Rides using Trans Pennine Trail, Pennine Bridleway and featuring a 110 mile 'Pike to Peak' circular route, linking the famous landmarks of Stoodley Pike near Hebden Bridge to Rushup Edge and Mam Tor in the Peak District National Park. The Pike to Peak is around 75% off-road and uses old packhorse trails and turnpike roads to take in some of the area's most stunning scenery and attractive towns and villages. An ideal long weekend challenge! - Off-road riding with the emphasis on broad, rideable tracks for adventurous leisure riders. Ideal for electric mountain bikers getting their first taste of the activity. - 14 epic circular bike rides along classic trails such as Cut Gate, Wessenden Valley, Holme Valley, Reddyshore Scout, Ladybower Reservoir and the Hope Valley. - 20 family trails including sections of the Calder Valley Greenway, Longdendale Trail, Tame Valley Trail, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Sett Valley Trail and many more. - Cycle-friendly accommodation listings located on the map. - Internet links guide users to web pages where they can download GPX route files and get lots more background information about the routes.

A Place Apart is a remarkable geographical and psychological travelogue that rises above history, politics, theology and economics. Created by a southern Irishwoman, cycling into the mayhem of Northern Ireland in order to try and sort out her own opinions and emotions about this troubled land. She came equipped with her own childhood experiences of murder and Republican martyrdom, but was otherwise unfettered by sectarian loyalties and armed with a delightful curiosity, a fine ear for anecdote, an ability to stand her own at the bar and penetrating intelligence. She travelled extensively through both town and country, frequently finding herself in horrifying situations, and sometimes among people stiff with hate and grief: but equally, she discovered an unquenchable spirit everywhere that refused to die. Other Dervla Murphy titles published by Eland. Original Hardbacks: A Month by the Sea: Encounters in Gaza, The Island that Dared: Journeys in Cuba, Eland Classics: Wheels within Wheels, Full Tilt: From Ireland to India with a Bicycle, In Ethiopia with a Mule, Where the Indus is Young: A Winter in Baltistan, Tibetan Foothold, The Waiting Land: A Spell in Nepal, On a Shoestring to Coorg.

Jack Thurston, best-selling author of the Lost Lanes series, takes you on a freewheeling tour of the hidden lanes and forgotten byways of the Midlands and beyond, from the windswept hills of Shropshire to the big skies of Lincolnshire, from the crags of the Peak District to the comely villages of the Cotswolds. Graded from easy to challenging, with listings of the best pubs and tea stops, wild swim spots, viewpoints and accommodation too. Accompanied by a dedicated website, downloadable GPX files, turn-by-turn route instructions and detailed maps. All rides are accessible by train and include Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire. > Enjoy the traffic-free trails of the Peak District, taking in dramatic landscapes, grand country houses and a wealth of industrial archaeology > Explore the Cotswolds on its quietest country lanes and hidden byways, stopping at cosy pubs and breathtaking sunset viewpoints > Follow in the tyre tracks of Edward Elgar to the summit of the Malvern Hills for some of the most splendid views of England > Discover secret Birmingham on its vast network of canal towpaths and traffic-free urban greenways > Ride high along the dramatic Shropshire Hills on the contours of Brown Clee Hill, the Wrekin, the Stiperstones and Wenlock Edge

"A middle-aged crisis takes many forms..." Tadej Pogacar has 7% body fat, Chris Froome's resting heart rate is 30bpm, Mark Cavendish reaches sprint speeds of over 50mph. They're super-human cyclists for whom riding 3,500km over 21 stages across the Alps and Pyrenees is a matter of course. James Witts is 44 years old, fatty deposits nestle on his back and he has a penchant for craft ale. He also rides a little. But not a lot. In his job as cycling journalist, however, he does have unparalleled access to the world's best riders and their world-class support staff. Which got him thinking - could spending time with the pros, discovering the training, gear and nutritional tricks of the trade, transform this back-of-the-pack sportive straggler into a fit-and-fast frontrunner? Doubtful, improbable though not impossible. In this entertaining tale, Witts utilises his connections in the industry to gain access to the world's greatest teams and riders to reveal the tricks of the trade that he can then apply to his own less-than-world-class performance. This warm-hearted and amusing tale is of an Everyman dropped into the world of Supermen. James Witts trains, rides and eats using the regimes of the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer his very own Grand Tour. Will he sacrifice the pub for stamina boosting beetroot juice? Can an altitude mask really send his performance soaring? And will his ego cope with a drag-cutting, little-left-to-the-imagination skinsuit? Learn and laugh on a journey of a lifetime.

