The Complete Road Cyclist
You can purchase "The Complete Road Cyclist" three ways:
- Printed paperback via Amazon (best quality)
- Kindle/tablet/phone version (best for travel)
- PDF e-book (cheapest & best for PC use - can be printed at home)
Cycling has evolved over the last few decades from being male-dominated and mostly focused on racing or competitive group riding. Modern cycling is much more diverse in purpose and format, ranging from casual social groups to online communities organised through apps and social media.
Previous generations of cyclists were often instructed with strict discipline to ensure safety and efficiency, especially when riding with others.
While competition still exists, most cycling groups now emphasise inclusivity, fitness, and enjoyment rather than results and etiquette.
Modern clubs often don’t have the depth of experience instilled by the older veterans; discipline is typically much less strict than with previous generations and riders often lack the skills, knowledge and consideration of others for cycling safely and effectively as a group.
This book aims to provide a bridge from the hard-earned knowledge and experience of established cyclists to apply it to the modern road cyclist and cycling groups. It covers topics such as road bike anatomy and fit; the fundamental skills for riding on roads; how to ride in groups; and how to look after you and your bike pre and post-ride.
The first chapter takes you through what you need to know about the anatomy of a road bike, including the names of all the parts, what kind of bike would suit you and how bike sizing works.
The book also has input from two other authors: John Wych - a former amateur racer and British Cycling coach, with his knowledge of cycling technique and etiquette; and Curly D - my nerdy alter ego with an engineering degree, for his scientific explanations for topics such as gearing, braking, cornering and climbing hills.
There are numerous diagrams and descriptions regarding technique and how to perform a range of formations and manoeuvres in group, such as riding as a chaingang.
I've also used ChatGPT for several illustrations to help with the book's flow and visual appearance.
