Freewheeling - Essays on Cycling

Various Contributors

Summary

Cycling? It's one of my life's constants, it feeds my need for beauty, for delight and for aimless exploring . . . I hope to continue pedalling, nice and slowly, for the rest of my life, with the same curiosity that ignited my childhood.

Twelve writers consider the joys and consolations of cycling, whether in a city late at night or along country lanes on a summer's day. Yara Rodrigues Fowler and Xani Byrne write movingly on coming to terms with loss through tandem biking; Jon McGregor takes part in the overnight Dunwich Dynamo. Annie Lord sings the praises of cycling home on Lime bikes from parties, while the late Dervla Murphy regales us with stories of a cycle through Europe.

Freewheeling is a celebration of life on two wheels, and how bikes can become an extension of ourselves, a type of armour, and a route to liberation.

Available since: 04/10/2025.

Print length: 160 pages.

Essay
Sports

Other books that might interest you

Barefoot - A Surfer's View of...

Andrew Pacholyk

Ready to feel the beating heart of existence? Kick off your shoes and discover the ultimate way to navigate uncharted waters.
Andrew Pacholyk was a gawky kid with big ideas. Awkward and out-of-place as a teen, he relished the moment he discovered dancing and the ecstasy of the rhythm of his body. But it wasn’t until he caught his first wave on the wide-open ocean that this nature-lover truly began to comprehend the vast balance on tap in the cosmos.
Barefoot ~ A Surfer's View of the Universe is the unvarnished true tale of a spirited man’s life with sand between his toes and senses on high alert. With stunning lessons of solace and eye-opening insights, the lifelong surfer, professional dancer, and acupuncturist’s journey through the blue serves as an everyday account of the power of paying attention. And with talented storytelling and vivid prose, diving deep into this memoir-like search for meaning will leave you feeling refreshed, blissfully connected, and transformed.In Barefoot ~ A Surfer's View of the Universe, you’ll appreciate:The practice of accepting who you are and embracing what you findHow daily discipline and awareness build courage and confidenceTips for helping your fellow humans in this grand struggle called lifeTechniques to cope through connecting with the body and soulThe magic and genius of nature, and much, much more!
Barefoot ~ A Surfer's View of the Universe is a doorway to resetting the self. If you like powerful observational wisdom, thought-provoking revelations, and the gift of learning from each moment, then you’ll love Andrew Pacholyk’s breathtaking story of his pilgrimage through time.

Show book

The Chain

Sir Bradley Wiggins

'Back in 2012, everyone knew who Bradley Wiggins was. Everyone, that is, but me. Thirteen years after the summer that defined me, I have finally defined myself. The disguises have gone. I've made peace with myself.'
A WATERSTONES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025
A GUARDIAN BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2025
A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST BOOK OF 2025
'IT'S NOT A LIGHT READ BUT, BLIMEY, IT IS BRILLIANT.' POLLY VERNON, THE TIMES
'DISARMINGLY HONEST AND ROGUISHLY HUMOROUS.' JONATHAN LIEW, THE GUARDIAN
'SUCH A BRAVE BOOK: SUPER OPEN, SUPER HONEST. IT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.' CHRIS EVANS, VIRGIN RADIO
'SEARING AND INSIGHTFUL … HARROWING … COMPELLING …DEFINITELY WORTH READING.' DAVID WALSH, THE SUNDAY TIMES
'RAW AND GRAPHIC' DAILY TELEGRAPH
Think you know Bradley Wiggins? Think again.
Join Bradley Wiggins on a remarkable journey of self-discovery during which he faced his greatest ever opponent – the demons inside his head. He has cast aside his fragile shell and is the person he always wanted to be. Finally, he is happy in his own skin. He has broken the chain.
Bradley Wiggins is the greatest British cyclist of his generation. A national hero on both track and road, he won five Olympic gold medals, eight world titles and the Tour de France.
But his is a story mired in contradiction, controversy, and confusion. Sat on a throne after winning gold at London 2012, just ten days after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France, here was a man with the world at his feet. Sporting hero. People’s champion. Legend. Everyone knew who ‘Wiggo’ was. Everyone, that is, but him.
Bradley’s own truth was one of a chaotic and disturbing upbringing characterised by abandonment and abuse. The bike had been his escape but he knew that the second he got out of the saddle he was a shadow-man with no self-belief and even less self-worth.
With zero confidence in his value as a human being, attention was his worst nightmare. Bradley’s answer was to wear a mask. He became ‘Sir Wiggo’, the loveable rogue, the disguise slowly suffocating the real him, crushing the last few remnants of self-esteem.
Bradley descended into a deep personal despair marked by drug addiction. It was his lowest point, and one which, he freely admits, could have resulted in his death.
Bradley’s saviour has been himself. Incredibly he found the strength to embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery during which he faced his greatest ever opponent – the demons inside his head. In so doing he reached an understanding of what and who he is.
The result is this powerful memoir, The Chain.
It is a journey he now wants to share. He wants others to understand they are not alone in their mental battles; that embracing honesty and openness is the key to personal happiness.
Bradley Wiggins has cast aside his fragile shell. Now, as the person he always wanted to be, he has become an inspiration to us all. Forget the jerseys, the medals. Finally, Bradley Wiggins is who he is, in his own skin. He has broken the chain.
In his up-coming memoir, The Chain, Sir Bradley Wiggins explores the intersection of cycling, psychology, and self-help. This non-fiction book, one of the best in its genre, offers a unique insight into the mind of a top athlete.
nan
HarperCollins 2025

