Oxford has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the country. This spiral-bound guide describes 20 wonderful bike rides in the countryside in a 30-mile radius around the city, exploring the delights of the Cotswolds, the Lambourn Downs and the Chilterns. The book contains 15 rides on networks of quiet lanes (26-34 miles long) and five offroad rides on bridleways and byways (15-20 miles long). All of the rides are highlighted on Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 mapping, seen as the gold standard of mapping for cyclists. Junction-by-junction route instructions guide you from village to village through the region's beautiful rolling countryside. Each ride contains details of distance, grade of difficulty and refreshments along the way (with phone numbers of pubs and cafes so that you can check on opening hours). A height profile gives you warning of any hills to expect and schematic maps show how the ride can either be shortened or linked to adjacent rides for a longer day out. Seven of the road rides explore the honey-stone villages lying to the west and northwest of Oxford, from Woodstock through the beautiful Tew and Sibford villages as far as Chipping Campden and from Minster Lovell and Burford along the lovely Windrush and Coln valleys. To the south, five of the road rides link together quiet lanes across the chalk downlands between the Vale of the White Horse and the Kennet & Avon Canal. The Chiltern beechwoods lie to the southeast of Oxford and three of the rides use the dense network of lanes that criss-cross the area around Goring, Pangbourne and Henley. As for the offroad rides, three are located on the chalk and flint tracks of the Ridgeway. The other two rides delve deep into the beech woodlands of the Chilterns. Rides here take on an extraordinary beauty in late spring when the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells and the beechwoods are coming into leaf, almost glowing with translucent green and also through autumn with the changing of the colours.

Readers will find detailed descriptions and maps of forty of the best bicycle rides in Ohio, from easy afternoon jaunts to multi-day tours. Elevation profiles, recommendations for accommodations and restaurants, information on local events and attractions, and special attention to traffic conditions and road hazards make this an indispensable guide for Ohioans. *** Spring 2010 brings three new titles to FalconGuides' Road Biking(R) Series--to Illinois, Ohio, and Utah. Presenting a choice selection of approximately forty carefully designed rides throughout their state, local cyclists provide a personal tour of all the beauty and diversity the routes have to offer. They highlight not only the unique features along the roads themselves but also of the people, the ecology, and the history of the area. Each book includes: - Detailed maps and directions
- Rides for every fitness level and ability--from short, easy rambles of around 10 miles to more challenging 100+ mile classics
- In-depth information about each ride, including length, terrain, traffic conditions, and road hazards- Recommended accommodations and restaurants
- Vivid descriptions of points of interest
- Options to create longer or shorter rides

This guidebook to cycling the Ruta Via de la Plata through western Spain describes the 930km route from Seville to the coastal city of Gijon in around 2 weeks (14 stages). A pilgrimage variant, the Camino Sanabres, to Santiago de Compostela is also described (16 stages in total). Empty roads and gentle climbs make the route accessible to a wide range of bikes and cyclists. Both road and off-road versions are presented, and the guide shows how they can be combined to create a perfect touring, hybrid or gravel cycling trip. The guide includes leg-by-leg route descriptions, 1:150,0000 colour mapping, elevation profiles and helpful ride planners to show where riders can swop from the off-road to the road route. There is advice on equipment, travel and transporting your bike, alongside a list of accommodation contacts and a useful Spanish glossary. The Ruta Via de la Plata is one of Spain's most important pilgrim routes. The 2-week journey takes in 7 UNESCO world heritage sites (Seville, Merida, Caceres, Salamanca, Leon, Zamora, and Oviedo) with the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela if the Camino Sanabres is taken. There is lots of good-value accommodation available, from hostels to palaces, and plenty of chances to sample Spanish gastronomy.

The story begins in a public square in New Delhi. On a cold December evening a young European woman of noble descent appears before an Indian street artist known locally as PK and asks him to paint her portrait – it is an encounter that will change their lives irrevocably.

PK was not born in the city. He grew up in a small remote village on the edge of the jungle in East India, and his childhood as an untouchable was one of crushing hardship. He was forced to sit outside the classroom during school, would watch classmates wash themselves if they came into contact with him, and had stones thrown at him when he approached the village temple. According to the priests, PK dirtied everything that was pure and holy. But had PK not been an untouchable, his life would have turned out very differently.

