No sporting event has had its past and present, its highs and lows so intricately entwined with those of a country like the Tour has with France.The Tour de France is the biggest annual sporting event in the world, and at the same time it transcends sport. The Tour de France comes to the people. It passes their houses, it turns right in their village squares, it thunders through their suburban streets and into the hearts of their towns and cities. It is a unique event in that peopl...

**'A wildly inspiring adventure - from armchair to saddle.'Nichiless'A lovely concise guide.'A. W. Baird**Here is plenty of inspiration for anyone who loves to ride off road and get out into the wild and stunning scenery of the British mainland. Each route suggests further routes and the book as a whole introduces the wild cyling potential of a range of different locations.These natural routes to wild places link country lanes, green lanes, bridleways,...

This is an urban and commuting cyclist's handbook, both inspirational and practical, showing us how to live safer, more enjoyable and healthier lives, both physically and mentally, while reducing our impact on the planet.Author of numerous bestselling bike books, Chris Sidwells, begins with a brief introduction which shows how cycling is already forming a crucial part of future urban transport, good for the environment as well as our health. Current urban transport models, heavily ...

An illustrated pocket guide to off-the-beaten-track cycling challengesReally Wild Cycling follows in the tracks of Chris's bestselling Wild Cycling. Most, if not all, the rides are off-road, but each one presents a challenge to inspire readers to train for it and have a go. Most take only a few hours, but some are longer, and a few much longer, taking even the fittest several days. An introduction explains safety techniques and underlines the skil...

The first book to cover in detail every major climb ever used in the Tour de France, including detail on the actual route (with maps and profile), length, height, list of winners and route descriptions of how to emulate the King of the Mountains and get from the bottom to the top.Every year the Tour de France is said to only really start when it reaches the first mountain stages: the drama of the race only really begins as the climbers take over in the Pyrenees, Vosges or Alps. The...

Eddy Merckx. Fausto Coppi. Jacques Anquetil. Bernard Hinault. Beryl Burton. Marianne Vos.Since the first road race in May 1869, revealed here for the very first time, cycle road racing has been dominated by iconic cyclists who redefined endurance and fortitude. The battles facing these cyclists are not fought over just one race, but an annual series beginning with the Spring Classics and culminating in the three great tours – the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and ...

Cyclosportives, or long-distance cycle rides, are growing in popularity all over the world.From the Etape du Tour - where cyclists get to ride a stage of the Tour de France - to the Tour of Flanders or the Etape Caledonia in Scotland, these events are pulling big numbers and attracting a range of cyclists. Bestselling author Chris Sidwells explains how to choose the right sportive, prepare for it both mentally and physically, and get yourself and your bike to the f...

Discover everything you need to know to keep your bike in peak condition.The most accessible and up-to-date bike maintenance ebook on the market, covering all types of manual bicycle - road, racing, mountain, BMX, and children's - this is the essential e-guide for cyclists of all levels.Step-by-step sequences show how to carry out bicycle repairs, from vital servicing to improving its performance. Learn how to maintain every essential area, such as brakes, ...

Completing one hundred miles by bike is a timeless challenge. Ever since the invention of a pedal- powered, two-wheel vehicle, 100 miles has been the benchmark by which cyclists can measure their prowess.Best 100-Mile Bike Routes is the ultimate guide to a hundred 100-mile rides grouped in geographical regions, from the north of Scotland to the south coast; representing the best the UK has to offer. The routes are unique, named after local events, people or geography, or inspired b...

Eddy Merckx. Fausto Coppi. Jacques Anquetil. Bernard Hinault. Beryl Burton. Marianne Vos.A sole cyclist battling over a pass high in the mountains is one of the most romantic of sporting images. In the past 150 years road cycling has been dominated by a series of iconic people who have redefined endurance and fortitude. Every decade has pushed human limits, until limits were extended by inhuman pharmacology. And these battles have not been fought over just one race...

The biggest annual sports event in the world is the Tour de France. In the wake of its overwhelming popularity, it’s easy to forget that there is much more to cycling than whoever gets to wear the yellow jersey. Cycling is rich with legends and pioneers, and it is their stories which light up this compelling account of the sport.This is the story of British cycling as told through the lives of the people who built it. From the first recorded race in a Paris park in 1868 to the pres...