Best of
Cycling

2012

The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs


Tyler Hamilton - 2012
    The result is an explosive book that takes us, for the first time, deep inside a shadowy, fascinating, and surreal world of unscrupulous doctors, anything-goes team directors, and athletes so relentlessly driven to succeed that they would do anything—and take any risk, physical, mental, or moral—to gain the edge they need to win.Tyler Hamilton was once one of the world’s best-liked and top-ranked cyclists—a fierce competitor renowned among his peers for his uncanny endurance and epic tolerance for pain. In the 2003 Tour de France, he finished fourth despite breaking his collarbone in the early stages—and grinding eleven of his teeth down to the nerves along the way. He started his career with the U.S. Postal Service team in the 1990s and quickly rose to become Lance Armstrong’s most trusted lieutenant, and a member of his inner circle. For the first three of Armstrong’s record seven Tour de France victories, Hamilton was by Armstrong’s side, clearing his way. But just weeks after Hamilton reached his own personal pinnacle—winning the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics—his career came to a sudden, ignominious end: He was found guilty of doping and exiled from the sport.From the exhilaration of his early, naïve days in the peloton, Hamilton chronicles his ascent to the uppermost reaches of this unforgiving sport. In the mid-1990s, the advent of a powerful new blood-boosting drug called EPO reshaped the world of cycling, and a relentless, win-at-any-cost ethos took root. Its psychological toll would drive many of the sport’s top performers to substance abuse, depression, even suicide. For the first time ever, Hamilton recounts his own battle with clinical depression, speaks frankly about the agonizing choices that go along with the decision to compete at a world-class level, and tells the story of his complicated relationship with Lance Armstrong.A journey into the heart of a never-before-seen world, The Secret Race is a riveting, courageous act of witness from a man who is as determined to reveal the hard truth about his sport as he once was to win the Tour de France.

The Power Meter Handbook: A User's Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes


Joe Friel - 2012
    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.

Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong


David Walsh - 2012
    And it was.As early as Armstrong’s first victory on the Tour in 1999, The Sunday Times (London) journalist David Walsh had reason to think that the incredible performances we were seeing from Armstrong were literally too good to be true. Based on insider information and dogged research, he began to unmask the truth. Cycling’s biggest star used every weapon in his armory to protect his name.But he could not keep everyone silent.In the autumn of 2012, the US Anti-Doping Agency published a damning report on Armstrong that resulted in the American being stripped of his seven Tour victories and left his reputation in shreds. Walsh’s long fight to reveal the truth had been vindicated. This book tells the compelling story of one man’s struggle to bring that truth to light against all the odds.

The Cycling Anthology Volume One


Ellis Bacon - 2012
    

The Competition Bicycle: The Craftsmanship of Speed


Jan Heine - 2012
    The evocative, detail-rich photographs display the history of the bicycle, from racing high-wheelers to modern racing bikes with carbon-fiber disc wheels. Exceptional handcrafted machines ridden by great champions illustrate milestones in the mechanics and craftsmanship of bicycle design. This volume also features iconic bicycles that played an important role in the history of the sport, from the bicycle that sent Eddy Merckx over the finish line in his last world championship win, to those of tandem teams who tackled the hour record, motor-paced track racers that exceeded 80 mph on the wooden boards, to California’s mountain-bike pioneers. Historic images complement the stunning new photography that illustrates each machine in exquisite detail while celebrating the evolution of the sport, object, and machine. The Competition Bicycle is sure to be treasured by all who appreciate magnificent masterpieces of vintage and contemporary design.

The Srampagmano Tales


Scarlett Parker - 2012
    Representing a wide cross-section of riders, they each share a tale of their own time spent in the saddle: from remote rides through the night to delivering packages in the City; from the existential deliberations of the grimpeur to the style choices of the fakenger.Written in the same narrative verse as Chaucer's famous text, The Srampagmano Tales is a witty and knowing account of what it means to ride a bicycle, and the enduring joy experienced by cyclists everywhere.