This is the remarkable true story of how love and courage led PK to overcome extreme poverty, caste prejudice and adversity – as well as a 7,000-mile, adventure-filled journey across continents and cultures – to be with the woman he loved.

This is the first history of the bicycle to trace not only the technical background to its invention, but also to contrast its social and cultural impact in different parts of the world, and assess its future as a continuing global phenomenon.

Heaven on two wheels. Smooth singletrack through Columbia Gorge old growth forest, steep climbs to amazing mountain views, and easy rambles past Pacific coastline vistas - northwest and central Oregon offers something for everyone. Local mountain biker and author Lizann Dunegan outlines more than forty-five of the best rides in and around Portland, Salem, southwest Washington, Hood River, Mount Hood, Eugene, Oakridge, and Bend.
Visit the waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge, ride the surreal Plains of Abraham trail on the slopes of Mount St. Helens, or check out the imposing scenery of Smith Rock State Park, this guide will give you the inside track on everything from the best time to ride, to local events and attractions, to what bike to take for each route. Insider tidbits about each path's historic background make this more than just a trail guide.
Also included: detailed ride descriptions; easy-to-read maps and elevation profiles; ratings for physical and technical difficulty; tips on riding and trip preparation.
Wherever you ride and whatever your skill level, let Mountain Biking Oregon: Northwest and Central Oregon be your guide to this mountain biking paradise.

Tour This Dream Road on Bicycle, Between North Carolina and Virginia. Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway are arguably the most quintessential scenic roads east of the Mississippi. Bicycling the Blue Ridge is the definitive guide to this ribbon of highway. It's just what you need to plan the perfect trip, whether you are out for the day, a weekend, or a month. You'll find detailed, mile-by-mile descriptions that provide information on lodging, restaurants, stores, and bike shops. Professionally designed maps and elevation profiles are also included, so you always know where you are, where you're going, and what to expect along the way. The 575-mile strip of continuous road flows between Front Royal, Virginia, and Cherokee, North Carolina. It traverses Shenandoah National Park and connects to Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains. In Bicycling the Blue Ridge, authors Elizabeth Skinner and Charlie Skinner cover the entire route. Whether your interest is recreational touring or racing, this is an indispensable tool for bicycling this incredible highway.

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.

A tale of man and machine battling against breath-taking terrain for the ultimate prize, this is the story of the Alpe d'Huez. Known as the Tour de France's 'Hollywood climb', veteran cycling journalist Peter Cossins reveals the triumphs, passion and despair behind the great exploits on this Alpe and discloses the untold details that have led to the mountain becoming as important to the Tour as the race is to resort at its summit. The Alpe d'Huez has played a starring role in cycling's history since its first encounter with the sport back in 1952 when the legendary Fausto Coppi triumphed on the summit. Re-introduced to the Tour in 1976, Alpe d'Huez has risen to mythical status, thanks initially to a string of victories by riders from Holland, whose exploits attracted tens of thousands of their compatriots to the climb - which has become known as 'Dutch mountain'. A snaking 13.8-kilometre ascent rising up through 21 numbered hairpins at an average gradient of 7.8%, Alpe d'Huez is the climb on which every great rider wants to win. Many of the sport's most famous and now even infamous names have won on the Alpe, including Bernard Hinault, Joop Zoetemelk, Lucho Herrera, Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong. As well as days of brilliance, there have been controversies such as the high-speed and drug-fuelled duels of the EPO years in the 1990s and into the new millennium.

Packed with routes right across the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this guidebook is all you need to explore the lanes and tracks of this much-loved area on two wheels - off-road on your mountain bike or on-road on your road bike or a bit of both on hybrid/sturdy bike (most routes have an on-road alternative). 21 day routes ranging from 9 to 41 miles are included, illustrated with clear custom-drawn maps and profiles, as well as a 4-day 200km tour which takes in all the Cotswolds' best highlights. Routes are arranged by difficulty, ranging from easy, moderate to challenging, and full information is provided for the novice cyclist on first aid, bike maintenance, gear to take or hire and much more. There are also comprehensive lists of local gear and cycle shops passed along the routes, and information about where to stop for vital refreshment, too. With a good network of quiet lanes and canal paths and dramatic views from the top of the famous limestone escarpment, the Edge, the pretty Cotswold villages are the perfect base for a cycling holiday.

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.

