Best of
Cycling

2016

Shut Up, Legs!: My Wild Ride On and Off the Bike


Jens Voigt - 2016
    Although he won three stages of the Tour De France—and wore the yellow jersey twice—Voigt never claimed an overall victory. He became a star because he embodies qualities that go beyond winning and losing: sacrifice, selflessness, reliability, and devotion. European and American crowds were drawn to his aggressive riding style, outgoing nature, and refreshing realness.Voigt adopted a tireless work ethic that he carried throughout his career. In Shut Up, Legs! (a legendary Jensism), Voigt reflects upon his childhood in East Germany, juggling life as a professional cyclist and a father of six, and how he remained competitive without doping. Shut Up, Legs! offers a rare glimpse inside his heart and mind.

Half the World Away: A 27,000 km bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina


Ian Lacey - 2016
    More than 15 months and 27,000 km later, he arrived in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – the southernmost city in the world. Battling a chronic illness and leaving the girl he loves at home, Ian uses human power to see a side of the world many often miss. He journeys through days of isolation in Canada, camps in the silent beauty of the Baja Desert, climbs through the ice-covered Andes, and delights in the tranquillity of Chilean Patagonia on his way to El Fin del Mundo – The End of the World. This book details Ian's fascinating experiences over two continents and in 15 countries as he sets out to read a unique story of people and place, all from the saddle of a bicycle.

What Goes Around: A London Cycle Courier's Story


Emily Chappell - 2016
    She planned to earn her living using her mind rather than her legs. She thought it'd be a useful stopgap while searching for a 'real' job. Today, six years on, she's still pedalling. 'It's my most enduring love affair; the career that's shaped my life, made me what I am, and entirely derailed any hope of a normal existence.' As she flies through the streets of the capital, dancing with the traffic, Chappell records the pain and pleasure-both mental and physical-of life on wheels: the hurtling, dangerous missions; the ebb and flow of seasonal work; the moments of fear and freedom, anger and exhaustion; the camaraderie of the courier tribe and its idiosyncratic characters; the conflict and harmony between bicycle and road, body and mind. At the same time it is a hymn to London; its changing skyline, its chaos and interconnectedness: 'the unlikeliest street corners will have some tattered threads of memory fluttering from them like a flag...It's almost as if the memories have overflowed from my head and scattered themselves about the city. Some parts of my life I can recall simply by thinking of them; others I think I'd remember better if I went back to a certain part of London and plucked them up from the tree I'd hung them from, or retraced them from the park bench I'd scratched them on, or snatched them up as they blew around in circles in an alleyway like a discarded carrier bag'. This is a book about discovery and belonging, connection and memory, choosing life's uncharted course and the delicious sensation of just riding.

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny: The Inside Track


Laura Trott - 2016
    Thousands of hours on the pedals, forever turning left, following that black line round, pushing your body harder than it is designed to go. Then comes the sacrifice. All familiar pleasures stripped away in search of perfection. Then the pain. Muscles burning, stomach churning, an ache in the bones. To pull all of this together to achieve an Olympic gold is impressive; to be part of a couple doing this in the same sport is rare; to do it ten times between you is unprecedented.Laura Trott and Jason Kenny, Britain’s most successful female and male Olympians, invite us into their world, on to the boards of the velodrome and down the back straight of British pro cycling to give us the inside track on what it takes to become a champion.This is the story of the races that gripped a nation; one of sprints and pursuits, tactics, mind games, medals and trials; of being so tired you collapse by the side of the track, so out of form you can’t finish a practice session; of what goes through the mind of an Olympian as they power towards the finish line; and of how a boy from Bolton and a girl from Cheshunt became the best in the world, while finding in each other the perfect partner.