The End to End Cycle Route: Cycling the Length of Britain


Nick Mitchell - 2012
    A description of a classic British cycle route, avoiding busy roads as much as possible, from Land's End in southwest England to John o' Groats in the north of Scotland, cycle touring the 991 miles in 14 days, with lots of information on accommodation, bike shops and refreshments along the route as well as local points of interest.

Merckx 525


Frederik Backelandt - 2012
    Known as “the Cannibal” for his insatiable hunger to win, Merckx gobbled up 525 race victories, an unrivaled legacy lionized in this once-in-a-lifetime homage.Merckx 525 is the first book authorized by Eddy Merckx and the only book he says offers a truly complete record of his bike-racing career."Merckx 525 is a unique collection of exclusive photographs, including some that even I had not seen before. It is the only work authorized by me…and the first truly complete record of my accomplishments." — Eddy MerckxPresenting a dazzling trove of recently discovered photographs not yet seen outside of Europe, Merckx 525 is an all-encompassing embrace of Merckx’s career from promising youth in Belgium, to fabulous darling of Europe, to mud-splotched, hardened veteran of the bike-racing wars. Revealing photographs from private collections, the Merckx family, and European newspaper archives, Merckx 525 sheds new light on the greatest cyclist of all time. With authoritative text and keepsake production values, Merckx 525 digs deep to reveal the man behind the legend, cycling’s incomparable Eddy Merckx.

75 Classic Rides Oregon: The Best Road Biking Routes


Jim Moore - 2012
    The focus is on one-day rides (a mix of loops and one-way courses), but you'll also find suggestions for link-ups and some inspiring, longer routes for touring, including at least one cross-state route. Terrain varies from flat paved trails to epic mountain challenges. Each route description starts with the basic essentials to get you going: a brief overview, full-color map, elevation profile, difficulty level, round-trip distance, road conditions, and advice on the best season to ride. Full narrative descriptions tell what sights to expect, best towns for food or a cup of coffee, safety info on road shoulders and bike lanes, as well as turn-by-turn descriptions and mileage logs.Sample routes in 75 Classic Rides: Oregon include: * Corvallis - Alsea Falls Loop * Crater Lake Rim Road * Wallowa Mountain Rambler * Portland's Skyline Blvd. Traverse * Astoria - Youngs Bay

One Gear: Converting And Maintaining Single Speed And Fixed Gear Bicycles


Matteo Cossu - 2012
    The appeal of single-gear bikes is undeniable; creating your own bike by recycling a grimy old road bike stripping unneeded parts, adapting new components, and perhaps even re-painting is a rewarding experience. Getting greasy while customizing and building one's own ride is an essential part of the process. One Gear is a unique, much needed contribution to the culture that explains in simple, easy to understand language the steps required for a beginning or intermediate bike mechanic to learn how to rebuild and convert a geared bicycle into a slick, personalized fixie or single-speed.

The Carbon Cycle: Crossing the Great Divide


Kate Rawles - 2012
    The story of 'outdoor philosopher' Kate Rawles' 4553-mile bicycle trip from Texas to Alaska, interviewing Americans about climate change.

Anquetil, Alone


Paul Fournel - 2012
    His womanising and frank admissions of doping appalled 1960s French society, even as his five Tour de France wins enthralled it. Paul Fournel was besotted with him from the start ("Too young to understand, I was nevertheless old enough to admire") and followed Anquetil's career with the passion of a fan and the eye of a poet. In this stunningly original biography of a complex and divisive character, Fournel - author of the seminal Vélo (or Need for the Bike) blends the story of Anquetil's life with scenes from his own, to create a classic of cycling literature.