Show book

Stop Bullshitting Yourself

Drew Hanlen

Legendary NBA trainer Drew Hanlen—performance coach to stars like MVP Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum—reveals his proven, step-by-step system for personal and professional transformation that has fueled the success of some of the top athletes and business leaders in the world.
If you clicked on this book, it’s because somewhere deep down, you know you’ve been bullshitting yourself. You know that making more money, landing a better job, and finally getting in great shape will make your life better. But for some reason, you’ve settled.
You’ve read self-help books, listened to peak-performance podcasts, dieted and exercised, and tried countless other remedies. But you still haven’t found solutions to your biggest problems. What can you start doing to finally turn your life around?
The answer is to Stop Bullshitting Yourself. This book is a game plan for doing just that.
For the past two decades, Drew Hanlen has helped many of the world’s best basketball players reach levels that they didn’t think were attainable—from winning gold medals, championships, MVP and scoring titles to being selected to the All-Star and All-NBA teams.
In Stop Bullshitting Yourself, you’ll learn the system that has propelled them to success, and how to apply these same strategies to every aspect of your life.
Designed for those who are tired of making empty promises to themselves and who are ready to make real change in their lives, Stop Bullshitting Yourself provides a step-by-step approach to:Audit and eliminate the excuses, thoughts, and habits holding you back.Develop detailed Blueprint Bubbles to facilitate action using simple, achievable steps.Design MicroShifts, repeatable behaviors that break down your goals into manageable chunks.Put in The Unseen Hours: work that works.
If you’re tired of making excuses and ready to achieve the results you've always wanted, let’s get started.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Show book

SAS Survival Guide: Camp Craft

John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman

THE MULTIMILLION COPY BESTSELLER 
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING ANYWHERE 
The SAS Survival Guide is an essential companion for adventurers everywhere. From making camp and finding food in the wild to security and self-defence in the streets, be prepared on land or sea. 
This unrivalled guide from SAS legend John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman’s will cover Camp Craft – making shelter, preparing and maintaining a fire, tying knots, preserving food, and creating tools. 
This special book is a top reference for those interested in outdoor recreation, sports, and military history. It's a comprehensive guide to safety, preparedness, and survival skills, making it an essential self-help tool. 
For fans of Dave Canterbury (The Bushcraft Essentials Field Guide), Ted Riley (When Crisis Hits Suburbia), Bear Grylls (Mind Fuel), Thomas Erikson (Surrounded by Liars), and Ryan Holiday (The Obstacle is the Way).

Show book

The Occasionally Accurate Annals...

Joel H. Cohen, Dan Patrick

Celebrated sports commentator Dan Patrick and comedy writer Joel H. Cohen team up with some of the hilarious creatives behind The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and more to tell you everything—and nothing—about America’s favorite sport!**  
**No, not darts—pro football.

Show book

Fans Have More Friends

David Sikorjak, Ben Valenta,...

In Fans Have More Friends, sports fans, dads, and data analysts David Sikorjak and Ben Valenta argue that fandom can not only increase our sense of belonging but also serves as a powerful antidote to loneliness because sports fans experience increased social connection. What they didn't realize was how deep that connection was, the potential it carried for individual and societal wellness, or the opportunities it offered for adult friendships, making and keeping friends, and family ties. 
 
 
 
Their theory is simple: if we want to be less lonely, we need to belong to a community or something greater than ourselves. Over the course of two years, countless in-person interviews and rigorously designed surveys, Ben Valenta and David Sikorjak have the proof that being a fan can lead to: improved social connections; stronger community ties; enhanced well-being; a greater sense of belonging; and more friends. 
 
 
 
The common thread in all of these personal stories is friendship, community, and belonging—a feeling research can't reveal as well as stories can. Fans Have More Friends will make you think differently about sports and reminds all of us of the essential animating quality of fandom: We're in this together. Sports is not always about what's happening on the field but what's happening in the stands.

Show book