Britain's Best Bike Ride by John Walsh and Hannah Reynolds is a beautifully illustrated and inspirational guide to the ultimate thousand-mile cycling adventure from Land's End to John o' Groats. There are many ways to cycle between Land's End and John o' Groats, but the route specially created for this book, LEJOG1000, is designed to show you the quiet roads, picturesque villages and dramatic landscapes that make the experience memorable. Instead of taking the most direct route, it invites you to explore the best of each region you pass through. You'll discover stunning beaches and wild ponies on your way along the quiet wild-flower-edged lanes of Cornwall and Devon, follow the meandering River Wye in Wales, wind your way through a post-industrial landscape of canals and mill chimneys in the North West, before moving on to the epic climbs and grand vistas of Scotland. Carefully crafted to allow you the freedom to create your own ultimate adventure, the route is split into 30 adaptable stages, each finishing in a town or village with suggested places to eat, drink and stay. Create your own bespoke itinerary, or use one of three itinerary options provided: the 2-week classic, 3-week explorer or 10-day challenge. Along with stunning photography and lively insightful writing you will find all the practical information you need to plan your LEJOG1000 - route directions, bespoke mapping, cafes, pubs and local bike shops. Downloadable GPX files of the route are also available. Britain's Best Bike Ride will inspire you to take on this once-in-a-lifetime challenge - you'll be pedalling into John o' Groats having experienced the very best of Britain on a bike before you know it!

*A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021* Tim Moore, the author of the Sunday Times bestselling French Revolutions, completes his epic (and ill-advised) trilogy of cycling's Grand Tours. Julian Berrendero's victory in the 1941 Vuelta a Espana was an extraordinary exercise in sporting redemption: the Spanish cyclist had just spent 18 months in Franco's concentration camps, punishment for expressing Republican sympathies during the civil war. Seventy nine years later, perennially over-ambitious cyclo-adventurer Tim Moore developed a fascination with Berrendero's story, and having borrowed an old road bike with the great man's name plastered all over it, set off to retrace the 4,409km route of his 1941 triumph - in the midst of a global pandemic. What follows is a tale of brutal heat and lonely roads, of glory, humiliation, and then a bit more humiliation. Along the way Tim recounts the civil war's still-vivid tragedies, and finds the gregarious but impressively responsible locals torn between welcoming their nation's only foreign visitor, and bundling him and his filthy bike into a vat of antiviral gel. 'Bill Bryson on two wheels' Independent

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’.

In ever-increasing numbers, girls and women are gathering at skate parks and competing in skateboarding events on nearly every continent. In stunning photographs of remarkable female skaters in action, this book celebrates the incredible range of styles, ethnicities, and ages that make up a rapidly growing community. Skate Like a Girl features professional skaters, pioneers and newcomers, skate photographers and filmmakers, downhill skateboarders, longboarders, and gold medalists. You'll meet skaters who are moms, models, artists, and engineers. What they all have in common is that skating is their way of life. Hailing from all over the world, each woman is profiled in her own words of wisdom about going after her dreams, falling hard, and getting right back up. Filled with empowering images and inspiring words, this book will encourage girls and women of every age to get on a board and shred!

When 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.

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.

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

The Wild Atlantic Way is a driving route along Ireland's Atlantic seaboard, covering over 2,350km of coastline and showcasing the region's breathtaking landscapes. This guide adapts the route for cyclists - and throws in a couple of other highlights (such as the Aran Islands and Killarney) for good measure. Since relatively few people are likely to have seven weeks to spare for a full Wild Atlantic Way tour, the book presents six self-contained cycle tours, each offering 7-10 days of riding. For the full Wild Atlantic Way experience, these distinct routes can be linked together into a 44-stage trip from Derry/Londonderry to Cork. Each route includes detailed advice on accommodation and facilities, plus optional detours and shortcuts and points of interest. The routes themselves are presented as 'route cards': ideal for use with a cycle computer, these pages provide 'at a glance' information for when you're on the road, covering navigation, facilities and local highlights. The guide covers all the practicalities - including transport, equipment and general tips on cycling in Ireland.

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.

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.

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.

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Camino Frances or Way of St James) is among the world's most famous pilgrimages: Christian pilgrims have travelled to the shrine of St James in Santiago, northern Spain, since the ninth century. This guide provides all the information you need to successfully cycle the Camino. The Camino Frances is the most popular variant of the Camino, linking St Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French-Spanish border with Santiago via Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. The guide presents the journey in 18 stages. Two versions of the route are described, the first (770km) based closely on the walkers' route and suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes; the second (798km) a 'road route' for road and touring cycles. It can be cycled in around 10-14 days and is very well provisioned. Clear route description and mapping are accompanied by notes on local points of interest, as well as background information on Spanish history and the history of the Camino. The practicalities are also thoroughly covered, including travel to and from the route, accommodation, facilities, kit and how to qualify for and obtain your Compostela (pilgrims' certificate). Whether you're seeking a spiritual journey, a physical challenge or just a holiday, the Camino promises an unforgettable experience - from the beautiful landscapes, historic towns and rich culture of northern Spain to the famed camaraderie with other wayfarers. Blending information with inspiration, this guide is an ideal companion to cycling this UNESCO-listed route.

The 137-mile Coast to Coast Route (C2C) was the first national cycle route in Britain and has grown to become the most popular long-distance cycle ride in the country. Tackling the route over five days is a marvellous mini-adventure that should appeal to all sorts of cyclists. Every stage of the route, from Whitehaven on the west coast of Cumbria to Tynemouth in the east, is described by author Nicolas Mitchell, including fascinating accounts of its rich industrial heritage and details of the many opportunities to explore its glorious natural history. The guide includes route maps and elevation charts indicating the ascent and descent; full-colour and archive photographs of all the sights along the way; details listings of accommodation, places to eat and drink and local bike shops and finally, advice on how to prepare yourself and your bike for the trip.

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.

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022 THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 A WATERSTONES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 'A marvellous book' Maxine Peake Cyclist Beryl Burton dominated her sport much as her male contemporary Eddy Merckx, with a longevity that surpasses sporting legends like Muhammad Ali and Serena Williams. Practically invincible in time trials, Burton - also known as BB - finished as Best All-Rounder for 25 years and broke the record for the '12-hour' endurance race; an achievement unrivalled to this day. She won multiple world titles, but her achievements were limited by discrimination from the cycling authorities. Yet she carried on winning, beating men and - infamously - competing against her own daughter, whilst working full-time on a Yorkshire farm and running a household. With previously unseen material and through extensive interviews with family, friends, rivals and fellow sporting giants, Jeremy Wilson peels back the layers to reveal one of the most overlooked, yet compelling characters in cycling history.

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.

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.