The Pre-war Cycling Diaries of Charlie Chadwick: Volume Two Further Adventures


Charlie Chadwick - 2012
    This relates how in 1929 Charlie persuaded his friend Joe (who owned a tandem) to leave his girlfriend behind and become Charlie's 'stoker' for ten days in the southwest of England. It speaks volumes for Charlie's power of persuasion! Their subsequent adventures read like that old classis comedy book 'Three Men in a Boat'. www.charliechadwick.org

Racing Bicycles: 100 Years of Steel


David Rapley - 2012
    Spectacular photography of racing machines from the Tour de France, the Olympics and World Championships, as well as bikes for everyday use. This breathtaking new compilation gathers a hand-picked selection of bicycles from Europe and Australia, and documents developments in technology and style over the past century. Racing bikes integrate form and function and the results are often surprisingly elegant, as well as practical, whether for cycling in competition or for pleasure. The racing bikes contained in this book range from unused models to well-ridden but lovingly restored machines - from early-20th century models featuring wooden wheel rims, to the latest in carbon-fibre and titanium technology. Featured bicycle brands include: Malvern Star, Argo, Bullock, Hartley, Healing, Diamond, Tom Cooper, Cinelli, Raphael Geminiani, Olmo, Speedwell, Speedway, Webster and Claud Butler. Also available Custom Bicycles ISBN: 9781864704945

Bicycle Kicks


Simon Hood - 2012
    ONE TEAM. ONE BIKE.Sick of drifting aimlessly through his thirties, Simon Hood gives up his job and flat to embark on a unique adventure. A lifelong York City supporter, he sets out to cycle to their every match over the course of a season.York are languishing in the fifth tier of English soccer; home to footballing outposts as obscure as Ebbsfleet, Histon and Nailsworth. What follows is a ten-month, fifty-match, 10,000-mile pilgrimage taking Simon from Tyneside to the Sussex coast, from Cumbria to Kent. Along the way he rides through floods and snow with friends old and new, meets a Knight of the Realm, breaks a couple of bikes and battles with The Bonk. Would he make it to each match in time for kick-off? Would he resist the temptations of public transport? Would the team rise to the challenge and reward his efforts with an unlikely shot at glory?

Bike!: A Tribute to the World's Greatest Cycling Designers


Richard Moore - 2012
    

The Story of the Giro d'Italia: A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Volume Two: 1971-2011


Bill McGann - 2012
    With "The Story of the Giro d'Italia", the fabulous history of Italy's national tour is at last available. Volume One took the story of the Giro from its origin as a desperate promotional gamble by a nearly broke newspaper to Eddy Merckx's convincing 1970 victory. Volume Two describes the growth of the Giro into a modern, vital international race that is followed by cycling fans all over the world. Along the way, the stories and races that have excited the public over the last forty years are told, including the Francesco Moser/Giuseppe Saronni rivalry, the tragic tale of Marco Pantani and the Alberto Contador affair that left the Spaniard stripped of his 2011 Giro championship.

Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills


Simon Warren - 2012
    Packaged in the same handy pocket size as the bestselling '100 Greatest Cycling Climbs', here are another 100 killer hills from all over Britain.

Unsurpassed: The Story of Tommy Godwin, the World's Greatest Distance Cyclist


Godfrey Barlow - 2012
    

How Cav Won the Green Jersey: Short Dispatches from the 2011 Tour de France


Ned Boulting - 2012
    This is not the story of Cadel Evans. This is not the story of Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, or Bradley Wiggins. And it's not even the story of Mark Cavendish. (Although he is in it quite a lot.) This is the story of the lesser-known heroes; the Johnny Hoogerlands, the Thomas Voecklers, the hitchhikers, the maniac press drivers, Norbert Dentressangle and the greatest ever Tour de France*. I was there. And this is what I saw. That is all. In this 20,000-word digital short, ITV's Ned Boulting, author of How I Won the Yellow Jumper, takes an honest and idiosyncratic look at the unforgettable 2011 Tour de France, when Mark Cavendish won the Green Jersey. *probably