Take your bicycle on the ride of a lifetime with the help of The Bikepackers' Guide to the World. Discover 75 of the most amazing cycling routes in every continent and use the detailed maps, directions, accommodation and practical information to plan your trip. Lonely Planets experts tell you how to prepare, what to take, when and where to go. Bikepacking is the fast-growing adventure activity that gives people the freedom to discover the world in a sustainable and slow-paced fashion on their bicycles. The number of new purpose-built, long-distance cycling routes is increasing all the time and this comprehensive book selects the top 75 to add to your bicycling bucket list. Lonely Planet describes the route in step-by-step detail with a large, accurate map and elevation profile helping cyclists pick a route that suits their experience. The routes are graded from easy to challenging and cover a range of distances from a weekend to a month or more. The rides vary from easy-going rail trails to rugged off-road routes. Accommodation recommendations and options for eating and drinking along the way are also included. The Bikepackers Guide to the World explains how to pack for each trip, what you will need and all the practical considerations. It also highlights some of the top sights along the way and suggests how to maximise your time in a new and exciting region by experiencing local foods and customs. Large images paint a picture of each place. Practical advice for first-time bikepackers is also provided, covering how to prepare physically, what sort of bicycle is best for each route, how to perform basic repairs on the road and how to carry baggage and eat and sleep comfortably. Routes and countries covered include: The Tahoe Rim Trail, the Oregon Timber Trail and Missouri's Katy rail trail in the US The Tour de Mont Blanc and Scotland's North Coast 500 in Europe The Annapurna Circuit and Trans-Hokkaido routes in Asia The Murray to the Mountains rail trail and New Zealand's Old Ghost Road in Oceania And many more About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, eBooks, and more.

Alps Mountain Biking is a guide to the western Alps. It reveals epic rocky descents, high-altitude blasts and hidden Alpine singletrack, all set against a backdrop of snowy peaks, pine forests and clear blue skies. This is some of the greatest singletrack, enduro and downhill riding the mountains have to offer. Featuring the Alpine hot spots alongside the best lesser-known areas, you can ride the main lines of Morzine and Chamonix, and then escape the crowds and head to La Plagne, Martigny or Sauze d'Oulx. Using lifts, buses and good old pedal power, you can really exploit the massive vertical gains each area has to offer and enjoy trails that cater for every taste and ability. Alps Mountain Biking has everything you need to get out of the concrete resorts and plan a great riding trip. Written by Samoens-based guide Steve Mallett, it gives you the local riders' inside knowledge on trails, and information on accommodation, lifts and travel. Packed with fantastic photography, it is guaranteed to inspire you to get out and explore this huge mountain bike playground.

In this "sharp-eyed account of a nearly forgotten African-American sports legend" (Publishers Weekly)-the remarkable Major Taylor who became the world's fastest bicyclist at the height of the Jim Crow era-"Kranish has done historians and fans a service by reminding us that such immortals as Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods all followed in Major Taylor's wake" (The Washington Post). In the 1890s, the nation's promise of equality had failed spectacularly. While slavery had ended with the Civil War, the Jim Crow laws still separated blacks from whites, and the excesses of the Gilded Age created an elite upper class. When Major Taylor, a young black man, announced he wanted to compete in the nation's most popular and mostly white man's sport, cycling, Birdie Munger, a white cyclist who once was the world's fastest man, declared that he could help turn the young black athlete into a champion. Twelve years before boxer Jack Johnson and fifty years before baseball player Jackie Robinson, Taylor faced racism at nearly every turn-especially by whites who feared he would disprove their stereotypes of blacks. In The World's Fastest Man, years in the writing, investigative journalist Michael Kranish reveals new information about Major Taylor based on a rare interview with his daughter and other never-before-uncovered details from Taylor's life. Kranish shows how Taylor indeed became a world champion, traveled the world, was the toast of Paris, and was one of the most chronicled black men of his day. From a moment in time just before the arrival of the automobile when bicycles were king, the populace was booming with immigrants, and enormous societal changes were about to take place, "both inspiring and heartbreaking, this is an essential contribution to sports history" (Booklist, starred review). The World's Fastest Man "restores the memory of one of the first black athletes to overcome the drag of racism and achieve national renown" (The New York Times Book Review).

