Whether you're seeking out a cycling book to get lost in, are in search of inspiration or advice, or looking to buy a gift for a cycling bookworm, we've got you covered. These are the best cycling books, according to the BikeRadar team.
From historical tales of the Tour de France and epic trans-continental adventures, to training and nutrition guides and beautiful coffee table books, there’s bound to be something here for everyone.
Because the selection is so vast, we’ve split our picks into categories that should help you narrow down your choices to something you're sure to love.
Click one of the links below to fast-track to a particular section, or read on to browse the whole list.
Cycling books about pro racing
If you're buying for someone who is an avid follower of bike racing each year, they’re sure to enjoy one of the many books that celebrate the best of the race calendar.
The Rider, Tim Krabbé
One of the most fêted books about professional cycling is fictional, and not in the way some riders' autobiographies have been. In Tim Krabbé's novella, The Rider, we follow the 150km Tour de Mont Aigoual in captivatingly visceral detail.
- RRP £9.99 / €11.60 / $12.35 / AU$18
The Official History of the Tour de France, Serge Laget
A celebration of the world's most famous endurance event, with stories from each major era of the race, more than 300 photographs (some dating back to the 19th century), copies of souvenir brochures, period newspaper articles, posters, stickers, postcards and much more.
- RRP £20 / $29.95
God Is Dead: The Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke, Cycling's Great Wasted Talent, Andy McGrath
Former Rouleur editor, Andy McGrath, tells the story of the 90s prodigy Frank Vandenbroucke. The Belgian rose to fame by winning many of the sport's biggest races but, having battled with depression and addiction, died tragically in 2009 aged 34.
- RRP £18.99
Tour de Force: My history-making Tour de France, Mark Cavendish
Cavendish's miraculous return from the depths of depression, severe illness and poor form to stage-winning glory at the 2021 Tour de France, where he equalled the great Eddy Merckx's record, is one of sport's best comebacks. This is the Manx Missile's account of how he did it.
- RRP £20 / $27 / $37 / €24
The Yellow Jersey, Peter Cossins
Arguably the most iconic garment in all of the cycling world, the yellow jersey is now 100 years old. This book is its tribute, featuring interviews with many of its wearers, including Chris Froome, Thomas Voeckler and Antonin Rolland.
- RRP £25 / $28.53
Lanterne Rouge: The Last Man in the Tour de France, Max Leonard
At the other end of the scale is the Lanterne Rouge, the rider placed last in the Tour, and rarely the name that gets remembered. However, there are some brilliant stories to be told, such as the breakaway leader who took a wrong turn and a drug doper slowed down by his own cocktail.
- RRP £10.99 / $22.15
Ned Boulting, 1923: The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession, Ned Boulting
Blending elements of a cycling narrative, a virtual travelogue shaped by the constraints of the Covid pandemic, and an investigative journey occasionally bordering on the unpredictable, 1923 will captivate and amuse not just cycling enthusiasts.
- RRP £118.99
Giro d'Italia: The Story of the World's Most Beautiful Bike Race, Colin O'Brien
Italy's answer to the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, comes with plenty of drama and lively characters. This book tells many stories about suffering, feuds and betrayals, tradition under threat, and the heroism of the riders themselves.
- RRP £9.99 / $11.45
The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-day Races, Peter Cossins
The Monuments are brutal one-day races prized by the pros, and for good reason: they're the longest, toughest and usually the dirtiest. Peter Cossins details the turbulent history of these iconic races and the riders immortalised by them.
- RRP £9.99 / $12
To Hell on a Bike: Riding Paris-Roubaix – the Toughest Race in Cycling, Iain MacGregor
They call it the 'Hell of the North' for a reason. In this book, Iain MacGregor takes on the brutal challenge of riding the Paris-Roubaix course, while exploring its history and culture, and gaining insights from some of its legends.
- RRP £9.99 / $9.28
Cycling biographies and autobiographies
If you're buying for someone who idolises one of cycling's many characters, then the story of their life makes a thoughtful present.
Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was, Daniel Friebe
The first biography of the physically phenomenal but mentally frail Jan Ullrich is well worth the wait. Daniel Friebe delicately narrates how the East German's dominant 1997 Tour de France victory was the high point of a career that ended in a drugs scandal in 2006.
- RRP £25 / €29 / $30.90 / AU$45
The Tour According to G: My Journey to the Yellow Jersey, Geraint Thomas
The story of how Geraint Thomas finally got his yellow jersey after years of bad luck, crashes and self-sacrifice.
