Still drawing a blank on Christmas gifts for your cycling mad friend/partner/relative/self? How about a nice book: there's nothing better than cosying up in your favourite fireside chair for a read on a cold winter's night.

There are dozens of great cycling books out there, everything from pro memoirs to race tactics and DIY guides for home mechanics. Why not take a look at our top 10 suggestions below for some quality cycling-related literature. If you're quick, you might even get it delivered in time for Friday...

 

1. Pro Cycling on $10 a Day: From Fat Kid to Euro Pro 

Phil Gaimon

Possibly the most entertaining account of pro cycling ever written, Phil Gaimon brings to life the less than glamorous reality of life as a pro with this often hilarious account of his struggle through the ranks of the domestic US scene to landing his first WorldTour contract. If you only read one pro cyclist's autobiography this year, make it this one.

 

2. The Race Against the Stasi: The Incredible Story of Dieter Wiedemann, the Iron Curtain and the Greatest Cycling Race on Earth

Herbie Sykes

Discover the gripping true story of Dieter Wiedemann, an East German cycling hero who defected across the Iron Curtain in the 1960s to fulfil his lifetime ambition of racing in the Tour de France. His defection caused huge scandal and severe consequences for him and the family he left behind - Herbie Sykes tells a fascinating story.

This lot should keep you busy until the weather picks up.
This lot should keep you busy until the weather picks up.

 

3. The Rider

Tim Krabbe

An oldie but a goodie, Krabbe's now classic account of riding the fictional Tour de Mont Aigoual, interspersed with anecdotes from cycling's golden age, sets the benchmark for getting in the mind of a racing cyclist. Leaves you wondering: is it really more efficient to carry your bidon in your pocket than on the bike?

 

4. Cycling Climbs of South-East England: A Road Cyclist's Guide

Simon Warren

King of the hill Simon Warren is back, this time with a series of regional guides to local lumps that didn't make it into 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs. Complete with elevation charts and a brief description of what to expect on each hill, this pocket-sized field guide is perfect for planning your next masochistic mission.

 

5. Made in England: The Artisans Behind the Handbuilt Bicycle

Matthew Sowter and Ricky Feather

Treat your coffee table to some bike porn as Matthew Sowter and Ricky Feather (of Feather Cycles) take you on a tour of the artisan framebuilders keeping alive the UK's tradition of handbuilt bicycles.

 

6. The Race to Truth: Blowing the whistle on Lance Armstrong and cycling's doping culture

Emma O'Reilly

Former soigneur to cycling's most controversial Texan, Emma O'Reilly has the inside scoop on what really went down as Lance Armstrong swept all before him until his well-publicised downfall.

 

7. A Year in the Saddle: 365 stories from the world of cycle sport

Giles Belbin and Daniel Seex

Get your daily fix of cycling trivia with this beautifully illustrated tome that presents a cycling anecdote for every day of the year. One to dip into again and again, you'll be an expert in cycling history by the finish.

 

8. To Hell on a Bike: Riding Paris-Roubaix: The Toughest Race in Cycling

Iain MacGregor

Possibly the greatest lengths any weekend warrior has gone to justify riding a sportive, Iain MacGregor puts his fellow MAMILs to shame with this entertaining and exhaustively researched account of tackling the Paris-Roubaix sportive. Featuring interviews and anecdotes from a wide cast of pros and sundry characters along the way, this is a must-read for anyone thinking of riding the Hell of the North.

 

9. Racing Through the Dark: The Fall and Rise of David Millar

David Millar

Reformed doper and recently retired pro David Millar bares all in a fascinating autobiography that shows just how difficult it must have been to resist the doping culture prevalent in cycling's not so distant past.

 

10. The Grand Tour Cookbook

Hannah Grant

If you've ever wondered what the pros eat for breakfast (and lunch, and dinner) then this cookbook by pro cycling chef Hannah Grant is for you. Packed with simple, nutritious recipes for pre, during and post-ride meals and snacks, along with insights from Saxo-Tinkoff riders, you'll never look at an energy gel the same way again.

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