Essential, inspiring, handbook for those who want to improve their road riding.
Fitter Further Faster is an accessible, clearly written and comprehensive guide for road cyclists. Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced rider, this book is crammed with handy information, presented in a format that is easy to digest and accompanied by inspiring and illustrative images.
The contents – which covers a pretty mammoth subject – is broken down into handy sections: ‘Six months to go’; ‘Three months to go’; ‘One month’ etc, which helps you to prioritise, not try and absorb too much information. The writers clearly know their stuff, so even the more experienced cyclist will find this book informative – and yet, if you are very new to cycling, you won’t feel patronised or overwhelmed by technical jargon.
As well as getting the feeling the authors are well-informed, there are also ‘guest contributors’ – from team GB doctor, a Garmin Barracuda Chiropractor and Joanna Rowsell of Team GB and an Olympic gold medalist – who share their personal, and precious tips.
Key areas covered, as well as general training, include:
- nutrition
- injury
- riding technique
- hydrations
- your bike and gear
It’s hard to find much they’ve missed.
Verdict:
This is a great book to keep close at hand for reference, once you have read, enjoyed and benefitted from its contents. Inspiring and full of sound advice.
Pros
– Great format with clear illustrations and bullet points
– Plenty of inspiring and informative photos
– Great ‘guest / expert contributors’
Cons
– Some information may seem a bit basic for more experienced cyclists
– Some sections would benefit from having a coach on hand in real life to explain the technicalities
Price: £18.99
Where to buy: Waterstones
More information: Bloomsbury
What Bloomsbury say about Fitter Further Faster: Get fit for sportives and road riding
In the same way as mass-participation events in running have captured the public imagination, cycling events in which everyone can take part have burgeoned in popularity since they were first introduced in the UK in the late 1990s, with a raft of events now covering a range of distances, many selling out within days and offering the chance to be involved to thousands of entrants.
Fitter, Further, Faster is a complete guide to how to prepare for road riding and sportive events aimed both at first timers and those more experienced. Organised around a six-month timeline that shows readers how to prepare for an event, it looks at training plans – for speed, endurance, pacing, technique and attitude on climbs – leading up to the event itself and subsequent effective recovery. It covers diet, how to cope in all weathers, the rules and etiquette of road riding, the mind, the body, coping with injuries and breakdowns and on-the-bike nutrition.
Showcasing some of the best sportives in the world, the book is filled with high-quality photographs and illustrations, along with case studies and personal accounts from leading riders.