- RRP £8.99 / $28
My World, Peter Sagan
Sagan is not only one of the greatest riders of all time, he's probably one of the most entertaining as well. His autobiography offers a glimpse behind the scenes and into his world of mischief.
- RRP £9.99 / $19.95
Merckx: Half Man, Half Bike, William Fotheringham
Eddy 'The Cannibal' Merckx has a half-told story. Behind the legend lay a sensitive and anxious man who suffered horrific injury, doping controversy and tragedy.
- RRP £10.99 / $19.99
The Climb: The Autobiography, Chris Froome
Chris Froome's autobiography takes us from the dusty roads of Kenya, where he was born, to his second time winning the Tour de France.
- RRP £9.99 / $17.95
The Breakaway, Nicole Cooke
Nicole Cooke's autobiography tells the damning tale of her struggle to gain the recognition and riches that came so effortlessly to her male counterparts during cycling's darkest period of doping.
- RRP £10.99 / $12.81
The Greatest: The Times and Life of Beryl Burton, William Fotheringham
Beryl Burton is one of the biggest names in women's racing in the UK, dominating the sport during the sixties and seventies. This biography was published to coincide with the World Championships in Yorkshire and explores the life behind the legend.
- RRP £20
Beryl: In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete, Jeremy Wilson
If anyone deserves two books about them in this list, it's Beryl Burton. Jeremy Wilson won the prestigious William Hill Book of the Year 2022 for his biography of the enigmatic Burton, whose 25-year domination of the sport has few parallels.
- RRP £20 / €23 / $25 / AU$36
The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography, Matt Rendell
Pantani's death in a cheap hotel sent shockwaves through the cycling community, who knew him as the iconic double-winner of the Tour and Giro in 1998. Drawing upon his own experience of Pantani, while also speaking to his psychoanalysts, family and friends, Matt Rendell tells the full story of Pantani's short but explosive career.
- RRP £9.99 / $17.99
Books about adventure planning
The only thing greater than going on an adventure is planning it. So, if you're buying for a bivvying bikepacker or a masochistic mountain climber, there's bound to be something here that gets them excited to plan the next big ride.
Lost Lanes series, Jack Thurston
If they're more of an on-road explorer, Jack Thurston's series of Lost Lanes books provides a multitude of routes to enjoy in the UK. The books also come with downloadable GPX tracks. As well as southern England, Thurston has produced books devoted to the lost lanes of the West Country and Wales.
- BikeRadar Rides | Exploring the ‘Leicestershire Alps’ with Jack Thurston
- RRP £14.99 / $24.95
Bikepacking England: 20 Multi-day Off-road Cycling Adventures, Emma Kingston
Emma Kingston is your expert guide to a selection of England's best mountain bike routes from the Lake District to the Jurassic Coast. Each section includes an elevation profile, detailed route description, and suggested places to eat, drink and stay, along with a GPX file to download.
- RRP £20
Bikepacking: Mountain Bike Camping Adventures on the Wild Trails of Britain, Laurence McJannet
This beautiful book offers an array of off-road routes in the UK, separated by region, and provides suggestions of where to eat and where to stay if camping's not an option.
- RRP £16.99 / $24.95
Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes, Alastair Humphreys
If your giftee is more limited in time and resources, then introduce them to the world of microadventuring – something cheap, simple and close to home.
- RRP £16.99 / $21.99
Britain's Greatest Cycling Climbs, Simon Warren
Simon Warren may well be Britain's most accomplished hill climber, having produced eight regional climbing guides for the UK, covering the South East and West, the North East and West, the Midlands, Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales. And that's not even mentioning his other books on Italy, Belgium and the Tour de France.
- RRP £50 / $65
Escape by Bike: Adventure Cycling, Bikepacking and Touring Off-Road, Joshua Cunningham
After cycling from London to Hong Kong over 11 months and passing through 26 countries, Joshua Cunningham offers up some of the best practical advice for planning adventures abroad, from making travel arrangements to packing and navigating.
- RRP £19.95 / $29.95
The Scottish Bothy Bible: The Complete Guide to Scotland’s Bothies and How to Reach Them, Geoff Allan
If your bikepacking friend is planning a stint in Scotland, why not get them the ultimate guide to Scottish bothies? It will both inspire their plans and help them find shelter when it's needed.