Greg LeMond: Yellow Jersey Racer


Guy Andrews - 2016
    LeMond changed cycling more than any other rider in the history of the sport.LeMond was a talented all-rounder, with a reputation as one of the canniest racers of his generation. As adept at racing on the cobbles of the spring classics as he was on the mountains of the grand tours, LeMond rode a full racing season from spring to autumn. His never-say-die spirit also bagged him two World Championship titles and a hatful of podiums at the world's toughest bike races.He was admired by his peers and respected by his rivals. Yet Greg LeMond's influence on cycling extended off the bike as well. He was the first cyclist to command a $1 million salary, raising the stakes for all other teams and riders and pushing the Tour organization to reach more spectators through expanded TV coverage. LeMond was the first cyclist to focus almost exclusively on winning the Tour de France and the World Championship, knowing they were most valuable to his fans and sponsors. His superstar talent and charisma broke cycling into the mainstream media with multiple turns as Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year. Greg LeMond raised cycling from its provincial roots into a professional sport with global reach.But LeMond's story took a tragic turn in 1987: While out hunting, he was accidentally shot and lost so much blood that his life hung in the balance. His eventual recovery was as miraculous as what happened next: he came back to the world of bicycle racing to claim victory in the Tour de France in the closest finish in the history of the race.Greg LeMond: Yellow Jersey Racer documents LeMond's legendary career year by year. LeMond's early promise as a young rider of limitless talent, his raw battle to take victory in the 1986 Tour, his unbelievable comeback from near death, the resurgence of his career as he faced a new generation of supercharged EPO athletes--this celebration of LeMond covers it all with incisive writing, intimate interviews with teammates and rivals, and illuminating photographs. Key moments in LeMond's career are documented with spectacular photography including the iconic pictures you remember and new images not seen outside LeMond's personal circles. Many of the famous protagonists in LeMond's world - rivals, teammates, and friends - contribute extensive interviews, speaking candidly about his incredible career and his continuing legacy in the sport of cycling.Greg LeMond is known best for winning the Tour de France in amazing fashion, but Greg LeMond: Yellow Jersey Racer celebrates the entire fascinating career of the rider known as "the American."Includes extensive contributions from LeMond and interviews with Jeff Bradley, Kent Gordis, Phil Anderson, Sean Kelly, Ron Kiefel, Stephen Roche, Robert Millar, Shelley Verses, Andy Hampsten, Johan Lammerts, Ronan Pensec, Otto Jacome, and Chris Boardman.

The Great Bike Race: The classic, acclaimed book that introduced a nation to the Tour de France


Geoffrey Nicholson - 2016
    the combination of the late Geoffrey Nicholson's (he died in 1999) observations, coupled with an impeccable writing style, make “the great bike race” almost a complete education in and of itself "— The Washing-Machine Post

Magnum Cycling


Magnum Photos - 2016
    Cycling embodies the elements of a great photograph—the human form, pushing itself to physical extremes, thrilling landscapes, the spectacle of the crowd. It also provides a perfect opportunity for reportage, social documentary, and street photography because it happens in real time, in real life, and in the public environment.The book is grouped into thematic chapters, featuring works by a range of Magnum photographers—who are among the most prestigious in the world—expertly curated and accompanied by descriptive captions. Each chapter also features a series of photographs by a single photographer, telling the story of an iconic moment, event, or scene . Chapters include: Riders—famous names and characters and what their work is all about; Fans and Crowds—the mixture of young and old, families, and late-night revelers; Racing—what it is to race a bike and be a part of the circus; Events—from the Tour de France to racing around a small Belgian town; Settings—the mountains, the city, and the velodrome; and Winning—the price and spoils of victory.Magnum Cycling is a celebration of a perfect union between the great artists who have captured those most fugitive elements in cycling: the personalities, emotions, and human endurance.

Ultralight Bike Touring and Bikepacking: The Ultimate Guide to Lightweight Cycling Adventures


Justin Lichter - 2016
    Bike tours can last a single day or take weeks, months, and years - this guide will explain the basics and intricacies no matter how far you go. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, this is the most comprehensive book yet on traveling further and lighter.

