From the winner of the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Cycling Book of the Year 2018 The first Tour de France in 1903 was a colourful affair full of adventure, mishaps and audacious attempts at cheating. Its riders included characters like Maurice Garin, an Italian-born Frenchman, said to have been swapped for a round of cheese by his parents in order to smuggle him into France to clean chimneys as a teenager, Hippolyte Aucouturier with his trademark handlebar moustache, and amateurs like Jean Dargassies, a blacksmith who had never raced before. Would this ramshackle pack of cyclists draw crowds to throng France's rutted roads and cheer the first Tour heroes? Surprisingly it did, and, all thanks to a marketing ruse dreamed up to revive struggling newspaper L'Auto, cycling would never be the same again. Peter Cossins takes us through the inaugural Tour de France, painting a nuanced portrait of France in the early 1900s, to see where the greatest sporting event of all began.

In the spring of 2015, Mark Beaumont set out from the bustling heart of Cairo on his latest world record attempt - solo, the length of Africa, intending to ride to Cape Town in under 50 days. Seven years since he smashed the world record for cycling round the world, this would be his toughest trip yet. And he would set a new mark that would simply break the limits of endurance.

Despite illness, mechanical faults, attempted robbery and stone-throwing children, as well as dehydration in the deserts and unprecedented levels of exhaustion, Mark completed the journey in just 41 days, 10 hours and 22 minutes, after cycling 6,762 miles, spending 439 hours in the saddle (sometimes up to 16 hours a day) and climbing 190,355 feet through 8 countries. It was an astonishing journey, and one that will fascinate and grip the reader.

From the obvious dangers of Egypt, Sudan and Kenya, over the unpaved, muddy, mountainous roads of Ethiopia, through the beautiful grasslands of Tanzania and Zambia, to riding at night in Botswana in the company of elephants and giraffes, Mark brings Africa to life in all its complex glory, friendship and curiosity, while inspiring us all to question the bounds of what is possible.

On 1 January 1999, Travis Gale (aged 17) and Stephen Bonaconsa (aged 27) left Johannesburg on a mission to cycle across four continents and raise R1 million for children living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal. They pedalled out of Johannesburg, riding mountain bikes equipped with panniers, carrying the basic requirements for an adventure. They rode unsupported. No Instagram or Facebook. It was just the two of them and the open road. The pair successfully cycled over 16 000 kilometres, across four continents, through 16 countries, raising R1.7 million for their cause.

When asked to share about his experience, Travis very rarely spends time talking about the start or the finish of the tour. The stories Travis shares are from The Middle. It’s The Middle that tests us with challenges, yielding a multitude of emotions. It’s The Middle that involves the raw and often painful need to dig deep, to push through the barriers that stand in our way, and show ourselves what we are capable of. The Middle is what we, as human beings, were designed for. We can all pitch up at start lines. We can all celebrate a finish. But no finish is without a Middle and every Middle is where WHO WE ARE is revealed.

This book, The Middle, includes eight stories, drawn from eight key days of a world cycle tour, which will encourage and equip people through The Middle; the territory we must navigate in pursuit of our goals.

Scott Bischke and Katie Gibson have done what many of us dream. They quit their jobs and traded their possessions for a year of travel and simplicity. During the course of their journey, Scott and Katie biked more than 8,000 kilometers and experienced much of New Zealand's culture and beauty. Their freewheeling travels took them frombiking, hiking and canoeing to fly fishing for monster trout and picking kiwifruit as transient labors. Theirs was a journey of discovery both as individuals and as a couple. They shared the joys of exploration and new friendships, as well as the challenges of biking moutainous terrian and living in a two-person tent.Two Wheels Around New Zealand is a light-hearted adventure atory; but above all, it is a celebration of people, landscape, and lifestyle of New Zealand.

This mountain biking guide to the Garden State includes both low-impact and hard-core trails; you will find twenty-six rides encompassing some of the most spectacular and varied terrain in the state. The guide includes level of difficulty, turn-by-turn cue sheets and maps, and descriptions of topography, trail conditions, and points of interest.

"His ability to overcome adversity and pain, even in the face of death, is what makes Grant truly unique." – Edwin Moses, Olympic Gold Medallist

He was told he would never cycle again. But South African ultra-endurance cyclist Grant Lottering doesn’t take no for an answer.

In 2013, Lottering’s heart stopped after a gruesome accident in the Italian Alps. Doctors said he would never ride again. Since then, he has completed many gruelling rides through some of the toughest terrain on the planet. The first South African to complete a solo, non-stop 420-kilometre ultra-endurance ride through the northern French Alps in under 24 hours, Lottering has endured numerous rides previously thought to be impossible, while raising millions for charities.

Grant Lottering is a highly regarded motivational speaker and ambassador for Laureus Sport for Good. His story – proving that the human body can achieve the near impossible if you have the right mindset – is an inspiration to millions.