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.

A profound insight into the stories behind the image of the Tour de France, showcasing the sacrifice, despair, strategy and chaos of those four weeks in July to reveal a fascinating new perspective on the greatest race on earth. Every year the Tour de France puts on one of the great viewing spectacles in sport, showcasing extraordinary human endurance and one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. But underneath the facade, it's a different story - a story of suffering, sacrifice and pain. This is that story. Pain and Privilege gets under the skin of cycling's cruel super race and describes what the race that unites people from all over the globe is really like, from the laughs to the tears, from the politics to the personal, from inspirational triumph to desperate failure. Team staff, sports scientists, psychologists, media and dignitaries all contribute to draw a more complex and confronting portrait of the world's grandest sporting spectacle. With exclusive contributions from Richie Porte, Cadel Evans, Chris Froome, Michael Matthews, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Robbie McEwen, Michael Morkov, Jens Debusschere, Matt White, Allan Peiper, Cherie Pridham, Enrico Poitschke, Mathew Hayman, Simon Clarke, Marcel Kittel and Luke Durbridge. Plus, insights from Geraint Thomas, Mark Cavendish, Patrick Lefevere, David Brailsford, Tadej Pogacar and more.

Whether you are cycling south from Scotland or took the train up from Newcastle, the coast of Northumberland between Berwick upon Tweed and Newcastle will take your breath away. Lindisfarne Holy Island with its unique causeway and five historic remote castles are the main attractions. One of them is Alnwick Castle, famous for the Harry Potter film appearances. Newcastle is the largest city on the route. With the estuary of the River Tyne, things never feel crowded. You cycle via the famous Angel of the North, Millennium Bridge and historic Grainger Town to remains of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Derwent Walk Country Park features a worldclass cycle path in a wooded valley, heading for World Heritage site Durham, with its historic city square, cathedral and castle. Returning to the North Sea Coast, Hartlepool Headland and the famous River Tees Transporter Bridge take you via industrial Middlesbrough into North York Moors National Park. After a demanding ride in beautiful countryside with moors and valleys, Whitby town and abbey are at the start of the coastal Cinder Track to seaside resort Scarborough. Cycle to York via the Yorkshire Wolds or head for the Hull ferry. From the Hull ferry, you can also join our route south via York. York is England's most popular tourist destination after London, famous for its cathedral, city walls and National Railway and Jorvik Museums. Via the low lying Humberhead Levels, Selby Abbey and Doncaster, the Trans Pennines Trail takes you to higher grounds. The Don Valley Trail via the Wharncliffe Woods take you to Peak District National Park. At remote Stanage Edge you'll find yourself on the top of the world. This spectacular vault line of rock continues to Castleton, famous for its caves and castle. The Monsal Trail features spectacular tunnels and high bridges and takes you to bustling Bakewell. The scenic Tissington Trail will finally take you out of the hilly Pennines. Via the pretty Derbyshire Dales, Burton on Trent with its brewery museum and the National Forest you'll arrive in Leicester. The National Space Centre and King Richard III Museum can keep you occupied before heading deeper south to the original rugby grounds of Rugby, stylish Royal Leamington Spa, grand Warwick Castle and the hustle and bustle of Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. The Cotswolds are remarkably quiet, featuring hilly countryside hardly affected by modern times. Its marble is Blenheim Palace World Heritage just before arriving in famous Oxford. Then you make your way into the Wessex Downs via the Ridgeway, taking you via Uffington White Horse to the World Heritage stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge. Salisbury is famous for its beautiful cathedral. Deep south, forest tracks in the New Forest National Park take you to Isle of Wight ferry. The cliffs of The Needles are your ultimate 'end of the land'-finale of the ride. Via the spectacular Tennyson Trail you'll arrive at Sandown Beach before hover crafting to bustling Portsmouth with its numerous railway and ferry connections.

The story of global sport is the story of expansion from local development to globalized industry, from recreational to marketized activity. Alongside that, each sport has its own distinctive history, sub-cultures, practices and structures. This ambitious new volume offers state-of-the-art overviews of the development of every major sport or classification of sport, examining their history, socio-cultural significance, political economy and international reach, and suggesting directions for future research. Expert authors from around the world provide varied perspectives on the globalization of sport, highlighting diverse and often underrepresented voices. By putting sport itself in the foreground, this book represents the perfect companion to any social scientific course in sport studies, and the perfect jumping-off point for further study or research. The Routledge Handbook of Global Sport is an essential reference for students and scholars of sport history, sport and society, the sociology of sport, sport development, sport and globalization, sports geography, international sports organizations, sports cultures, the governance of sport, sport studies, sport coaching or sport management.

