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).

So you've got a new bike? Or just getting into cycling? Or just fancy learning more about the bike you already have? On Your Bike by Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy is the perfect guide for children looking to make the most of their bikes. * How to choose your bike? BMX, Racer, Mountain bike? Which tribe are you? * Get the right kit. Advice on cycling essentials for riding in all weathers and safety tips to make sure you are seen on the road. * Maintenance. Step by step guides with illustrations to help you change a tyre, check your bike for wear and tear plus access to bonus video footage with Sir Chris Packed full of handy hints, fun facts, quizzes, checklists and illustrations, Sir Chris shows you how to look after your bike and much, much more.

'Eye-opening and inspirational . . . An utterly fascinating and gloriously fiery read' FELICITY CLOAKE 'A barnstorming book' GUARDIAN 'Fascinating . . . full of inspirational tales' OBSERVER Simone de Beauvoir borrowed her lover's bike to cycle around Paris in the 1940s, instantly falling in love with the freedom it gave her (even when an accident caused her to lose a tooth). Alice Hawkins, a factory worker from Leicester, pedal-powered her fight for universal suffrage as the bicycle became a cornerstone of her work to recruit women to the cause. Zahra Naarin Hussano challenged religious and cultural taboos in Afghanistan to ride a bike and teach others to do the same. As a twenty-four-year-old Latvian immigrant living in Boston, in 1894 Annie 'Londonderry' Kopchovsky became the first woman to cycle around the world. She took up the challenge, despite never having ridden a bike before, after two men bet a woman couldn't do it. Many of these women were told they couldn't or shouldn't cycle, but they did so anyway. Whether winning medals or spreading the word about votes for women, their stories are an inspiration. In this gloriously celebratory book, Hannah Ross introduces us to the women who are part of the rich and varied history of cycling, many of whom have been pushed to the margins or forgotten.

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.

Maybe you've been riding your bike for a while. You know what's what and are happy to be out for a good few hours. But what might it be like to ride a little bit further? And then a little bit further still? You've watched the Tour de France and daydreamed about riding over those mountains. You've seen people riding their bikes across a whole country or even around the entire globe and you weren't sure if they were just mad or inspirational. Cycling illustrator and writer Jo Burt will gently hold your hand as you venture out on longer rides, he's made the mistakes so you don't have to. Say you want to tackle your first century, do a group ride, cross a mountain range or traverse a continent, this book will point you in the right direction, which is all the way over there. Don't be afraid, just bring some money for snacks.

This readable biography of Lance Armstrong surveys his legendary cycling career as well as the details of his life outside of cycling. The son of a single mother and born in a run-down housing project, American athlete Lance Armstrong emerged from decidedly modest beginnings. Four decades later, Armstrong has established himself as not only one of the world's greatest and most successful athletes, but also as an activist for charitable causes. Through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Armstrong supports cancer research and treatment while he serves as the ultimate inspiration for other athletes and cancer survivors. Lance Armstrong: A Biography provides a detailed treatment of Armstrong's life, from the lasting influences of his boyhood and the early years of his competitive training, to his battle with cancer, his divorce, and the birth of his fifth child during his second comeback to professional cycling. The book portrays him both as a champion athlete and a family man, and gives a candid assessment of his career, including Armstrong's less successful periods. Presents a chronological timeline of important events in Lance Armstrong's life and a list of the major awards and races he has won Includes exciting photographs of this dynamic athlete in action Provides detailed chapter notes and a bibliographic list of books and magazine articles Includes a helpful index of people, places, and important cycling races in the life of Lance Armstrong

From wilderness treks to weekends following local coastal paths, adventure cycling combines cycle touring, mountain biking and camping to open up new and exciting possibilities for the two-wheeled explorer. Thanks to advances in bike technology and the ease of international travel, cycling adventures on any scale are more accessible than ever before. Cycling writer and photographer Joshua Cunningham spent eleven months cycling from London to Hong Kong, a journey that spanned twenty-six countries and 22,000 kilometres (13,670 miles). During his journey, he captured thousands of photographs of the landscapes, many barely touched by humans, and acquired a wealth of invaluable experience, from arranging travel and selecting the best bike to what to pack for each climate and terrain, and how to choose and navigate your route. Equal parts travelogue and practical guide, this exhilarating account divides the stages of his tour into five chapters, each focusing on a geographical environment: forest, desert, mountain, tropical and urban. Each chapter presents a text section on uncoated paper, featuring specially commissioned illustrations by Chris McNally, followed by a photographic album printed on art stock.

