Riding up hills is the ultimate challenge for a cyclist. This guide is a compilation of some of the best hills in Bristol, Bath, and the surrounding area. It's not just a definitive list of the top 50 toughest climbs; instead, author J J Wheeler has selected some of the most iconic, the most thrilling, the most interesting, varied and, of course, hardest hill climbs that this region has to offer. There's something here for everyone, from the Weekend Warrior to the serious road racer. Just get out there and enjoy the ride!

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.

Subways and yellow taxis may be the icons of New York transportation, but it is the bicycle that has the longest claim to New York's streets: two hundred years and counting. Never has it taken to the streets without controversy: 1819 was the year of the city's first bicycle and also its first bicycle ban. Debates around the bicycle's place in city life have been so persistent not just because of its many uses-recreation, sport, transportation, business-but because of changing conceptions of who cyclists are. In On Bicycles, Evan Friss traces the colorful and fraught history of cycling in New York City. He uncovers the bicycle's place in the city over time, showing how it has served as a mirror of the city's changing social, economic, infrastructural, and cultural politics since it first appeared. It has been central, as when horse-drawn carriages shared the road with bicycle lanes in the 1890s; peripheral, when Robert Moses's car-centric vision made room for bicycles only as recreation; and aggressively marginalized, when Ed Koch's battle against bike messengers culminated in the short-lived 1987 Midtown Bike Ban. On Bicycles illuminates how the city as we know it today-veined with over a thousand miles of bicycle lanes-reflects a fitful journey powered, and opposed, by New York City's people and its politics.

Tim Moore completes his epic (and ill-advised) trilogy of cycling's Grand Tours. Julian Berrendero's victory in the 1941 Vuelta a Espana was an extraordinary exercise in sporting redemption: the Spanish cyclist had just spent 18 months in Franco's concentration camps, punishment for expressing Republican sympathies during the civil war. Seventy nine years later, perennially over-ambitious cyclo-adventurer Tim Moore developed a fascination with Berrendero's story, and having borrowed an old road bike with the great man's name plastered all over it, set off to retrace the 4,409km route of his 1941 triumph - in the midst of a global pandemic. What follows is a tale of brutal heat and lonely roads, of glory, humiliation, and then a bit more humiliation. Along the way Tim recounts the civil war's still-vivid tragedies, and finds the gregarious but impressively responsible locals torn between welcoming their nation's only foreign visitor, and bundling him and his filthy bike into a vat of antiviral gel.

This guidebook covers 20 mountain biking routes set throughout the length and breadth of the North Downs, from Farnham in the west to Dover in the east, as well as a route along the Downs Link, which joins the North Downs Way with the South Downs Way. They range from 18.5km to 59km in length and up to 90% off road. The routes, illustrated with OS map extracts and height profiles, are graded for difficulty (blue, red and black) and are suitable for mountain bikers with at least some experience and a reasonable degree of fitness. The guide gives practical information on recommended gear, preparation and safety, as well as details of accommodation and local bike shops.

Orkney is Scotland's best-kept secret: a supreme outdoor destination that is more accessible than you expect, by ferry or plane. It offers world-class prehistory, approachable wildlife and welcoming Orcadian hospitality. This pilgrimage walk celebrates Orkney's patron saint, Magnus, some 900 years after his martyrdom. The 60-mile St Magnus Way has it all: manageable daily distances, stunning coastal vistas, unique wildlife, tidal islands, historic interest and great variety of terrain. It starts from the site of Magnus' martyrdom on Egilsay and culminates at his cathedral in Orkney's capital Kirkwall. For cyclists, the 67-mile (108 km) St Magnus Cycleway visits the same places as the Way. However it runs almost wholly on tarmac and is readily split into two circuits of 27 and 40 miles respectively (44 km and 64 km respectively). This essential trail guide contains all you need to plan your visit on foot or bike: Foreword by Magnus Linklater biography of St Magnus and his cathedral planning info for travel by car, ferry and plane richly illustrated sections on history, geology and wildlife visit info for museums, distilleries and the World Heritage Site concise step-by-step directions 14 pages with route mapping at 1:30,000 in full colour, with 101 photos.

