Literature
Bicycles are a symbol of freedom and a great way to go on a discovery of the world and other points of view - such as books! Literature and cycling go so well together that there are countless books on the subject, ranging from inspiring stories of life-changing experiences to adventure tales that will bring you far from home. Find below some of the greatest books ever written about bicycles as tools of empowerement or simply as good companions on life's journey.
Back in the Frame (2019) - Jools Walker aka Lady Vélo: Walker started cycling again after a ten-year absence from the saddle. She shares her adventures on her blog Lady Vélo (www.VeloCityGirl.co.uk) which quickly had a lot of success, but she's also encountered some difficulties from being a woman of colour, not very represented in the cycling world. Since 2010, this cycling activist has been inspiring women around the world to get back on the saddle and ride!
Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle (1965) - Dervla Murphy: This cycle touring classic tells of “travel for travel’s sake”. An amazing narrative from an amazing woman braving hunger, heat exhaustion, unbearable terrain and cultures largely untouched by civilization. Full Tilt is a highly individual account by a celebrated travel writer based on the daily diary Murphy kept while riding through Yugoslavia, Persia, Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan and into India.
Childen literature | The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle (2015) - Jude Isabella: Leo rides his beloved red bicycle to school, soccer practice and everywhere in between. He is devastated when he outgrows Big Red. But when Leo learns of a bicycle donation program, he perks up - someone who really needs his bike can give it a new life.
The Third Policeman (1967) - Flann O'Brien: A satirical, absurdist murder mystery by an overlooked giant of 20th-century Irish literature. At the heart of this offbeat tale is the unrequited love affair between a man and a bicycle. If that’s not bizarre enough, Sergeant Pluck’s “Atomic Theory” – that prolonged contact with a bicycle saddle can result in “molecular exchange” – leads him to conclude: “You would be surprised at the number of people in these parts who are nearly half people and half bicycle.”
The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold: Adventures Along the Iron Curtain Trail (2016) - Tim Moore: A humoristic travelogue of cyclist Tim Moore, who went on an epic cycling journey along EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail on a $50 shopping bike! Tim Moore is a genuine adventurer, always looking for trouble and putting himself in the most difficult situations. This rough journey led him through the memories of the Cold War generation, along rusted razor wires, from snowbound Finland to the Black Sea beaches of Bulgaria.
Childen literature | Pedal Power: How One Community Became the Bicycle Capital of the World (2017) – Allan Drummond: This book is not just about bicycles! It’s about the power of cycling to drive community action. Read the story of how Amsterdam transformed its congested streets and became bicycle capital of the world
Bike Nation: How Cycling can Save the World (2017) - Peter Walker: In Bike Nation, Peter Walker provides invaluable information on every discussion that you are likely to encounter when making the case for cycling, and from the chapter headings you can tell that he gets right to the point! Examples include 'The miracle pill: bikes make everyone more healthy', 'Fear and near misses: the battle to feel safe on the roads', 'Why cyclists are hated', and 'If helmets are the answer, you're asking the wrong question'.
Crossing Europe on a bike called Reggie (2011), Along the Med on a bike called Reggie (2014) & Spain to Norway on a bike called Reggie (2017) - Andrew P. Sykes: Cyclist, writer and secondary school teacher Andrew Sykes tells the story of his amazing journeys by bike across Europe, accompanied by his faithful companion Reggie (his bike): EuroVelo 5 – Via Romea (Francigena) from his home in southern England to Brindisi, EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route from southern Greece to the Atlantic coast of Portugal, and finally a journey from Tarifa in Spain to Nordkapp in Norway – from Europe’s geographical south to its northernmost point.
Childen literature | Ready to Ride (2018) - Sebastien Pelon: This book is all about the simple joy of cycling and the positive side effects of riding a bike. A little boy goes on a bike ride with his imaginary friend and overcomes his fear of riding a bike without stabilizers.
Roads Were Not Built for Cars: How Cyclists Were the First to Push for Good Roads & Became the Pioneers of Motoring (2015) - Carlton Reid: Roads were not built for bicycles either, they were built for pedestrians, and pioneer cycling advocacy groups often played the ambivalent role of paving the way for the motor car. Carlton Reid argues that putting the bicycle back in the centre of the road, and recognising its pivotal role in the development of modern roads, would allow for much better public spaces and enjoyable urban centres!
ECF also recommends the Spokesmen Cycling Roundtable Podcast, which features cycling media personalities, manufacturers, journalists observers, and more. With over 200 episodes recorded since 2006, the Spokesmen Cycling Podcast addresses trending topics in a way that feels like discussing with your friends in a coffeehouse. But be aware that it isn’t news: it’s opinion, commentary, sarcasm, humour and, occasionally, insight.
Epic Bike Rides of the World (2019) - Lonely Planet: If you are looking for inspiration and cycling routes around the world, this colorful paperback Lonely Planet album is what you need. Discover 200 of the best places to ride a bike on the five continents. Destinations range from France and Italy to the wilds of Mongolia and Patagonia and include cycling holiday ideas for all preferences and abilities. And it's all beautifully illustrated with full-page photography, drawings and maps.
Ride the Revolution – The Inside Stories from Women in Cycling (2015) - Suze Clemitson: This is a book written entirely by women, mostly about women, but certainly not just for women! The revolution in the title refers to the increasing participation of women in many aspects of the sport, and the book celebrates this involvement. It is full of inspiring stories that educate readers about the diverse world of women's cycling, providing new insights and perspectives.
Childen literature | Lotta’s Bike (1971) – Astrid Lindgren: Lotta is determined to have a bicycle, and when she hears that her neighbour keeps one in a shed, she decides to take it for a ride. But Lotta learns that not all bicycles are easy to ride!
