17 Best Cycling Books

Tim Krabbé takes readers inside a cyclist's thoughts during a 150-kilometer race through the French mountains. Physical effort, tactical calculation, memories, and observations of rival riders unfold together as the narrative follows the course kilometer by kilometer.

Tyler Hamilton, with Daniel Coyle, recounts the doping culture inside professional cycling and his own participation in it. His experiences in the Tour de France, relationship with Lance Armstrong, and struggles with depression frame an account of pressure, secrecy, and compromised competition.

William Fotheringham traces the life and racing career of Eddy Merckx, examining the drive behind his extensive success. The biography considers competition, injury, personal pressure and controversy in the sport, looking beyond victories to the man associated with them.

Robert Penn travels to meet the makers of components for his ideal bicycle. His search connects frame building, wheels and other parts with the history, technology and culture of cycling, exploring why the machine inspires such lasting attachment.

William Fotheringham reconstructs the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson through interviews, correspondence, and visits to places connected with him. The biography examines Simpson's ambition, sporting achievements, controversies, and death during the 1967 Tour de France, tracing the man behind his enduring legend.

David Millar recounts his rise through professional cycling and his involvement with performance-enhancing drugs. The memoir examines competitive pressures, arrest, suspension, and his return to racing, connecting experiences inside the sport with his effort to compete clean and oppose doping.

Richard Moore reconstructs the rivalry between teammates Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault during the 1986 Tour de France. Interviews with riders and others close to the race reveal shifting alliances, competing ambitions, and the strain between promises of support and the desire to win.

Tim Moore attempts to cycle the route of the Tour de France despite being far from a trained competitor. His comic travel account follows the physical struggle and encounters along the way, mixing cycling history with the mishaps of an unlikely rider.

Dervla Murphy recounts her 1963 journey from Ireland toward India by bicycle, drawing on her daily diary. Severe winter weather, demanding terrain, and encounters across Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, and South Asia shape an account of traveling largely alone.

Peter Cossins recounts the history of cycling's five Monuments, from Milan-Sanremo to the Tour of Lombardy. The updated edition follows their distinctive courses, rivalries and memorable winners, exploring why these demanding one-day events hold a special place in the sport.

Emily Chappell recounts attempting the unsupported Transcontinental cycling race across Europe. Physical exhaustion, fragmented sleep, navigation, and self-doubt share space with reflections on grief and friendship, revealing the emotional demands behind a race measured in thousands of kilometers.

Jools Walker recounts returning to cycling after a decade away and seeking a place in a culture often unwelcoming to women of color. Personal challenges and other women's stories accompany her exploration of belonging, confidence, and the joy of riding.

William Fotheringham investigates the making of Jorgen Leth's documentary about the 1976 Paris-Roubaix cycling race. Riders, filming methods, and locations frame an account of how camera and sound techniques captured the demands of the race and the culture surrounding it.

Oliver Knight traces the cycling jersey's history through photographs, archival material, and accounts from riders, designers, and collectors. The illustrated book connects craftsmanship and visual style with racing culture, exploring how a practical garment became an object of sporting identity.

Edited by Ned Boulting, this almanac records the 2019 cycling season month by month. Race data, infographics, essays, and firsthand accounts from riders document major events, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a Espana.

After bereavement and depression, Juliana Buhring decides to ride around the world alone despite limited cycling experience. Her memoir follows the preparation and long journey from Naples, connecting difficult landscapes and encounters with the personal loss that set her in motion.

Anna Dopico tells the story of Cervelo Cycles and its founders, Gerard Vroomen and Phil White. Photographs, quotations, and personal accounts connect bicycle engineering and racing with the business successes and setbacks of building a company from a university project.