The inspiring, heart-pumping true story of soldiers turned cyclists and the historic 1919 Tour de France that helped to restore a war-torn country and its people. On June 29, 1919, one day after the Treaty of Versailles brought about the end of World War I, nearly seventy cyclists embarked on the thirteenth Tour de France. From Paris, the war-weary men rode down the western coast on a race that would trace the country's border, through seaside towns and mountains to the ghostly western front. Traversing a cratered postwar landscape, the cyclists faced near-impossible odds and the psychological scars of war. Most of the athletes had arrived straight from the front, where so many fellow countrymen had suffered or died. The cyclists' perseverance and tolerance for pain would be tested in a grueling, monthlong competition. An inspiring true story of human endurance, Sprinting Through No Man's Land explores how the cyclists united a country that had been torn apart by unprecedented desolation and tragedy. It shows how devastated countrymen and women can come together to celebrate the adventure of a lifetime and discover renewed fortitude, purpose, and national identity in the streets of their towns.

Le Loop: How to Cycle the Tour de France is the incredible tale of how one man took on the world's toughest bike race. Ceri Stone is an ordinary guy. He wanted to do something extraordinary just once in his life. This book is the exhilarating story of that adventure. He lays out a template for personal success, garnered from some rich life experience, and he puts his theories to the test by cycling Le Loop. Le Loop is an annual charitable event where riders cycle the route of the Tour de France one week before the pros. This is an inspiring adventure for athletes of all levels that proves we can achieve our wildest dreams and laugh along the way. Much like the tour itself, there are extreme highs and lows, and Ceri faces them with a searingly honest sense of reflection and a trivial sense of humour. This story is warm, empowering and leaves you itching to get off your sofa - but with a template to succeed at the same time. Join Ceri in his quest to live a life less ordinary.

Mountain bikers, beginner to expert, all share a common need - a place to ride. Mountain Biking Denver and Boulder gives fat-tire enthusiasts the skinny on where to ride. Here are forty-nine of the best rides in the Denver-Boulder area. Take your pick from scenic jeep roads, technical singletrack, chest-heaving climbs, and fast descents. Detailed ride descriptions make it easy to find the trailheads and follow the routes. You stay on track with accurate distances keyed to easy-to-read maps and ratings for physical and technical difficulty.
This handy pocket-size guide will help you choose a ride that's appropriate for your fitness and skill levels. It's an indispensable companion for all your fat-tire fun.

The 800-mile California Missions Trail leads walkers and cyclists through some of the most scenic and historic sites of one of America's most beautiful states. The 21 missions, founded 200-250 years ago, are key to understanding California's history and form the spiritual and cultural landmarks of this epic journey that stretches from the North San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego, near the US/Mexico border. The route never strays more than 30 miles from the sunny Pacific Coast, touching famous California beaches at Santa Cruz, Carmel, Santa Barbara, San Clemente and Carlsbad, not to mention metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. California's diverse wine regions play a starring role, as does the vast Salinas Valley, the 'Salad Bowl of America'. This guide offers everything you'll need to make your trip of 50-60 walking days or 12-20 cycling days on this epic West Coast adventure. There is a wealth of information to help you prepare for the journey, including packing lists and transport notes. In addition to clear route description, each stage of the route includes scale maps for easy orientation and comprehensive details of facilities available on or near the route. The trail is presented in sections, so it can either be undertaken in its entirety or split as desired, and an accompanying appendix displays distance intervals between towns and cities offering accommodation, in case you should wish to choose your own itinerary. The route can be walked or cycled; for cyclists, around 95% of the trail can be completed on a road bike. From Mission Sonoma to Mission San Diego, you'll follow the journey of 18th-century Spanish missionaries as they created 21 missions to convert the native inhabitants to Christianity. Included is a sensitive recount of the history of the missions, highlighting the story and monuments of the Native Americans who formed the foundation of the landscape, rather than the Spanish and Franciscan priests. From the sunlit sea to swathes of vineyards, to the bustling metropolis of San Francisco, and with historic, spiritual and scenic interest aplenty, the California Missions Trail offers an unforgettable journey through America's Golden State.

Shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year Non-Fiction Award 2020 'Chappell is a gifted storyteller' - Observer In 2015 Emily Chappell embarked on a formidable new bike race: The Transcontinental. 4,000km across Europe, unassisted, in the shortest time possible. On her first attempt she made it only halfway, waking up suddenly on her back in a field, floored by the physical and mental exertion. A year later she entered the race again - and won. Where There's a Will takes us into Emily Chappell's race, grinding up mountain passes and charging down the other side; snatching twenty minutes' sleep on the outskirts of a village before jumping back on the bike to surge ahead for another day; feeding in bursts and navigating on the go. We experience the crippling self-doubt of the ultra distance racer, the confusing intensity of winning and the desperation of losing a dear friend who understood all of this.