With a foreword by Eddy Merckx The world of professional cycling is fraught with fierce competition, fervent dedication and unerring ambition, and only a handful of competitors reach iconic status. Among them is Sir Bradley Wiggins - a man uniquely placed to reflect on the history of this remarkable sport and its unforgettable titans. In Icons, Wiggins takes the reader on an extraordinarily intimate journey through the sport, presenting key pieces from his never-before-seen collection of memorabilia. Over the course of his illustrious career, he amassed hundreds of items - often gifts from its greatest and most controversial figures. Each reflects an icon, a race or a moment that fundamentally influenced Wiggins on both a personal and professional level. By exploring the lives and achievements of 21 of the sport's key figures - among them Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain and Tom Simpson - Wiggins sheds new light on what professional cycling demands of its best competitors. Icons lauds their triumphs, elucidates their demons and sheds light on the philosophy and psychology that comprise the unique mindset of a cycling champion.

The Lake District boasts some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the country, providing a dramatic backdrop to many of the rides featured in this book. The practical spiral-bound guide describes 20 wonderful lane rides of 24-35 miles in South Lakeland and the Eden Valley. 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 through the region's beautiful 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 the hills to expect and schematic maps show how the ride can either be shortened or linked to adjacent rides for a longer day out. The rides have been designed to use quieter roads and are divided into three main areas: the first is around Cockermouth and Keswick where three rides explore the breathtaking landscape either side of Bassenthwaite Lake. To the west lie Wythop Woods, Whinlatter Forest, Loweswater, Crummock Water and Buttermere; to the east of Bassenthwaite is the classic circuit around the back of Skiddaw to Caldbeck. The second area covers the southeast of Cumbria, encompassing the upper Eden Valley and the Lune Valley, with rides starting from the handsome towns of Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale. The weather tends to be drier here as the two valleys lie in the rain shadow of the Lakeland Fells. These rides also offer panoramic views of the Pennines and the Howgills to the north of Sedbergh. The final area features rides in and around the southern half of the Lake District National Park. There are fantastic views of many of the central lakes and fells including those to be enjoyed from the Windermere Ferry, featured on the ride north from Backbarrow. You may well be pleasantly surprised that there are so many quiet lanes to explore in such a popular tourist area. Choose your time well and you will enjoy your rides even more.

One woman, one bike and one richly entertaining, perception-altering journey of discovery. In 2015, as the Syrian War raged and the refugee crisis reached its peak, Rebecca Lowe set off on her bicycle across the Middle East. Driven by a desire to learn more about this troubled region and its relationship with the West, Lowe's 11,000-kilometre journey took her through Europe to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, the Gulf and finally to Iran. It was an odyssey through landscapes and history that captured her heart, but also a deeply challenging cycle across mountains, deserts and repressive police states that nearly defeated her. Plagued by punctures and battling temperatures ranging from -6 to 48C, Lowe was rescued frequently by farmers and refugees, villagers and urbanites alike, and relied almost entirely on the kindness and hospitality of locals to complete this living portrait of the modern Middle East. This is her evocative, deeply researched and often very funny account of her travels - and the people, politics and culture she encountered. 'Terrifically compelling ... bursting with humour, adventure and insight into the rich landscapes and history of the Middle East. Lowe recounts the beauty, kindnesses and complexities of the lands she travels through with an illuminating insight. A wonderful new travel writer.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes

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.

