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 people don't so much go to see the Tour, as it comes to see them. A Race for Madmen traces how the Tour de France has developed and examines tactics, bike technology and rider preparation too. It profiles some of the men who have won the Tour de France, and others who have been key players, looking closely at their lives and motivation. Subsidiary competitions, such as the King of the Mountains prize, are featured, as well as Tour lore and traditions. The book examines the Tour's extraordinary history, and how a bike race, a simple sporting contest captured the imagination of a country, then a continent and then the world, while at the same time it has stayed uniquely French, even though a Frenchman hasn't won it for over 20 years.

Race for Madmen: The Extraordinary History of the Tour de France

Sports & Outdoors

SIDWELLS, Chris

Miscellaneous

Collins

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.

A Race for Madmen: A History of the Tour de France

Biographies

HarperSport

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.

Tour Climbs

Individual Sports

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 the Tour de France – before the cyclists retire to lick their wounds and start on another winter of training.
How were the great races founded and developed? How have the great riders stamped their authority on them through the ages? Truly international in scope, looking at road racing in North and Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia, as well as continental Europe, The Call of the Road is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the history, tactics or personalities of cycle road racing.

The Call of the Road: The History of Cycle Road Racing

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

William Collins

British cycling is the best in the world. Bradley Wiggins won the 2012 Tour de France, then less than 10 days later won the time trial at the London Olympics. Shortly after that, Britain's track team dominated the velodrome for the second Games in a row by topping the cycling medals table. And that was on top of Nicole Cooke's gold in the women's 2008 Olympic road race, which merely added to her outstanding career, in which she had already won the women's version of the Tour de France twice, in 2006 and 2007. These are just some of the highlights of Britain's cycling pedigree. But success did not come overnight, and this fantastic new book delves into the history of Britain's illustrious history in the world's major cycling events and details the path British cyclists have taken to collectively become the world's preeminent cycling nation. It looks at all the characters, from Reg Harris, a track superstar and household name in the 1940s, and Tom Simpson, whose exploits in the 1967 Tour de France cost him his life, to Chris Boardman, 1992 Olympic track champion, and Mark Cavendish, road racing's newest sprint hero, with dozens more in between. It examines what these exceptional athletes had to do to get to the top of their respective events and the stories that surrounded their success, all set against the rich history, rivalries, and culture of the races they took part in. It examines all the cycling disciplines, including mountain biking and BMX, where British cyclists such as Steve Peat and Shanaze Reade have been world champions. Featuring first hand interviews with the leading riders from across the eras, this book is the definitive guide to this amazing and largely untold story.

Long Race to Glory: How the British Came to Rule the Cycling World

History

Europe

Andre Deutsch

The most up-to-date cycling guide on the market, this is the essential handy guide for beginners and experienced cyclists alike. No garage or shed is complete without a well-thumbed copy of this go-to manual.
Step-by-step sequences show how to carry out repairs, from simple but vital to more challenging tasks. Learn how to repair your own brakes, gears and hubs with brand new coverage of bike technology, models and emerging trends. Detailed chapters range from how to use GPS gadgets to user-friendly instruction on how to tune your suspension, each one filled with quick tips to keep you safe and on the road.
Featuring easy photographic tutorials and handy add-ons such as a step locator and toolbox, Bike Repair Manual makes bike repair simple for even the most novice of bike owners.
Previous edition ISBN 9781409365242