- RRP £16.99 / $24.95
Ultimate Etapes: Ride Europe's Greatest Cycling Stages, Peter Cossins
Have your friend raring to ride the best routes in Europe with this essential guide to the most renowned stages of modern cycling. It's aimed at all abilities and provides detailed route descriptions, maps, elevation profiles and suggestions for other rides in the same region.
- RRP £20 / $29.99
Epic Bike Rides of the World, Lonely Planet
Organised by continent, this Lonely Planet book details 200 amazing rides the world has to offer. Each route comes with a map, practical advice and stunning photography. This hardback is beautiful and doubles up as a great coffee table book as well.
- RRP £14.99 / $35
Inspiring cycling journeys and travelogues
We all love to hear other people's stories, don't we? If you're buying for someone who is yearning to challenge themselves, one of the best things you can do is introduce them to someone who's already done it – let an inspirational story plant the seed.
End to End, Paul Jones
Ostensibly about chasing the Roads Records Association end-to-end record (riding 850 miles along the length of Britain from Land’s End to John O’ Groats), the stories and people in the book are captivating, raw and very funny.
- Read our full review of End to End
- RRP £16.99
Land of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road, Kate Harris
Kate Harris leaves her native Ontario to retrace the path of Marco Polo along the ancient Asian trading route. Travelling on two wheels through the 'Stans' to China, the award-winning author muses on science, exploration and philosophy.
- £10.99 / €11.15 / $11.80 / AU$17.30
Where There's a Will: Hope, Grief and Endurance in a Cycle Race Across a Continent, Emily Chappell
Emily Chappell is an accomplished ultra-endurance racer, having competed in a multitude of events such as the Strathpuffer, the Transatlantic Way, and most notably, winning the Transcontinental Race in 2016. Her latest book is a truly relatable story about self-doubt, self-discovery, grief and achieving what at first seems impossible.
- RRP £14.99 / $17.64
Mind is the Ride, Jet McDonald
Jet McDonald's amalgamation of cycle touring, bike anatomy and philosophy is a unique reading experience that will have its reader quoting Descartes while pondering the inner workings of their bottom bracket, all while cycling to India.
- RRP £16.99 / $19.03
One More Croissant for the Road, Felicity Cloake
This is one that's written in every cyclist's language. Felicity Cloake cycled 2,300km across France while tasting the best of its culinary offerings along the way. A delightful rendition of her epic journey that will leave your giftee hankering for a bike tour and a madeleine.
- RRP £14.99 / $13.88
Conversations from Land's End to John O' Groats, Nick Hand
Nick Hand's bike is no ordinary bike – it's a printing press. Taking it on a LEJOG adventure, he recorded conversations with people he met along the way and printed them. The resulting book is a quaint selection of encounters, along with some stunning photography.
- RRP £16
The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold: Adventures Along the Iron Curtain Trail, Tim Moore
Tim Moore is arguably the two-wheel equivalent of Bill Bryson. In this instalment, he takes a small-wheeled, two-geared shopper bike along the 9,000km Iron Curtain Trail. Need we say more?
- 8 fond memories from riding the Iron Curtain Trail
- RRP £8.99 / $16.95
With the Sun on our Right, Tim Moss
While there are many round-the-world cycling stories out there, what makes With the Sun on our Right unique is the focus it places on personal encounters, and the true hospitable nature of people. If that's not enough, it's a refreshing insight into Moss's mental health, which will hopefully enable other men to open up about this important topic.
- RRP £12 / $15.85
Back in the Frame: How to Get Back on your Bike, Whatever Life Throws at You, Jools Walker
Lady Vélo, as she's also known, offers up a charming story of falling back in love with cycling after a long absence. From her first wobbly days on her Pashley Princess, to taking on the Eroica, she talks openly about how cycling impacts her mental health and how she carved a space for herself as a woman of colour in a very white and male-dominated industry.
- RRP £8.99 / $21.99
One Man and His Bike: A Life-Changing Journey All the Way Around the Coast of Britain, Mike Carter
One Man and His Bike is Mike Carter's laugh-out-loud funny account of his epic ride around the British coastline. Through the characters he meets and despite his many mishaps, Carter falls back in love with the British public and cycling.
- RRP £12.99 / €15 / $16 / AU$23
Cycling nutrition and training books
Perhaps you've got a friend or loved one who's training for a particular event and needs a little push in the right direction. Help them find some practical advice in these guides to training and nutrition, aimed specifically at cyclists.