'It wasn't a race but a war game' Bernard Hinault 'Without question, the hardest one-day bike race ever created' George Hincapie The Tour of Flanders - known to cycling fans as the Ronde - is the biggest one-day bike race in the world. It is a potent mix of grit, cobbles, steep climbs, narrow roads, national pride, beer, brutal weather and the maddest, most passionate fans in the sport. It's the Tour de France boiled down into a single day of non-stop action - the Belgian equivalent of the Grand National, Wimbledon and the FA Cup final. And there's yet more to it than that. Edward Pickering tells the story of the Tour of Flanders, its history, culture and meaning, through the prism of the 2011 Ronde, an incredible edition that was one of the most exciting bike races of the past half-century. He weaves the narrative of that day into a broader study of the race, with eyewitness accounts from the key locations of the Ronde and dozens of interviews with the riders. The Ronde is a textured portrait of a race, but it also explores the deep links between bike races and the landscape and culture in which they take place, and explains how cycling works, with the most detailed analysis of a single event ever seen.

If you're looking for the ultimate mountain bike guide for the totally honed, welcome to William (Not Bill) Nealy's world. Nealy's expertise (acquired through years of crash and burn) enables him to translate hard-learned reflexes and instinctive responses into easy-to-understand drawings: drawings that will make you a much better rider. Nealy's cartoon illustrations combine insight with humor and knowledge with humiliation. So, if you are ready to shorten the learning curve and master the

The year 2021 was another amazing year for the Wolfpack, the dream cycling team of Patrick Lefevere. Davide Ballerini won the Omloop, Kasper Asgreen took the E3 and the Tour of Flanders, and Sam Bennett, Mark Cavendish, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe all gathered victories, while Michael Morkov took Olympic Gold on the track. In this book you'll follow the cyclists through the lens of Wout Beel: in an intimate family circle during their few free moments, in total ecstasy after a victory, in decompression on the team bus. See them fall, get up and win again. A group portrait that will stay with you forever.

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.

Peak District Mountain Biking - Dark Peak Trails is the full second edition of the groundbreaking mountain bike guidebook Dark Peak Mountain Biking - True Grit Trails, described by leading mountain biking website Bikemagic.com as 'far and away the best Peak guide we've come across.' All route information has been thoroughly checked for this new edition, to give the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidebook to some of the finest and most popular riding in the country. As with all new Vertebrate MTB guidebooks, this new edition features industry-standard Ordnance Survey mapping, and is illustrated with stunning action photography. Featured within the book are 26 of the best mountain bike rides in the Dark Peak, between 11.5 and 105 (!) kilometres in length, suitable for all levels of mountain bikers. Researched, ridden and written by a local rider, each route features easy-to-follow directions; details of distance, timings and difficulty gradings; refreshment stops and local knowledge; and clear and easy to use Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 maps. A Bonus Section includes Top Ten Climbs, Downhills and Singletracks, Sheffield City Links and a detailed Appendix.

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.

Explore 63 of the best rail-trails and multiuse pathways across two states. All around the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted to public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present their list of 63 of the best, most highly rated rail-trails and other multiuse pathways in Michigan and Wisconsin. Each entry includes detailed maps, driving directions to trailheads, activity icons, and succinct descriptions. Explore Wisconsin's iconic Elroy-Sparta State Trail-widely acknowledged to be the oldest rail-trail in America-or Lake Michigan Pathway, which features beaches and marinas that keep you in close touch with its namesake. Tour Michigan's state capital on the Lansing River Trail, which winds along scenic riverbanks for 8 miles, from the campus of Michigan State University to Old Town Lansing. Witness the effects of ancient ice floes on Wisconsin's landscape along the 52-mile Glacial Drumlin State Trail. You'll love the variety in this collection of Midwestern multiuse trails-from beautiful waterways and scenic areas to the hustle and bustle of the states' urban centers. So whether you're looking for a trail for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride with the family, or something a bit more challenging, you'll find it in this comprehensive trail guide.

"Nick Moore reminds us all that however frequently we may cycle, two wheels is always a rather magical way to travel." - The Simple Things Cycling is about more than competitive racing, lycra, and physical endurance; it's about joy, meditative wonder and spiritual enrichment. Mindful Thoughts for Cyclists presents a series of focused meditations on why and how cycling can be a powerful practice of mindful awareness. From the pleasure of riding down a hill, to finding the upsides of a flat, Nick Moore steers us on an enlightening journey through the true value of riding a bicycle.

