gradients, and the
majority is along the riverbank or on canal towpaths. From its
source in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France, the Moselle flows
through the French region of Lorraine and crosses into Luxembourg
then into the German Rheinland region before it reaches its
confluence with the Rhine at the west German city of Koblenz.
Suitable for both veteran long-distance cyclists and for newcomers
to cycle touring who wish to start with an easy-to-follow journey,
the route can be completed in a week by fit cyclists, cycling two
stages per day. Two weeks allow for alternative stages and optional
excursions through the Saar and Rhine gorges and to visit the
Boucles de Moselle and the city of Luxembourg, and give enough time
for sightseeing and a leisurely riding pace.
In "Hike and Bike Bowland" Jon Sparks will show you around. On his
well chosen 24 walks, 7 road bike and 4 mountain bike rides he will
take you to places high and low, by river, through woods and onto
the tops. In these fine landscapes you can lean back on a warm rock
and listen to the call of the curlew or amble through meadows
glowing with buttercups or, for those of you with a zest for
something more daring, take a white-knuckle ride on the rocky
mountain bike trails of Gisburn Forest. There's even a long
distance route, which can be broken up into six linear walks, with
good transport links making it straightforward to tackle them
individually. The author provides fascinating background
information on flora and fauna, history, legend and literature. The
book is sumptuously illustrated with the author's photographs and
simple but clear full-colour mapping. Award winning photographer
and writer Jon Sparks founded his career on photographing
Lancashire and the Lake District. Today his library encompasses
images from five continents, with specialist coverage of the
Scottish Islands, Finland, and major Baltic destinations. He has
written many highly successful guidebooks for walkers, climbers and
cyclists, an acclaimed book on outdoor photography, and travel
guides to Finland and to the Baltic. He writes regularly on
photography and is responsible for an ongoing series of Nikon
camera guides. Jon's high photographic ability turns "Hike and Bike
Bowland" into a splendid celebration of the Forest of Bowland's
extreme beauty and, being a local (Jon lives in Garstang), he has
the experience to show his readers all the best routes to the best
places. Although it is a guidebook, "Hike and Bike Bowland's" high
quality printing and illustrations will make this desirable winter
fireside reading and a popular gift.
Explore the best of Britain by bike with this unique cycling guide.
In this boxed collection of 60 pocket-size cards you'll find a
happy mix of specially-devised cycling routes around Britain's
beautiful towns and glorious countryside. The routes range from
half a day to three days and are aimed at recreational as well as
seasoned cyclists. * Inspirational bike rides - handy, pocket size
cards that brim with photos and artwork that bring the tour to life
* Box includes transparent sleeve - if it rains you can pop the
card into the sleeve to protect it from the elements * Memorable
expeditions - these ingeniously through-out routes make clever use
of green lanes, cycle paths and bridleways * Routes for everyone -
There are plenty of half day routes all the way up to 3 day routes
and all the routes are linked with charming places to stay * All
the planning is done for you - each card has a map, route
instructions, points of interest and essential information
including train connections Pocket a card, leave the box on your
bookshelf and enjoy a glorious day out on your bike.
This is the fully updated and revised 2nd edition of the definitive
guidebook to one of the most popular long distance cycling routes
in the UK, and now in full colour throughout. All the information
you need to complete this 100 mile signed cycle route across Devon,
the guide features: detailed full-colour mapping; accommodation
listed and mapped; eating spots and places of interest; bike shops,
tourist information and lots more; and, full colour photos. Cycle
from the rocky coves and cliffs of fishing port Ilfracombe on
Devon's north coast to the docks and impressive harbours of
maritime Plymouth, experiencing a bewildering variety of scenery in
between. The wide, sandy expanses of the Taw and Torridge estuaries
are followed by rolling green hills, then the eerie tors of western
Dartmoor. A final descent down the Plym Valley brings you to your
journey's end. The route uses some of the country's finest
dedicated cycle paths, developed by the sustainable transport
charity Sustrans. These include the Tarka and Plym Valley Trails
and the Granite Way. They are linked by quiet minor roads and
bridleway tracks, making the route suitable for leisure riders,
mountain bikers and tourers. Is there a more varied and beautiful
100 mile cycle route in the country? It's hard to think of one.
This is a great short break or a weekend challenge.
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
2022* 'How doping killed cycling's 'golden boy'. A shocking,
clear-sighted and sympathetic account of a talent destroyed by
drugs.' The Times 'Sensitive yet compelling.' The Observer They
called him God. For his grace on a bicycle, for his divine talent,
for his heavenly looks. Frank Vandenbroucke had it all, and in the
late nineties he raced with dazzling speed and lived even faster.