"Perseverance, resilience and determination personified". – Bryan Habana

The “Old Legs” mantra is Have Fun, Do Good and Do Epic on roads less travelled and this beautiful photographic memoir of their epic cycle in Zimbabwe not only shares the beauty of Zimbabwe, but amuses and entertains at the same time.

“Old Legs” a group of retired cyclists decided to raise awareness and funds for Zimbabwe’s beleaguered pensioners. So they cycled from Harare to Cape Town, from Harare to Kilimanjaro – and climbed it – and then in 2021 to the gorillas in Uganda. Sadly in 2020 due to the Corona virus regional travelled was impossible, so they cycled around the border of Zimbabwe.

This book records the fun, comradeship, hardships, the people along the way and the incredible diversity and beauty of Zimbabwe. Written and published by Eric de Jong, with wonderful photographs taken by Gary de Jong, this is a stunning coffee-table book that will bring back memories of places you knew, or places you dreamt of visiting. A book to treasure!

Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France. In 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. So awesome was his display that it sent shockwaves throughout the world of cycling and invited headlines such as L'Equipe's 'The New Giant'. He went on to become Germany's first ever Tour winner, storming to victory in that edition by almost ten minutes, a result that was greeted as an era-defining changing of the guard. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich was the future of cycling. He was soon also voted Germany's most popular sportsperson of all time, and his rivalry with Lance Armstrong defined the most controversial years of the Tour de France. Now, Daniel Friebe - who has covered twenty-one editions of the Tour de France - has gone in search of the man who was said in 1997 would go on to dominate his sport for a generation, but never quite managed it. Just what did happen to the best who never was? This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual - Lance Armstrong - can conspire to reroute destiny. Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany's drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price can you give sporting immortality?

""It is late October, and the temperature is already -40 degrees . . . My thoughts are filled with frozen rivers that may or may not hold my weight; empty, forgotten valleys haunted by emaciated ghosts; and packs of ravenous, merciless wolves.""

Having left his job as a high-school geography teacher, Rob Lilwall arrived in Siberia equipped only with a bike and a healthy dose of fear. "Cycling Home from Siberia "recounts his epic three-and-a-half-year, 30,000-mile journey back to England via the foreboding jungles of Papua New Guinea, an Australian cyclone, and Afghanistan's war-torn Hindu Kush. A gripping story of endurance and adventure, this is also a spiritual journey, providing poignant insight into life on the road in some of the world's toughest corners.

The Devon Coast to Coast is southern England's best developed cycle route. Traffic-free paths on former railway lines such as the Tarka Trail, Granite Way, Drake's Trail and Plym Valley Way make this route a unique experience. Whether you are young or old, fast or slow, the limited mileage and stunning countryside makes the Devon Coast to Coast an adventure suitable for all! This guidebook allows you to fully explore the route and its sights. Special features: All the maps you need, full north-south directions, detailed visitor information, things to see and to do, help for tricky logistics, Plymouth station route, extra routes incl. 99.9% tarmac route for narrow tyres, South West Coast Path and Dartmoor walks, GPS-tracks available and full facility listings (hotels, B&Bs, hostels, campsites, bike repair shops and bike rentals).

Many twenty- and thirty-somethings intend to "do" an extreme adventure, somewhere exotic, but most just dream or join the coach tour. Trevelyan Edwards dared to do, and now he tells the story of his experience. Cycling Solo: Ireland to Istanbul explores five months of cycling solo across Europe. From Ireland to Istanbul via the UK, France, Germany, the Swiss Alps, Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey, with kilometres of unforgettable sites and stories in between, this is a journey worth sharing, particularly when told with such candour. Initially in a weblog format, his story has been edited and complemented by the occasional viewpoint of the family at home. Author Information Best known of Hazel Edwards 160 titles (www.hazeledwards.com) are There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake and Antarctic Writer on Ice. Orienteering was a family sport which meant map reading and getting lost were weekly challenges. Darwin-based Trevelyan cycled solo from Ireland to Istanbul between April and Sept 2005 and introduced his frequently travelling family to the blog. In Cycling Solo Trevelyan has found his voice, but the bike is in bits!

Having made the daring decision to set off around the world by bicycle, Pam Goodall left the comfortable surroundings of her home in West Sussex one spring morning, and went on to pedal her way through Europe, Asia and America. She was approaching her sixtieth birthday and travelled alone. Riding It Out is a record of this remarkable journey, giving a vivid and lighthearted account. This includes the trials of finding a place to sleep each night, the reality of owning a Brooks saddle and choosing to ignore persistent warnings from well meaning strangers of the dangers lurking ahead for a lone female cyclist. The challenge of obtaining visas throughout Asia proves nerve-wracking and costly. This one woman tale of adventure encapsulates the spirit of freedom of the open road (or bumpy track) so that you can enjoy the experience without the discomforts.

