When windmill-dodgers David Bristow and Steve Thomas followed their dream to blaze (and map) a mountain bike trail across South Africa, they hoped to be spared howling headwinds, freezing rain and slushy terrain. They weren't, yet were not deterred from having a mud-splattering good time. The result, the Spine of the Dragon trail, is the country's ultimate mountain bike tour, covering a distance of 4000km from Beit Bridge to Cape Town. Aimed at the average off-road rider, the 58-day trail through South Africa and Lesotho is broken into nine sections, each with several stages. The entire course can be done in one go, or as a series of shorter rides – ideal for those with boundless enthusiasm but limited time. The authors offer valuable advice on preparing for the trail that includes suggested clothing, gear, bike maintenance, food and safety. Each day’s route is described in detail and includes: Customised, annotated map with GPS points; total daily distance; difficulty grading: from short and easy to long and hard; entertaining insight into the people and places along the way; engaging photographs; accommodation suggestions and contact details.

This manual provides step-by-step instructions for the construction of a classic style lugged bicycle fork.

Daring to combine the worlds of pizza and cycling, authors Jay McNaught and Bob Berger have cycled the US in search of the perfect pizza and the ultimate bike tour. Share their amazing experiences and learn about the great pizzas they have discovered in towns all over the country. Every pizza is rated with a five-spoke rating system - with five spokes equating to pizza nirvana. The authors still have not found the perfect pizza and it may never be found in this life - but the authors keep searching.

The revised edition of the classic cycling guide of 1947 by Harold Briercliffe. Used as the inspiration for the Britain by Bike television series and a vital part of the award-winning Britain by Bike book by Jane Eastoe, the original book is reproduced along with suggested cycling routes in the northern England region for today's cyclists. Harold Briercliffe was the Alfred Wainwright of cycling and his books provide great insight into cycling in various parts of the UK in the 1940s. Harold's fascinating description of the towns, villages and roads of Britain at the time is a joy for all those who love these isles and especially for cyclists looking for inspiration. Many roads have changed over the decades and are now too busy for enjoyable cycling, so Mark Jarman, along with Sustrans, have made suggestions for alternative routes in the region for today's cyclists. The book includes the original photographs taken by Harold Briercliffe and the original illustrations. The Cycling Tourng Guide: Northern England covers cycle routes in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North East Coast, plus shorter tours around the Ribble Valley, Forest of Bowland, around Pendle Hill, Bronte Country, Lancashire Coast, Lunedale and the Pennine Link. It also covers shorter trips around the Plain of York, and from Pool to Richmond. The cycle routes vary in length from half day and day-long trips to weekend and week-long tours.

The revised edition of the classic cycling guide by Harold Briercliffe of 1949. Used as the inspiration for the Britain by Bike television series and a vital part of the award-winning Britain by Bike book by Jane Eastoe, the original book is reproduced along with suggested cycling routes in the Central England region for today's cyclists.Harold Briercliffe was the Alfred Wainwright of cycling and his books provide great insight into cycling in various parts of the UK in the 1940s. Harold's fascinating description of the towns, villages and roads of Britain at the time is a joy for all those who love these isles and especially for cyclists looking for inspiration. Many roads have changed over the decades and are now too busy for enjoyable cycling, so Mark Jarman, along with Sustrans, have made suggestions for alternative routes in the region for today's cyclists. The book includes the original photographs taken by Harold Briercliffe and the original illustrations.The Cycling Touring Guide: Central England covers cycle routes in the Peak District, Cheshire and north Shropshire, East of the Pennines, the Midlands, the Malverns, the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and various routes north of London. The cycle routes vary in length from half day and day-long trips to weekend and week-long tours.

The eyes and voice of a Chiweenie (part-dachshund and part-chihuahua) tells of a mountain bike adventure around Mt. Hood. Over 130 miles with 17,000 feet of uphill, 2 people and one dog tackle the grueling 4 day challenge during the day while recovering in huts at night. A rhyming poem that is fun for all ages with pictures that will make even the non-cyclist want to take on the adventure.

The remarkable true story of one man's quest to break the record for cycling around the world
On the 15th of February 2008, Mark Beaumont had pedaled through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris--194 days and 17 hours after setting off in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. His journey had taken him, alone and unsupported, through 18,297 miles, 4 continents, and numerous countries. From broken wheels and unforeseen obstacles in Europe, to stifling Middle Eastern deserts and deadly Australian spiders, to the highways and backroads of America, he'd seen the best and worst that the world had to offer.
He had also smashed the Guinness World Record by an astonishing 81 days. This is the story of how he did it.
Told with honesty, humor, and wisdom, "The Man Who Cycled the World" is at once an unforgettable adventure, an insightful travel narrative, and an impassioned paean to the joys of the open road.