'Inspiring... proves anything is possible if you just believe and give it a go' Sun 'Masses of heart... frank and funny' Melanie Sykes 'Gritty and glorious' Ruth Field 'Thrillingly honest and hopeful' Jools Walker ***************************************** Rachel is a cyclist. But she was never meant to be. After gaining mental strength and healing through running, she thought she was free. Her depression alleviated, she came off antidepressants, winning races and collecting medals at marathons. But when an injury stopped the only thing helping to quiet the voices in her brain, Rachel found out what she is truly made of. As body dysmorphia began to grip her in earnest, she knew she had to find a different way to kick her mental health demons for the sake of her sanity. So, she went down to her cellar, heaved out her old bike, and started pedalling. Like her life depended on it. A Midlife Cyclist is a tale of two wheels, across the Yorkshire Dales, Vietnam, Costa Rica and beyond, and a rider in search of peace. Includes exclusive Q&A with Jools Walker, aka Lady Velo ***************************************** Praise for Running For My Life: 'Heartwarming' Jo Pavey 'Brave and inspiring' Ruth Field 'I love Running For My Life' Louise Minchin

In The Power Meter Handbook, Joe Friel offers cyclists and triathletes a simple user's guide to using a power meter for big performance gains. In simple language, the most trusted coach in endurance sports makes understanding a power meter easy, no advanced degrees or tech savvy required. Cyclists and triathletes will master the basics to reveal how powerful they are. Focusing on their most important data, they'll discover hidden power, refine their pacing, and find out how many matches they can burn on any given day. Once they understand the fundamentals, Friel will show how to apply his proven training approach to gain big performance in road races, time trials, triathlons, and century rides. With The Power Meter Handbook, riders will: Precisely match their training to their race season Push their limits step by step Track fitness changes--reliably and accurately Peak predictably for key events Vastly improve training efficiency Power meters aren't just for the pros or racers anymore. Now The Power Meter Handbook makes it easy for any cyclist or triathlete to find new speed with cycling's most advanced gear.

My Cool Bike celebrates a love affair with bikes and bike culture. The bicycle is the most popular form of transport on the planet. Cycling is simply ideal for many things and we are now at the dawn of a new golden age of this versatile machine. This book will appeal to all who have taken up cycling for sport, fun, health and wealth. As the individual stories in the book show, a bike is a way of seeking solitude - a leisurely trip taken at one's own pace, only relying on pedal power. For some the bike is much more than an accessory for the daily commute: there are the plucky few who have have embarked on life-changing momentous global journeys; while for others bike ownership offers the chance to be part of a loyal, passionate and strong-minded community of fellow enthusiasts embarking on club excursions. Among this collection of cool bikes are classic racing bikes, high-tech machines that use the latest in material science and aerodynamics, eccentric bikes designed for specific purposes, and rarities coveted by serious collectors. Themes include: Urban, Commercial, Touring and Sporting, Vintage and Eccentric, Custom bikes, Eco and community bikes, Workshops, shops and cafes and Accessories including fashion.

An electric bicycle is, quite simply, a normal bicycle with an added battery and electric motor that just about double your pedal power - able to waft up hills and into headwinds, they take the sweat out of cycling, and give you supercharged legs! How long does the battery last? Are they expensive to run? Do you need a licence and insurance?This book is a complete buyer's guide to electric bicycles, and it answers all of these questions and more. Outlining the advantages (and pitfalls), with an overview of the types of bike available, what to look for, and why you should buy one, you'll also find useful contacts such as importers, websites and magazines, with advice on where you can ride and the law, including new legislation coming in 2017. Battery charging and maintenance is described, as well as some basic cycle maintenance, and there's an analysis of running costs and a look at the world of easy cycling they open up - electric bikes are not just for holidays.

The Northeast provides some of the most exciting cycling in the United States: sweeping vistas, seaside towns, fall colors, and more. With this comprehensive guide, New Hampshire local David Sobel offers up rides in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. No matter the state, there's a ride here for everyone, with a range of mileage and difficulty level so both beginner and experienced cyclists can enjoy. Take in the scenery and stop for surf and turf on a moderate 17-mile trip through Mystic, Connecticut. Challenge yourself on hilly vistas and cool off in Cold River while biking Walpole, New Hampshire. Or take it easy while travelling back in time through Concord, Massachusetts. In addition to detailed directions, each route features annotated maps, charming photography, elevation profiles, and suggestions for entertainment and dining along the way. This is a must-have guide to discovering New England's hidden gems on two wheels.