For those new to BMX racing or improving their racing performance, BMX Racing, provides a practical and comprehensive resource for this exciting sport. It guides the reader through all stages and levels of racing, from beginner and club to professional level. Topics covered include: clothing and equipment for safe riding; choosing your first BMX bike; understanding the BMX track; getting started in racing and competition structure through the national, international and Olympic levels. Finally, there is practical instruction on techniques including balance, accelerating, cornering and jumping.

Covering interesting and varied philosophical terrain, Cycling - Philosophy for Everyone explores in a fun but critical way the rich philosophical, cultural, and existential experiences that arise when two wheels are propelled by human energy. * Incorporates or reflects the views of high-profile and notable past-professional cyclists and insiders such as Lennard Zinn, Scott Tinley, and Lance Armstrong * Features contributions from the areas of cultural studies, kinesiology, literature, and political science as well as from philosophers * Includes enlightening essays on the varieties of the cycling experience, ranging from the ethical issues of success, women and cycling, environmental issues of commuting and the transformative potential of cycling for personal growth * Shows how bicycling and philosophy create the perfect tandem * Includes a foreword by Lennard Zinn, author and owner of Zinn Cycles Inc.

Julian Sayarer grew up riding a bicycle. Working as a bike courier in London, he learned the world record for a circumnavigation by bike had been broken, and that cycling into the sunset had been bought by banks and big business. Determined to do things differently, Julian set out to take back the record for the people. Life Cycles is his story of that record, riding 110 miles every 24 hours for 6 months on only GBP8.84 a day - a route through jungles, snow and 20 different countries. He found himself stranded without money in the deserts of Kazakhstan, held up by insurrections in northwest China, and sleeping under motorway bridges in America's Deep South. Taken by life on the road and a spirit of adventure, he loved every minute of it. A tale of excitement and world politics by bicycle, travelling at 12mph, Julian found that the Tartars of Central Asia aren't so different to the trailer families of Louisiana. This book is a reminder that the world is out there - and it's waiting for us.

In ETAPE, critically acclaimed author Richard Moore will take readers on a virtual Tour de France, with each chapter focusing on a single rider in a single stage that came to define the Tour's history. In Etape, critically acclaimed author Richard Moore tells the stories behind some of the defining stages in the Tour de France's history through the eyes of the protagonists: the heroes and villains, stars and journeymen. Featuring exclusive new interviews with Mark Cavendish, Lance Armstrong, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, David Millar, Chris Boardman and many other Tour riders past and present, Etape spans six decades in conveying the mystery, beauty and madness of the world's greatest bike race. The book includes Boardman's famous debut in 1994, Cavendish's best and worst stages, an emotionally charged win for Armstrong in Limoges in 1995 and his dramatic, drug-fuelled victory eight years later at Luz Ardiden, as well as iconic stages featuring giants of the sport: Merckx's toughest Tour, Hinault's journey through hell, LeMond's return from near-death, and the tragic Marco Pantani's domination of the most controversial race in Tour history, among others. From the Alps to the Pyrenees, the sun-soaked plains of the midi to the rain-lashed cobbles of the north, Etape takes the reader on a virtual Tour. Along the way, in shedding new light on familiar events, unravelling mysteries and exploring untold stories, it confirms the Tour de France as unrivalled in its creation of myths and legends, and as a stage for courage, scandal, skill, and drama.

Heaven on two wheels, Eastern New York offers trails ranging from scenic cruising to heart-pumping technically demanding singletrack. Veteran mountain biker and author Michael Margulis outlines seventy-four great rides from northern New Jersey and Long Island to the backcountry wilderness of the Adirondacks.Explore ancient stagecoach routes near Lake Placid on the Wild One tour; enjoy the solitude of Denning Trail, a Native American hunting path; and plan your own escape on rides through Westchester County where American Revolutionary forces marched and fought for freedom. Insider tidbits about the region's rich historic background make this more than just a trail guide. Also included: detailed ride descriptions; easy-to-read maps; ratings for physical and technical difficulty; tips on riding and trip preparation. (6 x 9, 382 pages, b&w photos, maps)