Les Woodland climbed aboard his old Carlton bike to take a nostalgia trip across Belgium and Holland to visit some of cycling's greatest riders. "Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years" tells the story of that journey he took in the early 1990s and the time he spent with some of the finest riders from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Rik van Steenbergen, Rik van Looy, Jan Janssen, Wim van Est, Hennie Kuiper and Peter Post were some of the most colorful and dominating riders of an era that produced many of the sport's greatest-ever champions. In this book Woodland has collected their and other riders' precious and fascinating recollections, some going back to a time of leather saddles, cloth caps and spare tires wrapped over riders' shoulders; when screaming fans packed smoke-filled velodromes to see their heroes up close; when a stage of the Tour de France could take more than eleven hours. Woodland has filled in his portrait of racing's golden years with the stories of those riders who were either too far away or time got there first, including Fausto Coppi, Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor.Join Les Woodland on a captivating journey back to the golden age of racing.

This is the book to help your ride effectively, whether for speed, endurance, or enjoyment. Dealing with every aspect of cycling and the essential mechanics and physics of the bike, it provides a scientifically founded method for improving your performance--and that of the bike. Essential reading for all who aspire to success in competitive and recreational cycling. The premise of Performance Cycling is that the correctly informed cyclist can acheive a higher performance because he or she can decide intelligently what is the right action to take at any time. Unlike much of the contradictory advice propounded by self-proclaimed coaches--as well as many who actually got the jobs-- theis book is based entirely on original reseach. It shows that it's possible to actually understand and apply scientific principles that govern your performance.

The landmark work in its field, this book chronicles the use of bicycles in warfare from the Boer War to Afganistan today. Heavily illustrated, it looks at the machine's adaptation and use by the Vietnamese, the Japanese, in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore, and by both the Allied and German forces in World Wars I and II.

The Giro d'Italia is one of the world's most important and popular bicycle races, yet there is almost no information in English about this magical Italian race's rich past. With "The Story of the Giro d'Italia," the fabulous history of Italy's national tour is at last available. Volume One takes the story of the Giro from its origin as a desperate promotional gamble by a nearly broke newspaper to Eddy Merckx's convincing 1970 victory.

Why ride an electric bike? Once you know the advantages you'll ask why not: effortless pedalling up hills; no-sweat commuting - literally; greater acceleration and so greater safety; and, ever-increasing battery range, with some models achieving 70km plus. "Electric Bicycles" covers all aspects of this rapidly growing form of transport and leisure riding, with chapters on history and development, classic models, choosing and using and much, much more. Little known until recently, electric bikes are advancing rapidly, both in terms of popularity and technology.

The hottest sprinter in the world - Telegraph Mark Cavendish is the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France's green jersey, the first to wear the iconic rainbow jersey in almost 50 years and our only ever rider to capture the Giro d'Italia points title. He is the most prolific sprinter in the Tour's history, and - according to L'Equipe - the best sprinter of all time. But smashing records and racking up victories means whole new levels of fame: and this has come at a price. Living in the goldfish bowl, he has come under fire for his bombastic riding style and been portrayed as everything from an outlaw to a psychopath. Joining Sky in 2012, Cav soon found his own sprint interests to be incompatible with the team's other goals, while the expectations of a nation made his London Olympic failure hard to take. In At Speed Cav takes you through the highs and lows of it all in intimate detail. This is a take-no-prisoners account of life at the pinnacle of his sport, and learning how to survive in the fast lane, both on and off the bike.

Lance Armstrong's War is the extraordinary story of greatness pushed to its limits; a vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of perhaps the most accomplished athlete of our time as he competes in the toughest sporting event on the planet. The incomparable will to win that famously lifted Armstrong beyond his humble Texas roots, beyond cancer, and to unparalleled heights of success is revealed by acclaimed journalist Daniel Coyle in new and startling dimensions. It is the true story of a superlative sports figure fighting on all fronts -- made newly vulnerable by age, fate, fame, doping allegations, a painful divorce, and an unprecedented army of challengers -- while mastering the exceedingly difficult trick of being Lance Armstrong, a combination of world-class athlete, celebrity, regular guy, and, for many Americans, secular saint.

A fascinating journey through the little-known landscape of professional cycling, Lance Armstrong's War provides a hugely insightful look into the often inspiring, always surprising core of a remarkable athlete and the world that shapes him.

This early guide is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. A detailed look at the early days of cycling, it will prove of great interest to the present day cyclist and historian of the sport. Illustrated with black and white drawings. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

After a charity run in the Peak District, Matt, Vin and Mal decide to raise the stakes by running from St Bees Head on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire. On a sunny May morning in 2006, they set off on a seven-day, 180-mile west-to-east coast challenge to take in the Lakeland fells, the limestone dales, the wild North York Moors and all points in between. With Mal in competition on his mountain-bike and the other two on foot, supported by Andy and Justin in a chase-car, they find themselves, despite 18 months of rigorous planning, facing a variety of unforeseen situations involving the weather, the terrain and the local wildlife. However, as Matt realises in this lively and detailed mile-by-mile account, their biggest challenge comes from themselves. Pushing their levels of endurance to the limit, they undertake the equivalent of seven consecutive mountainous marathons with all the attendant pain and despair and the ultimate goal of reaching the North Sea - on time, on course and still on their feet.

Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution As the first Briton for 100 years to win three gold medals in one Olympic Games, Scottish track cyclist Chris Hoy has rewritten the record books. Critically acclaimed writer Richard Moore shadows Hoy throughout the current season - fully updated with events in Beijing - to provide an unprecedented insight into the secret world of track cycling. Heroes, Villains and Velodromes reveals how an elite athlete, Chris Hoy, lives, breathes and pushes the boundaries of his sport. How does he do it? And why? What drives him to put his body through the physical and mental hurdles to become the best in the world? And what is it like to be Olympic champion, astonishingly in three different cycling disciplines? This is also the story of an extraordinary year in the life of an extraordinary sportsman and his team, one which started with his best-ever world championships in Mallorca - where, for the first time in his career, Hoy became a double world champion - continued with his attempt on the world kilometre record in La Paz, Bolivia and two gold medals at the 2008 world championships in Manchester, before a glorious climax with seven golds for Hoy and the British track cycling team at the Beijing Olympics. By shadowing Hoy through a season, author Richard Moore has gained an unembellished insight into the mind of a World and Olympic champion. He has also attained unprecedented levels of access to the key members of the all-conquering British team and support staff, including top coaches, world-renowned psychiatrists, doctors (where the subject of drug abuse is an ever-present shadow) and the pivotal characters behind the scenes. Combining his forensic knowledge of the cycling world with his acclaimed skills as a tenacious investigative journalist, Moore captures the mood of the British team and explores an area of professional sport that has rarely been seen before.

Professional cycling has been around for more than 100 years, more than enough time for nearly anything imaginable to have happened. Whether it's the Tour de France racer who thought the worst thing that could happen to him was being forced to wear the Yellow Jersey, or the communist team director who insisted, on a whim, that a rider have a toe amputated or the fit of jealousy that started the Giro d'Italia, the sport has an endless supply of examples of human folly. Les Woodland has the perfect knack for telling these improbable, silly, crazy and absurd stories.

A wickedly funny and life-affirming coming-of-age roadtrip story - winner of France's biggest prize for teen and YA fiction Mireille, Astrid and Hakima have just been voted the three ugliest girls in school by their classmates on Facebook. But does that mean they're going to sit around crying about it?... Well, maybe a little, but not for long! Climbing onto their bikes, the friends set off on a summer roadtrip to Paris. The girls will find fame, friendship and happiness on their journey, and still have time to eat a mountain of food (and drink the odd glass of wine) along the way. But will they really be able to leave all their troubles behind? Piglettes is a hilarious, beautiful and uplifting story of three girls who are determined not to let online bullying get them down.

The eyes and voice of a Chiweenie (part-dachshund and part-chihuahua) tells of a road bike adventure from San Francisco to our hometown of Cambria. Over 200 miles with stunning ocean views along the way including the famous stretch of road through Big Sur. A rhyming poem that is fun for all ages with pictures that will make even the non-cyclist want to take on the adventure.

This book is for anyone who wonders about pedaling a bicycle across the United States. A cyclist does not need to be fast to enjoy the scenery and distance that can be covered on two quiet wheels. Journey with this book for: Anecdotes of courage and inspiration from three cross-country cycling journeys. Narratives of the cyclist's delight with and harmonious integration into nature, while their lives undergo physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. Encouragement and tips for a bicycle vacation adventure. Stories of joys and adversities while cycling coast to coast on the southern, northern, and central crossing routes. Observations of the treasures of the United States and the American dream broaden minds and ignite spirits. Insights on the advantages of traveling with a tour organization. Motivations from those adventurers who have done it and the demands they surmounted. Color images of the black and white pictures within this book can be viewed online at is www.BikeSeaToSea.

First published in 1979, Bike Touring introduced tens of thousands of riders to the joys of bicycle travel, and quickly became the goto reference for an entire generation of bike-touring enthusiasts. But much has changed in the last three decades--and this fully revamped edition provides authoritative information on both the latest equipment and the ever-expanding universe of touring options for a whole new generation of riders. Readers learn how to train, equip, plan, and pack for tours of any length and difficulty, from overnight trips near home to multiweek journeys abroad. Author Raymond Bridge surveys the wide range of touring options, which now include extensive commercial offerings and roof-to-roof (or "credit card") tours, as well as independent, self-contained travel. Chapters covering bike styles--road, mountain, and world-touring models--along with bike frames and fit, drive trains, wheels, brakes, saddles and handlebars, and accessories, offer up-to-date guidance on the myriad equipment choices from the booming bike industry. And chapters on camping, transporting bikes, and roadside repairs are full of expert advice to help both novice and experienced bike travelers get maximum pleasure from any journey while saving money and staying safe.