The Cycling Chef: Recipes for Performance and Pleasure, Alan Murchison
Alan Murchison is a Michelin-starred chef who also happens to be a champion athlete. He now cooks for British Cycling athletes, and in this book he shares 65 recipes for nutritionally balanced, fuelling meals.
- RRP £22 / $34
The Cycling Mind: The Psychological Skills for Peak Performance on the Bike – and in Life, Dr Ruth Anderson
Ruth Anderson is British Cycling's lead psychologist and she knows a thing or two about the mental barriers that can disrupt performance. In The Cycling Mind, she details the athlete's psychological journey from training to competing, offering practical guidelines to keep moving forward in the most trying times.
- RRP £14.99 / $19.81
Fast After 50: How to Race Strong for the Rest of Your Life, Joe Friel
Who says you have to slow down as you get older? Fast After 50 was written for endurance athletes who want to keep pushing themselves beyond what would normally be considered their peak. It offers high-intensity workouts, strength training, cross-training, recovery and performance-enhancing nutrition.
- RRP £17.99 / $21.95
The Cyclist's Training Bible: The World's Most Comprehensive Training Guide, Joe Friel
Now in its fifth edition, this comprehensive guide will help aspiring cyclists to develop a personal training plan and equip them with all the information they need while planning their next big challenge.
- RRP £21.99 / $26.95
The Science of the Tour de France: Training Secrets of the World's Best Cyclists, James Witts
Give them the push they need to level up. This book from regular BikeRadar contributor, James Witts, includes insights from the likes of Marcel Kittel, Peter Sagan and Bauke Mollema, and covers the pioneering science behind the pros, from using power meters to race strategy.
- RRP £16.99 / $24
Fuelling the Cycling Revolution: The Nutritional Strategies and Recipes Behind Grand Tour Wins and Olympic Gold Medals, Nigel Mitchell
Nigel Mitchell is head of nutrition for the EF Education First Pro Cycling team, and his book is a practical toolkit for any cyclist looking to eat their way to improved performance. It cuts out the pseudo-science and features anecdotes and case studies from real riders.
- RRP £16.99 / $25
Books about cycling history
When you're passionate about a subject, you might want to devour everything that's ever been written about it. If you know someone who feels this way about cycling, treat them to something they can really sink their teeth into.
Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle, Jody Rosen
Two Wheels Good is a paean to the two-wheeled machine invented in 1817. Jody Rosen charts the bicycle's route through two centuries of history and its influence on culture, wars, cities and more besides.
- RRP £25 / €29 / $31 / AU$45
Desire Discrimination Determination - Black Champions in Cycling, Marlon Lee Moncrieffe
Re-examining our sport through the lens of Black riders' stories and experiences, Dr Moncrieffe's book casts light on the neglected history of grassroots and competitive Black cycling. He draws on his own bike-racing career and testimony from other riders to address racism, and how cycling can become more diverse and inclusive.
Bikes and Bloomers: Victorian Women Inventors and their Extraordinary Cycle Wear, Kat Jungnickel
A cycling history book with a difference, Bikes and Bloomers traces the evolution of women's cycling kit and tells the story of how the humble bicycle contributed to women's liberation. It draws on in-depth archival research and reminds us just how far we've come.
Cycling and Cinema, Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett delves into the history of the bicycle in cinema, covering all manner of films from slapstick comedies of the early 20th century to Hollywood blockbusters, and everything in between. Throughout, Bennett makes the case that on top of being a source of fun and a means of transportation, the bike is a vehicle of social and political transformation.
- RRP £25 / $30
Off-road Heroes, Guy Andrews (ed.)
This history of mountain biking consists of pen portraits of influential riders written by Richard Cunningham, Matt Wragg and more. Discover the role the likes of Missy Giove and Rachel Atherton have played in elevating mountain biking from a trailside pursuit to a global industry.
- RRP £40 / $40
- Buy Off-Road Heroes from Rapha
The End of the Road: The Festina Affair and the Tour that Almost Wrecked Cycling, Alasdair Fotheringham
The 1998 Tour de France was not without its drama. This retelling of what's become known as the Festina affair – when sports physiotherapist Willy Voet was arrested on the French-Belgian border mid-race – is the first English-language book that delves deep into the subject.