Biking inspires millions of people around the world, with an ever-growing fan base. With some 200 colour and black-and-white photographs, Icons of Cycling captures the thrill and fascination of this sport on two wheels. Compiling the work of some of the best cycling photographers, the book breathes the spirit of cycling - as close and emotional as if the viewer were part of the race. Discover extraordinary shots of the peloton winding along alpine serpentines; exhausted athletes at the end of a stage; and unknown heroes from the team behind the team. A microcosm of ambition and passion, pain and glory, this is both a photographic artwork and a contemporary document of a thriving sport. A cherished collector's item for every cycle enthusiast.

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD* The Rhine is one of the world's greatest rivers. Once forming the outer frontier of the Roman Empire, it flows 800 miles from the social democratic playground of the Netherlands, through the industrial and political powerhouses of Germany and France, to the wealthy mountain fortresses of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out by bicycle from the Netherlands where it enters the North Sea, following it through Germany, France and Liechtenstein, to its source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it. Blending travelogue and offbeat history, The Rhine tells the fascinating story of how a great river helped shape a continent.

The Tour de France is always one of the sporting calendar's most spectacular and dramatic events. But the 1998 Tour provided drama like no other. As the opening stages in Ireland unfolded, the Festina team's soigneur Willy Voet was arrested on the French-Belgian border with a car-load of drugs. Raid after police raid followed, with arrest after arrest hammering the Tour. In protest, there were riders' strikes and go-slows, with several squads withdrawing en masse and one expelled. By the time the Tour reached Paris, just 96 of the 189 starters remained. And of those 189 starters, more than a quarter were later reported to have doped. The 1998 'Tour de Farce's' status as one of the most scandal-struck sporting events in history was confirmed. Voet's arrest was just the beginning of sport's biggest mass doping controversy - what became known as the Festina affair. It all but destroyed professional cycling as the credibility of the entire sport was called into question and the cycling family began to split apart. And yet, ironically, the 1998 Tour was also one of the best races in years. The End of the Road is the first English-language book to provide in-depth analysis and a colourful evocation of the tumultuous events during the 1998 Tour. Alasdair Fotheringham uncovers, step by step, how the world's biggest bike race sank into a nightmarish series of scandals that left the sport on its knees. He explores its long-term consequences - and what, if any, lessons were learned.

In November 1963, a British inventor and reluctant industrialist named Alex Moulton introduced a radical new small-wheeled, dual suspension bicycle at the Earl's Court Cycle Show in London. It was covered in several articles by Reyner Banham, an architecture and design critic and associate editor of Architectural Review and Architects' Journal. Banham believed that the Moulton Bicycle would give rise to "a new class of cyclists," young urban radicals who would cycle out of choice, and not out of need, the traditional clientele for the bicycle industry prior to the war. After selling about 100,000 units Moulton was forced by economic circumstances to sell his small firm to Raleigh, England's largest cycle maker, in 1967. Production of the original ended in 1970. Alex Moulton revived his firm in the 1980's with an even more radical spaceframe model, the AM, that remains in production even after Alex Moulton's death in 2015. Largely because of Banham's writings, the Moulton has started to be taken seriously by technological historians and industrial design historians. The AM series is very expensive - some models cost over $15,000-and this has led some mechanically savvy cyclists to make their own "hot rod" compact bicycles out of the small wheeled, relatively inexpensive, utility bicycles of the 1970s (called "Shoppers") that were inspired by the Moulton's small-wheeled popularity. Ironically, this was also foreseen by Banham (who died in 1988), who considered the hot-rod Model Ts and Chevy Bel Aires of the 1950s "America's first folk art of the mechanical era." This book follows the intertwined lives of two very different men, both unusually creative, who had an extraordinary impact on each others' careers, given that they met, at most, three or four times, and never had a professional relationship of any kind.