Designed particularly for those who like country pubs, this book contains Cotswold cycle rides that are between ten and 16 miles long. They are mainly on quiet country roads, though some cross classified roads. The book also features tips and advice.

This text is designed for families, but can also be used by anyone who likes a short ride in the countryside. It details a series of journeys, outlining what the travellers should equip themselves with. Another title from the Cotswold publisher, Reardon.

Ever wondered what treats of off-road riding might lurk in those big blank bits on the map between Llandegla, Penmachno, The Marin Trail and Coed y Brenin? Well, take a trip back to the future with Pete Bursnall's fully updated version of North Wales' first proper mountain bike guidebook. It contains a carefully selected choice of 27 mountain bike routes, all of which cover real mountains, trails and bridleways beyond the bounds of the formal trail centres. The routes range in suitability from those new to the sport, through medium distance & difficulty and on to some real challenging expeditions to test your fitness, skills, navigation and even sense of humour - such as the epic 78km circuit of the Carneddau mountains...not to be undertaken lightly. This is pretty much where it all began, remembered fondly by those of us who explored the un-ridden on the first generation of fully rigid bikes in a time before helmets, decent brakes and smart phones. This edition was almost complete when Pete succumbed to cancer, which he fought furiously to the end. Matt Strickland took over the reigns, as he had been closely involved with the book, indeed featuring on the front cover. The 27 routes are in 7 areas - specifically Carneddau, Clwydian, Berwyn, Mignant & Moelwyn, Moel Siabod, Rhynnogau and Snowdon. The book has Ordnance Survey mapping for each route, and a gradient diagram. Many colour photographs are included.

A LIFE APPRECIATED choregraphs a solo unsupported cycling journey from the southernmost tip of Europe to the most northern point, taking in some classic cycling climbs en-route. The author travels through nine countries, providing an in-depth insight into cycle touring. This book will both inspire and enthral the reader. The author has combined his blog written at the time of the journey with further details of his experiences and personal anecdotes. With additional information about historic places, he visited. The book also provides details about the pros and cons of wild camping. With a sense of humour, the author refers to himself as an 'Old Git'. He carries many of life's experiences with him, from summiting Everest to several brushes with death, such as being avalanched to being threatened with a rifle. He is, however, very much alive and continues to seek adventure.

Gravel Rides Scotland by Ed Shoote contains 28 routes, ranging from 31 to 128 kilometres in length, exploring the very best gravel riding that Scotland has to offer. Gravel riding is the fastest-growing cycling discipline - this book showcases the finest routes in Scotland, its natural home. The routes are clustered within seven outstanding gravel destinations - the Scottish Borders; Dumfries and Galloway; Argyll and Bute; Highland Perthshire and the Trossachs; the Cairngorms (split into Deeside and Aviemore); and North West Scotland. Each section makes the perfect base for a short break, or combine some of the routes together on a bikepacking trip. Classic gravel routes such as 'Gravelfoyle' and the Big Country Loop in Galloway are listed alongside hidden gems including Loch Eck and the Lammermuir herring roads. Each route includes all the information you need to help you plan your ride, interesting background information about the local area, types of terrain covered and refreshment recommendations in addition to detailed directions, stunning photography and overview mapping. Downloadable GPX files of the routes are also available. This book is full of practical tips and advice on all aspects of gravel riding, including the bike itself, essential kit to carry when out on a ride, as well as a brief history of gravel riding in Scotland. Enjoy Gravel Rides Scotland and the adventures it will open up. Ride faster, ride further and ride gravel.

Part of the Ernest Press series of mountain bike guidebooks with 24 varied routes.

Further immerses the reader in the world of endurance cycling as well-known former professional cyclist Michael Hutchinson talks to ultra-distance athletes, exercise scientists, nutritionists and psychologists - 'those who've done it and those who understand it'- as he unpicks both the physical and mental demands, attempts to understand the key to successful endurance, and tries not to get himself accidentally killed while riding a frankly terrifyingly long-distance event.

The Invisible Bicycle brings together different insights into the social, cultural and economic history of the bicycle and cycling in historical eras of ubiquitous bicycle use that have remained relatively invisible in bicycle history. It revisits the typical timeline of cycling's decline in the 1950s and 1960s and the renaissance beginning in the 1970s by bringing forth the large national and local variations, varying uses and images of the bicycle, and different bicycle cultures as well as their historical background and motivations. To understand the role, possibilities and challenges of the bicycle today, it is necessary to know the history that has formed them. Therefore The Invisible Bicycle is recommended also to present-day practitioners and planners of bicycle mobility. Contributors are: Peter Cox, Martin Emanuel, Tiina Mannistoe-Funk, Timo Myllyntaus, Nicholas Oddy, Harry Oosterhuis, William Steele, Manuel Stoffers, Sue-Yen Tjong Tjin Tai, Frank Veraart.