Product Description

Packed with straightforward information, The Long Distance Cyclist's Handbook details the preparation and equipment needed to take a novice from the challenge of a 50-mile charity ride to gearing up and comfortably covering 66 km in a weekend randonnee. It also tackles marathon events such as 12-hour time trials, and the ultimate test - the 3000-mile Race Across America. Fully updated, this is essential reading for anyone contemplating a cycling holiday or any challenge that takes you outside your usual comfort zone. It brings you the most up-to-date information on training, technique, nutrition, health and travel, and combines the latest in sports science research with years of experience cycling beyond the horizon.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31851 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Simon Doughty is a professional cycling coach and writer. He has toured extensively and competed in most cycling disciplines, twice ridden the prestigious Paris- Brest-Paris randonnee, and crewed in the Race Across America. Under Simon's guidance riders have won medals and set national and world records in road, track, mountain-biking and cyclo-cross events.

Customer Reviews

inspirational and practical
I have always been a keen cyclist (I cycled across the Alps when I was 16) but only recently decided to take it a bit more seriously and this book has already proved both inspirational and incredibly useful.

The intelligent design of the book makes the huge amount of information it contains both easily digestible and accessible enough to make it suitable as a handy reference. It's written in an entirely non-patronising style that is very easy to read and features loads of detailed, labelled diagrams that both illustrate and explain - plus gear size charts, training graphs and tables, conversion tables, a useful glossary, lots of helpful addresses, and loads more...

The extensive and detailed hints and tips for training and nutrition are flexible enough to suit a wide range of needs, whether you aim to take part in a few casual 50 mile-plus rides or want to tackle something much more ambitious such as a 600km randonnee or a long-distance multi-stage tour.

The author is a very experienced cyclist but he doesn't need to state his authority - it just shines through in the depth of practical advice and information he gives in the pages of this wonderful book.

A superb guide to enjoying longer rides, & a good read too.
A commuting cyclist since 1972, now doing 5000+ miles/year including events, I found this book invaluable. Best of all is advice on how to prevent "discomfort" on the bike. Nothing I knew for certain was contradicted, but a great deal of valuable new information is there - so much so I went through with a highlighter to ensure it could be picked out easily when needed later.

So, technically it is excellent. And the epic achievments are pretty inspiring, too!

I see this as a "standard text", a "sourcebook" for riders - those just beginning, and those (like me) who want to do more. Not many cyclists will know so much they will not benefit. Most (if not all) will learn a great deal and enjoy it a lot.

See you up the road.
Ed Lehmann.

A good proimer for the long distance rider
The book is a great reference source for those contemplating longer rides either in Audax events, endurance rides or long distance touring like Land's End to John O'Groats. All aspects of preparation are covered including:
nutrition
hydration
mechanics
clothing
fitness
Although it's of most benefit for those contemplating longer rides (50+miles per day) it's also useful as a comprehensive tick list for those about to embark on another long distance adventure.