America's Bicycle Route


Michael McCoy - 2016
    Features over 400 photos from 50 different photographers, along with dozens of great stories from and about individuals who have ridden the trail over the past 40 years. The author/editors uncovered a treasure trove of images, stories, and anecdotes, some of which had been hidden in boxes for decades. Also relates the story of how Bikecentennial nearly disappeared after 1976, but instead grew to become the 50,000-member Adventure Cycling Association; and takes a look at other bicycle trails and networks, both here and abroad. Anyone who spends time with this book will understand why people choose to bicycle across America—and may even be inspired to do it themselves.

Paul Smith's Cycling Scrapbook


Paul Smith - 2016
    His cycling career cut short, and after a six-month spell in the hospital, he opened a small boutique in England in 1970. Today, Paul Smith is one of the UK’s most successful exports, with over 350 shops worldwide. It was only relatively recently, however, that Smith publicly returned to the world of cycling.This lively scrapbook illustrates Smith’s favorite people, races, and places in the cycling world through the images and ephemera that inspired him. From his collection of cycling jerseys and his extensive library of cycling publications and brochures of the 1950s and 1960s to the inspiration he has found in his cycling heroes (Coppi, Anquetil, Bartali) and his collaborations with bike-makers (Mercian and Pinarello) and race organizers, this is a personal and highly visual journey that connects Smith’s love of cycling with his love of design.Paul Smith’s Cycling Scrapbook is a winning combination of design and the world’s most increasingly popular pastime, sure to thrill cycling fans and fashion enthusiasts everywhere.

Ride Strong: Essential Conditioning for Cyclists


Jo McRae - 2016
    Informative and accessible, this book gives a comprehensive overview of cyclists' bio-mechanical and anatomical needs for off-the-bike exercise and how to do it, focusing on 3 key elements: flexibility, core, and strength. The book explains how the exercises can be implemented in your training throughout the season, as well as how cross-training can be integrated with cycling performance training.This book provides cyclists with a comprehensive reference of essential stretching, strength, and core exercises. Featuring both US and UK measurements, these exercises have been selected to prevent common cycling related pain and injury issues, and to maximize cycling performance, with the benefit that all the exercises can be performed at home with very little equipment.

Velo 3rd Gear: Bicycle Culture and Stories


Sven Ehmann - 2016
    Whether custom-made, sleek, playful, or electric, they are not only means of transportation but also have cultural value. Velo 3rd Gear introduces the world's best bikes along with their makers and related products. Bikes don't just bring us from point A to point B within the places where we live. We also use them for commuting in and out of cities, racing, weekend touring, or exploring the world for months at a time. Riding a bicycle is more than a means of transportation; it's a way of life. The global bicycle scene, which has been growing for years, is spawning ever more astounding developments and innovations. Commuters can now choose from a range of impressively slender e-bikes while Californian cross-bikers can ride through landscapes at ever faster speeds. Whether on fixies or cargo bikes, through rough terrain or urban rush hours, frame builders and bicycle lovers from around the world are defining the pedal-fueled future. Velo 3rd Gear takes us there.

Keep The Sea To The Right


Jennifer Tough - 2016
    With nine countries lining the shore of this fascinating body of water, she quickly became captivated by the idea of a journey by bicycle all the way around it. A few weeks later, she landed in Copenhagen with her trusty steel bicycle, two loaded panniers, and a mission to ride a complete circumnavigation of the shore, not stopping until she arrived back in Copenhagen. Keep The Sea To The Right is the tale of Jennifer Tough's 3,800-kilometre journey to circumnavigate the entire Baltic Sea coastline by bicycle, solo. In this book, she shares the triumphs and trials of her journey, from wild camping, enchanting history, Russian drivers, perfect beaches, challenging roads, heartache, and exhaustion, all while consuming quite a lot of coffee to complete her challenge. Folded in with her story is advice and experience from years of traveling the world by bicycle that will inspire you to go find an adventure too.

The Science of the Tour de France: Training secrets of the world’s best cyclists


James Witts - 2016
    Also meet the teams’ sports scientists, coaches, nutritionists and chefs, who reveal the pioneering science that separates Contador and Cancellara from the recreational rider.To win the Tour de France takes stamina, speed, strength . . . and science.