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022 WINNER OF THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A TIMES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 A WATERSTONES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 A DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF 2022 Cyclist Beryl Burton - also known as BB - dominated her sport much as her male contemporary Eddy Merckx, but with a longevity that surpasses even sporting legends like Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams and Sir Steve Redgrave. She was practically invincible in time trials, finishing as Best All-Rounder for 25 consecutive years and setting a world record in 1967 for the distance covered in 12 hours that beat the men. She won multiple world titles, even when the distances didn't play to her strengths. But her achievements were limited by discrimination from the cycling authorities, and by her strictly amateur status against state-sponsored rivals from Eastern Bloc nations. Yet she carried on winning, beating men and - infamously - competing against her own daughter, while working on a farm and running a household. Her motivation, sparked by appalling childhood illness, is as fascinating as her achievements are stunning. With access to previously unseen correspondence and photographs, and through extensive interviews with family, friends, rivals and fellow giants from across sport, acclaimed journalist Jeremy Wilson peels back the layers to reveal one of the most complex, enigmatic and compelling characters in cycling history. For the first time, he also provides the jaw-dropping answer to how fast she would still be on modern cycling technology. Long ignored by sporting history, Burton's life story - recently told by Maxine Peake in a stage and radio play - is finally getting the recognition she deserves.

Bicycling is undergoing a renaissance in this country as millions of people are taking to the streets in this nostalgic, beloved pastime. From purchasing one's first bike to learning all its different components, "Bicycling Big Book of Cycling for Beginners "is the go-to guide for any beginning cyclist's collection. The vast territory of cycling and its facets will become a welcome terrain for any rider who wants to ride smarter, faster, and safer using this incredible wealth of knowledge. As the sales of new bicycles increase every year, these helpful tips will educate and inform beginning cyclists so they perform to the maximum potential, all while having fun.Trusted bicycle consultant Tori Bortman distills the essentials every beginning cyclist needs to know. She covers different types of rides, the components of bicycles, proper cycling clothing and equipment, basic road skills, nutrition, training, maintenance, and how to ride for a cause. She also explores how to approach cycling from the conceptual beginnings into tangible, real-time facts about riding as a new cyclist, as well as elaborating on the bountiful health benefits of cycling, including weight loss, stress reduction, and boosted immunity. This is the ultimate guide to bicycling know-how for beginning cyclists.

A guidebook of 24 short, medium, long and full-day mountain bike routes in the Lake District. The Lakes offer some of the best MTB riding in the UK. The graded circular rides are arranged by difficulty, from Kendal to Cleator Moor in the far north-west and Keswick to Winster in the Lyth Valley. The Lake District has plentiful and varied trails, and the routes described in this guide offer spectacular views of the famous lakes and great memories time and time again. Choose a route by grade, percentage off-road, length or time at a glance. All routes have clear directions and tips on what to look out for on the way with numbers linking text, OS map extracts and profiles together to show you quickly where you are and where to go next.

Cycling in the Peak District presents 20 graded day rides in the national park, along with a challenging five-day 250km (155-mile) 'Tour de Peak District'. The circular day rides are centred around Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton and many other charming Derbyshire towns, while the more challenging Tour de Peak District circumnavigates the National Park. Routes include sections of the Tissington Trail, Monsal Trail and Transpennine Trail, with a focus on quiet lanes, gratifying downhills and not overly technical bridleways, tracks and trails. The routes are ideal for gravel/adventure bikes (or hybrid/cross), though most can be easily adapted for road bikes. Each ride features step-by-step route description accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping. Overview stats and profiles are provided to aid route selection, along with details of refreshments, parking facilities and cycle hire, and full accommodation listings for the Tour de Peak District. The guide also includes tips for cycling the routes and advice for novices. The scenic Peak District boasts an abundance of country lanes, tracks, towpaths and railway trails that are perfect for two-wheeled exploration.

