Great British Cycling: The History of British Bike Racing

The earliest documented bicycle race took place in a Paris park in 1868 and, to the locals' annoyance, a Briton won it. Ellis Bacon traces what came after: cycling clubs, the frame-builders who supported them, and the obstacles riders faced, including a ban on road racing that dates back to 1890.

The story moves from weekend outings to a post-war surge in participation, inspired by riders including Brian Robinson, Tommy Simpson and Beryl Burton. Crowds lining the roads for the Tour of Britain and other races are part of it too, as is the modern era of British success that brought Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome to the front of the sport.

Edition note: published by Transworld Digital in 2014. ISBN-13 9781448171125.