The fascinating and unknown story of the Tour de France's ever-changing relationship with money and power - and the enigmatic family behind it all. It started with a cash drop by an English spy in occupied Paris in 1944. Reserved for Resistance groups during the war, the money reached Emilien Amaury, an advertising executive, who was tasked to help France return to a free press once liberated. He soon launched a newspaper empire that - unbeknown to him - would own the rights to run what would become one of the greatest sporting events in history. Le Tour, once a struggling commercial phenomenon, began to rise in popularity across much of western Europe in the glum years after the Second World War, lifting the mood of the hungry and despondent French. But with the increased interest in the event, exacerbated by the creation of television and the internet, came several cultural threats to national heritage. Multiple attempts to wrest power and profits from the latest generation of the Amaury family - who still own the race and take tens of millions of euros home in dividends - have followed, but not without a fight. Fast-paced and fastidiously researched, Le Fric illustrates how moments off the bike at the Tour de France are every bit as gripping as the battle for the yellow jersey.

This guide describes the first 1269km of the cycle route that follows the Danube river from its source in the Black Forest to Budapest. Leading through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, the route visits spectacular gorges, hilltop castles, vineyard-clad hillsides and medieval towns. The route mostly follows part of the EuroVelo route 6 (EV6). This guide breaks the route into 29 stages, averaging under 44km per stage. A fit cyclist, cycling an average of 90km per day should be able to complete the route in a fortnight. Suitable for all levels of cyclist, on all types of bike, the route is on a gentle downhill gradient, is mostly off-road and uses well-surfaced and dedicated cycle tracks or quiet country roads. You can break the journey at almost any point as there are many places to stay along the way, varying from youth hostels through to B&B's, guest houses and hotels. The route's highlights include the great imperial cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, with their palaces, cathedrals, museums and galleries.

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.

Sweeping contest wins since the age of thirteen, Gonzales quickly went from teen star to skate legend when he took to the streets. Widely revered as the inventor of street skating and for his groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind style, throughout the years Gonz has remained one of the most prolific innovators in skateboarding. Today he rides for iconic brands Supreme, Adidas, and Krooked and has cemented his place in skateboard and pop-culture history. Hailed for a sense of fearlessness and creativity that has influenced skaters around the world, Gonz s talents stretch far beyond the skate orbit. His long-standing collaborations with brands including Adidas, Supreme, Thrasher, RETROSUPERFUTURE, JanSport, and Etudes, all gathered in this volume, showcase his rebellious vision. This is the first comprehensive book devoted to the Gonz s pioneering work in skateboarding as well as streetwear, fashion, and art a bold collection of work straight from the mind of the artist, as seen through exclusive work by the creator of some of his most iconic images, Sem Rubio. Much of the book shows off his legendary tricks and a portfolio of his many worlds. With contributions by Hiroshi Fujiwara, KAWS, Ed Templeton, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Stan Smith, Gus Van Sant, and more, this indispensable volume gathers over thirty years of creation by a man widely recognized as the most influential skateboarder of all time.

A TRUE CLASSIC OF CYCLING LITERATURE

'Nobody evokes the transformative joy of cycling the way Fournel does here ... magical' - Herbie Sykes

"I ride to rest and to tire myself out; I ride to do myself good and to do myself harm"

... one of the many cycling paradoxes explored in this unique and delightful book.

"I've never got over this miracle"

Starting with the childhood joy of learning to ride a bike, Need for the Bike goes on to relate the agony of climbing, the angst of crashing, and all the other universal moments and feelings which all cyclists will recognise.

"To get on a bike is to take possession of the landscape"

The sounds, smells, pains and joys of riding with friends or alone, finding things on the road; getting lost, "re-reading" familiar routes; Paul Fournel's classic comes as close as any book has to an encapsulation of why we all need the bike ...

