*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'.

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.

'This is Dan Martin's long-awaited autobiography, full of 'the warmth, sharp insights and vivid colour of his 14-year career' Guardian Known, thanks to his racing style and attitude, for being one of road cycling's last romantics, Dan has always shied away from revealing too much about himself and his story. Now, having retired at the end of the 2021 season aged 35 and no longer bound by the constraints of the racing circuit, Dan feels the time is right to tell his story in the same forthright and honest manner that he rode his bike. This book reflects Dan's generous and outspoken spirit, his resilience to pain, crashes, bad luck and, finally, his acceptance of destiny. Each chapter's title has a sub-title based on a typical cyclist's fear: the fear of losing a race, the fear of retiring from the sport, the fear of mountains or downhills, the fear of doping and, ultimately, the fear of death. Dan also discusses every aspect of the professional cyclist's life - food, discipline, money, dreams, friendship and betrayal. Dan is unashamed when it comes to exposing these dark feelings, his weaknesses and how he tried to deal with them, his attitude exemplifying Mark Twain's quote: "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear". Written with his long-time friend and best-selling author Pierre Carrey, this is the story of a rider who never sought to conform to modern cycling's norms and someone who, in many ways, embodies an age in cycling which has long since disappeared. This is the celebration of a true cyclist's career, which will appeal to anyone who's embraced the weekend ride whilst dreaming of the mountains. '[Chased by Pandas] is not a conventional study of wins, losses and conquering mountains but overcoming the mental challenges of a sport into which he was seemingly born' The Times 'Records the brave and tough journey of 'one of road cycling's last romantics' Irish Independent 'Chronicles the former Irish road champion's journey through the ranks of professional cycling' Cycling Weekly

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.

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.

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 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.

Nutrition for Cyclists is essential reading for all keen riders who want to learn about what, when and how much to eat and drink to improve their performance. This practical book shows cyclists how to design the right diet that will allow them to incorporate a rigorous training regime into a busy lifestyle. With over 30 years' experience of working with sportsmen and women at the highest levels, Jane Griffin explains the background science behind her dietary advice and addresses the day-to-day concerns of today's two-wheeled enthusiasts. Topics include: the energy requirements of the cyclist; effective meal planning for training and competition; how to stay hydrated and how to rehydrate efficiently; eating to aid recovery from illness or injury; supplements and Ergogenic Aids; how to lose weight and maintain performance and finally, special advice for younger, older, female and vegetarian cyclists.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This book explores the reasons for difficulties in making cycling mainstream in many cultures, despite its claims for being one of the most sustainable forms of transport. The topic is looked at from the varying perspectives of people, the environment and the economy with multi-disciplinary contributions from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Australia, China and USA. Initially, it examines the cultural development of cycling in countries with high use and the differences in use between different sub-groups of the population. It then explores issues of urban form, and the attributes of the network and the system for appropriately accommodating cycle users. Cross-cultural issues are once again investigated through an exposition of research in developing countries and the environment in which scheme promoters and users operate. The book draws to a close with an exploration of state-of-the-art thinking on demand model.

At the end of the nineteenth century, cycling's popularity surged in the Boston area, but by 1900, the trend faded. Within the next few decades, automobiles became commonplace and roads were refashioned to serve them. Lorenz J. Finison argues that bicycling witnessed a renaissance in the 1970s as concerns over physical and environmental health coalesced. Whether cyclists hit the roads on their way to work or to work out, went off-road in the mountains or to race via cyclocross and BMX, or took part in charity rides, biking was back in a major way. Finison traces the city's cycling history, chronicling the activities of environmental and social justice activists, stories of women breaking into male-dominated professions by becoming bike messengers and mechanics, and challenges faced by African American cyclists. Making use of newspaper archives, newly discovered records of local biking organizations, and interviews with Boston-area bicyclists and bike builders, Boston's Twentieth Century Bicycling Renaissance brings these voices and battles back to life.