- RRP £9.99 / $9.90
Revolution: How the Bicycle Reinvented Modern Britain, William Manners
Manners' debut book charts the role of cycling in 1890s Britain, from its influence on fashion to the freedom of movement it offered. This well-researched history is as entertaining as it is informative.
- RRP £9.99 / $13.55
The Art of Cycling, James Hibbard
In The Art of Cycling, former US professional road cyclist James Hibbard examines what the sport can tell us about life through the lens of philosophy and his personal experience.
- RRP £14.99 / €17.40 / $18.50 / AU$27
Women on the Move: The Forgotten Era of Women’s Bicycle Racing, Roger Gilles
Staying in the 1890s but heading across the Atlantic, Roger Gilles looks at the early days of women's racing and in particular how it thrived from 1895 to 1902. He tells the stories of some of the best female racers of the time: Lizzie Glaw, Tillie Anderson and Dottie Farnsworth to name a few.
- RRP £24.99 / $29.95
Three Weeks, Eight Seconds: The Epic Tour de France of 1989, Nigel Tassell
Another account of a notorious Tour, the 1989 Tour de France saw Greg LeMond beat Laurent Fignon to the finish line by 50 seconds. The two rivals had been battling it out for three weeks, with the yellow jersey being passed back and forth, and Nige Tassell brings this astonishing story to life.
- RRP £9.99 / $14.55
The Great Bike Race: The Classic, Acclaimed Book that Introduced a Nation to the Tour De France, Geoffrey Nicholson
First published in 1977, The Great Bike Race is hailed as the benchmark English-language book about the Tour de France and has been reprinted for more people to enjoy. It was the original book that introduced us to the Tour outside of France, telling the story of the 1976 race in all its glory.
- RRP £8.99 / $12.79
Cycling coffee table books
If you're really not sure what sort of book to buy the cyclist in your life, you can't go wrong with a big, hardback book full of beautiful photographs or silly cycling cartoons.
The World Stage 5 – Enduro World Series Yearbook 2022, (Misspent Summers ed.)
A richly illustrated tome, The World Stage 5 recounts each round of the Enduro World Series. Fine photography, in-depth reports and opinion pieces will help mountain bike racing fans relive the year's action.
The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive, Mark Hudson
The Rough-Stuff Fellowship is the world’s oldest off-road cycling club and its exploits have been documented in its eponymous journal since its inception.
The club’s archivist has compiled the best photos and stories from the journal in two beautiful books. We guarantee any cyclist will delight in the striking outfits and seemingly inappropriate bikes of this bygone era of humbler everyday adventures.
- RRP £30 / $40.20
- Buy The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive from Isola Press
- Buy Further Adventures in Rough Stuff from Isola Press
A History of Cycling in 100 Objects, Suze Clemitson
Whether you want to bust out some factoids at the dinner table or answer an onslaught of questions about the sport you love so much, this book can be handy to keep around the house. Why is it a yellow jersey? How did bloomers influence bicycle design? How did Graeme Obree's 'Old Faithful' get its nickname? Give someone the answers.
- RRP £20 / $35
The Cycling Cartoonist: An Illustrated Guide to Life on Two Wheels, Dave Walker
Dave Walker's cartoons will resonate with any cyclist who gets this book. As a true N+1 advocate, Walker makes some great observations about the habits of cyclists, offering a great opportunity to have a chuckle and stop taking themselves so seriously.
- RRP £10.99 / $15
Queens of Pain: Legends and Rebels of Cycling, Isabel Best
Published by Rapha Editions, you know it's going to look good. Queens of Pain charts the history of women's pro-racing from the 1890s to the 1990s, and traces the stories of its heroines back to their roots as stunt women, speed skaters, mothers, shop assistance and delivery girls.
- RRP £25
Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs, Michael Blann
If your giftee is at home in the mountains, then help them bring the mountains home with them. This luxury coffee table book contains stunning photographs taken over a three-year period to chart the most famous European cycling climbs. These are printed alongside personal recollections from the likes of Greg LeMond, Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead), Geraint Thomas, and many more.
- RRP £34.95 / $50
Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs, Michael Embacher
Anyone who appreciates the aesthetic of a beautiful bike will love this book. It contains a unique collection of more than 250 bicycles that demonstrate just how much bikes have evolved. It's a carefully curated selection of some of the most beautiful bicycles around the world, and is a true homage to our love of all things two-wheeled.
- RRP £14.95 / $19.95