This is a biography of Brian Robinson, racing cyclist. Brian Robinson, the first Englishman ever to complete the Tour de France, went on to make a career as a professional cyclist in what is generally regarded as one of the toughest eras in a very tough sport. He adapted to French life, the continental style of racing and the taxing demands of a long season with clear-headed tenacity. For all the British riders who later followed him to Europe - and there have not been many since his days as a lone coureur anglais, still a comparatively rare breed - he was, without dispute, the great pioneer.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the UK's top mountain biking destinations with an abundance of thrilling and varied trails against a stunning backdrop of rolling fells and limestone scenery. Drawn from the author's 20 years of mountain biking in the area, this guidebook describes 30 original and exciting routes of varied length and difficulty to cater for riders of all abilities. Newcomers and veterans alike will be surprised by routes on little-known trails. The hundreds of tracks and bridleways crossing the Yorkshire Dales make it a rich adventure playground for mountain bikers. So what are you waiting for? 30 routes throughout England's second largest national park, divided into short, medium, long and full-day loops suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners through to experts information to help riders choose a route by distance, difficulty, time or how much of it goes off road at a glance

This guidebook describes a 240km cycle ride along the length of the Canal du Midi in southern France. Starting at Toulouse in the Haute Garonne and finishing at Sete on the Mediterranean Coast, the route is divided into five stages of about 50km. It is a flat, car-free and picturesque route mainly on the towpath, and is suitable for all abilities. The guide is written for those who want to explore the canal and visit attractions along the way. There are lots of optional detours to sites of interest near the canal, as well as six longer excursions including fortified Carcassone, Roman Narbonne, Vendres lagoon and the Portiragnes marshes. Detailed route descriptions are crammed with additional information about points of interest passed, and 1:200,000 scale maps clearly show the route for each stage of the way. Begun in 1666 the Canal du Midi is one of the world's most picturesque waterways and a World Heritage Site. This is 'La France Profonde', a region rich in history and culture, as seen in the grand homes and chateaux that grace the water's edge, and the fascinating Cathar strongholds of Carcassone, Lastours and Minerve.

Skateboarding and Femininity explores and highlights the value of femininity both within skateboarding and wider culture. This book examines skateboarding's relationship to gender politics through a consideration of the personal politics connected to individual skateboarders, the social-spatial arenas in which skateboarding takes place, and by understanding the performance of tricks and symbolic movements as part of gender-based power dynamics. Dani Abulhawa anaylses the discursive frameworks connected to skateboarding philanthropic projects and how these operate through gendered tropes. Through the author's work with skateboarding charity SkatePal, this book offers an alternative way of recognising the value of skateboarding philanthropy projects, proposing a move toward a more open and explorative somatic practice perspective.

This is a completely new, fully updated edition of the best selling guide to the UK's premier long distance cycle route - around 140 miles of superb scenery, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, taking in the Lake District and the Northern Pennines on the way. As part of Sustrans' National Cycle Network, the C2C uses mainly traffic-free paths and minor roads and is fully signed and waymarked. It is completed by thousands of cyclists every year. This is the complete guide, including detailed 1:50,000 maps of all route options, directions, what to see and do, accommodation, places to eat and much more. The guidebook covers the route from Whitehaven or Workington to Sunderland or Newcastle.

Ramp up your skills with this new and improved Tech Deck guidebook - including a brand-new, exclusive fingerboard and ramp! Learn how to do sick fingerboard tricks with this Tech Deck guidebook - which includes a new, exclusive Tech Deck board and killer ramp! Packed full of tips and info to help you perform awesome stunts and become a Tech Deck master. This book will include basic tricks that kids need to know - but also many advanced moves for boarders who want to take their moves to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to shred it! Learn new tricks & tips and become a pro in no time with the official guidebook! The Tech Deck 96mm skateboards are for skate-lovers ages 6+ It brings fans the real deal with authentic 96mm fingerboards from real skate companies! Tech Deck boards are fully customizable! Readers can deck it out with different wheels and trucks to create their own special board

Modern roller derby has been theorised as a gendered leisure context, offering women opportunities for empowerment and growth, and enabling them to carve a space for themselves in sport. No longer a women-only sport, roller derby is now played by all genders and has been heralded as a model of inclusivity within sport. Identity, Belonging, and Community in Men's Roller Derby offers an insight into how men's roller derby culture is created and maintained, how members forge an identity for themselves and their team, and how they create feelings of belonging and inclusivity. Through in-depth ethnographic study of a specific, localised roller derby community, this book examines how practices of skills capital intersect with different configurations of masculinity in a continual struggle between traditional and inclusive models of sport. An interrogation of the ways a DIY sport can be seen to be achieved, experienced, and understood in everyday practice, this book will appeal to scholars of men, masculinities, and sport. Additionally, the methodological discussions will be of value to ethnographers and researchers who have had to deal with a disruptive presence.