As the wildest of the northern coast-to-coast cycle routes, the Reivers Route explores the rich Border Reiving history of northern England and the Scottish Borders. Travelling 173 mile (280km) from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, this four-day cycle tour takes in the Cumbrian coast, northern Lake District, Northumberland National Park and North Tynedale, offering memorable off-road cycling through Kershope Forest and around Kielder Water. The route offers both on and off-road cycling, and is suitable for cyclists using touring or hybrid bikes. Places to stay overnight include Carlisle, Bailey Mill and Bellingham. The guidebook also offers the Borderers Ride, an alternative coast-to-coast ride along the England-Scotland border from Gretna to Berwick-upon-Tweed. This route joins up the fantastic middle section of the Reivers Route with a route heading north via Wooler and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to finish at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Whether on the Reivers Route or the Borderers Ride, these cycle tours offer exceptional cycling on gated roads and quiet cycle paths as they explore rolling hillsides, remote forests and plenty of historic sites. This guidebook provides everything you need to enjoy a successful cycle tour on the Reivers Route or Borderers Ride. Each stage includes detailed 1:100,000 mapping, profiles and comprehensive route description containing insights into points of interest along the way. The introduction offers plenty of information about the area's history, as well as practical advice about suitable bikes, equipment, and transport to and from the route. The appendices feature useful contacts for bike shops and available accommodation.

"This story grabs your heart and never lets go." Saving Lucy is the true and inspiring story of two creatures in need of healing and rescue--who find home in each other. Ishbel Rose Holmes was adrift and alone when she set out to bicycle across the world. She was pedalling across Turkey when a street dog, Lucy, crossed her path and changed her life forever. Ishbel did not want anything or anyone to slow her down, but when she witnessed Lucy attacked by other dogs, Ishbel rescued her--forming a deep bond between the pair. Ishbel recognized her own vulnerability in her new canine friend and launched a heartfelt mission to find Lucy a home and give her a happy life. Their adventures took them over 1,000 miles to the Syrian border and into the hearts of everyone who met them. People around the world who followed the story on Ishbel's blog, World Bike Girl, watched as Lucy's unconditional love broke down the wall around Ishbel's heart.

'Bill Bryson on two wheels' Independent Scaling a new peak of rash over-ambition, Tim Moore tackles the 9,000km route of the old Iron Curtain on a tiny-wheeled, two-geared East German shopping bike. Asking for trouble and getting it, he sets off at the Arctic winter's brutal height, bullying his plucky MIFA 900 through the endless and massively sub-zero desolation of snowbound Finland. Haunted throughout the journey by the border detritus of watchtowers and rusted razor wire, Moore reflects on the curdling of the Communist dream, and the memories of a Cold War generation reared on the fear of apocalypse - at a time of ratcheting East-West tension. After three months, 20 countries and a 58-degree jaunt up the centigrade scale, man and bike finally wobble up to a Black Sea beach in Bulgaria, older and wiser, but mainly older.

The Award-Winning, International Best-Seller "I have success, money, women. I've been lionized by the public and the press. The world is at my feet. I've spread my wings and here I am, soaring above everything and everyone. But in reality, the descent has already begun." At age 20, Thomas Dekker was already earning 100,000 a year--as an amateur bike racer. The next year, he turned pro and his salary quadrupled then rose again to 900,000 as he established his position as a super-domestique among Europe's wealthiest superteams. The sport marveled at Dekker's rise as the young racer set his ambitions on capturing cycling's biggest prizes for himself. Before long, though, Dekker found himself corrupted by money, dazzled by fame, and cracking under the relentless pressure to perform at a superhuman level. In his tell-all book DESCENT: My Epic Fall from Cycling Superstardom to Doping Dead End, Dekker reveals a sordid way of life full of blood bags, drugs, prostitutes, and money. DESCENT tells the story of a yearslong bender that exposes the brutal truth of his life as a professional cyclist. And Dekker is not alone; he names those who fell with him and those who aided in his downfall. In DESCENT, we take an unflinching look at the European peloton as it roars through its modern boom years--the height of the EPO era--and what we see is shocking. You won't be able to turn away from this page-turning read about one man's rise, fall, and redemption and what his story reveals about professional sports.

Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike, paddle, or bike ride? Best Outdoor Adventures Asheville details forty of the best hikes, paddles, and bike routes within an hour's drive of the Land of the Sky (along with extra information on climbing and camping adventures), perfect for the urban dweller and suburbanite who may be hard-pressed to find great outdoor activities close to home.