The Belgian won most of cycling's most prestigious races, including
Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris-Nice, enthralling a generation of
cycling fans. Off the bike, he only had one enemy - himself. His
rise to prominence coincided with a rampant period of doping and
Vandenbroucke had a wayward streak. He regularly fell out with team
managers and had all-night party sessions mixing sleeping pills and
alcohol. A drugs scandal started a long fall from grace, leading to
addiction, car crashes, court appearances, marital problems and
suicide bids, punctuated by sporting comebacks. His life was like a
soap opera and its premature ending shocked many. In October 2009,
aged thirty-four, Vandenbroucke was found dead in a Senegalese
hotel room - in mysterious circumstances. Led by candid
contributions from his closest family, friends and associates,
William Hill award-winning author Andy McGrath lays bare
Vandenbroucke's turbulent life story. God is Dead is the compelling
biography of this mercurial cycling prodigy. - 'With his talent,
Frank is the Johan Cruyff of cycling. He could win anything.' Eddy
Merckx, FIVE TIMES WINNER OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE 'Captures the
charisma and chaos of Vandenbroucke's short life perfectly.'
Cyclist 'A cautionary tale. Gripping yet harrowing.' Bikeradar
This guidebook describes two cycle routes between London and Paris:
the 490km 'classic route' and the 387km Avenue Verte. Passing
through rolling chalk downland and characterful market towns, the
trails link these two great cities with their grand buildings,
famous museums and iconic monuments. Ideal both for cycle-touring
holidays and charity challenges, both routes are well within the
capabilities of cyclists of moderate fitness and will generally
take between five days and a week - meaning that a round trip,
including a few days sightseeing in Paris, can easily be
accomplished in a fortnight. The routes are described in both
directions, with the primary route description running from London
to Paris. The classic route is presented in eleven stages; the
Avenue Verte in nine, with clear step-by-step directions
accompanied by mapping, elevation profiles and notes on local
points of interest. A comprehensive introduction covers all the
practicalities, such as Channel crossings, accommodation and what
to take, and also offers a fascinating historical overview of
southern England and northern France. A summary of facilities,
useful contacts and an English-French glossary can be found in the
appendices. The classic route crosses the Channel between Dover and
Calais and makes use of quiet country roads, rural tracks and
dedicated cycle paths, with a number of off-road sections.
Developed to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics, the Avenue Verte
is fully waymarked and makes maximum use of Sustrans off-road cycle
tracks in England and voies vertes (rural cycle routes) in France:
it uses the slightly longer Newhaven-Dieppe crossing. Cycling from
London to Paris draws on the best of both worlds: England and
France; the bright lights and vibrant attractions of the city and
the delightful scenery of Kent, Sussex, Hauts-de-France and
Normandy. The journey offers a wonderful cycling experience, as
well as a unique insight into the cultures of both nations.
By a winner of the Stanford Dolman Award for Travel Writing
"Sayarer is a precise and passionate writer . . . We need writers
who will go all the way for a story, and tell it with fire. Sayarer
is a marvellous example" HORATIO CLARE On the eve of its centenary
year and elections that will shape the coming generations, Julian
Emre Sayarer sets out to cycle across Türkiye, from the Aegean
coast to the Armenian border. Meeting Turkish farmers and workers,
Syrian refugees and Russians avoiding conscription, the journey
brings to life a living, breathing, cultural tapestry of the place
where Asia, Africa and Europe converge. The result is a love letter
to a country and its neighbours - one that offers a clear-eyed view
of Türkiye and its place in a changing world. Yet the route is
also marked by tragedy, as Sayarer cycles along a major fault line
just months before one of the most devastating earthquakes in the
region's modern history. Always engaged with the big historical and
political questions that inform so much of his writing, Sayarer
uses his bicycle and the roadside encounters it allows to bring
everything back to the human level. At the end of his journey we
are left with a deeper understanding of the country, as well as the
essential and universal nature of political power, both in Türkiye
and closer to home.
This guidebook describes 37 day rides for all abilities, and 22
linking routes for more experienced cycle tourists, allow riders to
visit all the essential sights in over 20 islands of the Hebrides
and of the Firth of Clyde. Routes range from those suitable for
short weekend breaks to a challenging 600-mile tour (includes the
200 mile Hebridean Way / NCR 780 along the length of the Outer
Hebrides). Whether you're putting together a fortnight's tour or
just enjoying a few day rides from a single base, this guide is
packed with useful information to help you make the most of your
trip. The Hebridean islands offer a wealth of wonderful scenery:
the majestic Cuillin mountains on Skye; the otherworldly palm trees
on Bute; the marvellous white shell sands on Tiree and Harris. This
guidebook features detailed custom mapping and elevation profiles
for all routes, and comprehensive information of ferry and
transport routes, accommodation, food and drink, supplies, cycle
spares and repairs. Island hopping in these islands is a magical
experience. The guide visits over 20 of them and each has its own
interesting history and wildlife. Reasonably fit cyclists can enjoy
these routes at their own pace; experienced cycle tourists will eat
up the miles.
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