Bike Repair Manual

Reference

Discover every aspect of bike repairs and maintenance more clearly than ever before.\nWhether you are a mountain biker, cycling commuter, or road racer, with this up-to-date reference guide at your side, you'll know how to keep your bike running smoothly for years.\nThis is your complete maintenance guide to bike servicing and repairs! From improving its performance to getting your hands dirty with emergency repairs, learn everything you need to know about your bike and how to keep it trouble-free and on the road.\nThis accessible bike book is packed with practical, step-by-step advice and extremely detailed photographic tutorials showing you how to explore every part of your bike's anatomy. Learn how to maintain essential areas, such as brakes, rims, tyres, and steering, as well as complex components, including hub gears, hydraulic brakes, and suspension forks.\nThis new edition is fully revised and updated, covering the latest models and technology. It also includes:\n- Clear, jargon-free advice steers you through a complete maintenance programme 
- Detailed step-by-step photographs demonstrate how to correctly set up, clean, maintain, and repair your bike 
- Includes how to fit and use cycling gadgets like GPS and other accessories.\nA Handy Guide for All Bike Enthusiasts\nDetailed chapters range from showing how to set up your bike correctly and safely to spotting danger signs and fixing them before it's too late. It also features handy add-ons, such as a step locator and the must-have toolkit for successful repairs.\nThis essential bike repair book equips you with the tools and techniques you need to fix any problems you may face while taking care of your bike. It's a must-have for every cyclist's bookshelf.

Engineering & Transportation

Automotive

Cycling jerseys represent many different things. For a cyclist they must be functional. For team sponsors they must stand out, and in doing so they must increase brand awareness. For cycling fans they help pick out their favorites or a race or competition leader. Jerseys show who is a world or a national champion. And in some races, jerseys tell of a competitor's nationality. But cycling jerseys have evolved into something bigger than all those things. Some jerseys are iconic, others stylish, and some are beautiful. They can evoke good times or bad times, success or failure. Above all, jerseys mark the great occasions of cycling, they speak of its history, its personalities and its style. And all jerseys have an element of art in their design. Cycling Jerseys celebrates the cycling jersey in all its forms. With stunning pictures and snatches of history, this is the story of the cycling jersey told in 192 gorgeous pages. From the first simple garments that early cyclists raced in, to the technologyladen jerseys top riders use today. This book looks at the iconic jerseys associated with great riders and with great teams, the jerseys of champions and nations, and the jerseys that leaders wear in the most famous races.

Cycling Jerseys: Iconic designs and the stories that made them

Thames&Hudson

The toughest 52 cycling challenges in Europe
These routes, all of at least 40 miles in length, are based on the best cyclosportive events—the most famous single-day professional races, which are known in cycling as The Classics, and on stages of the Grand Tours—the Tour de France, Tour of Italy, and Tour of Spain. Not just pretty rides in the country, these are serious challenges that require training and preparation, but are all accessible and are achieved by many thousands of ordinary cyclists every year. Each route contains a map with directions and an elevation diagram as well as tips for tackling the route and a background history to the event. The book also offers advice on equipment, nutrition, ride strategy, and technique. Perfect for cyclists looking for the next challenge, these routes will inspire readers to test their limits.

Classic Cycling Race Routes: The Toughest 52 European Challenges

AA Publishing

This new edition of the best-selling Bicycle Repair Manual covers the latest cycling information needed to keep your bike in top shape-from the basics of bike parts and set up, to cleaning and maintenance for mechanics, transmission, suspension, and brakes. Clear, jargon-free text accompanied by detailed step-by-step photographs show beginners all they need to know and experts how to maintain their bikes for specific needs, while troubleshooting charts and servicing schedules help diagnose and solve any problem. The Bicycle Repair Manual is the most comprehensive guide to the essentials of bicycle maintenance.

Bicycle Repair Manual

BALLANTINE, RICHARD

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by SIDWELLS, Chris. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by SIDWELLS, Chris

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by SIDWELLS, Chris. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Race for Madmen: The Extraordinary History of the Tour de France

A Race for Madmen: A History of the Tour de France

Tour Climbs

The Call of the Road: The History of Cycle Road Racing

Long Race to Glory: How the British Came to Rule the Cycling World

Bike Repair Manual

Bike Repair Manual

Cycling Jerseys: Iconic designs and the stories that made them

Classic Cycling Race Routes: The Toughest 52 European Challenges

Bicycle Repair Manual