10 Timeless Cycling Books Every Rider Should Read

Last Updated: December 2025

Quick Answer: These 10 cycling books have stood the test of time. Whether you're a new rider or a 70-year-old cyclist like me who has spent decades on the road, these books offer the best mix of stories, adventure, history, humor, and hard-earned wisdom you'll find anywhere.

10 Timeless Cycling Books Every Rider Should Read

I've ridden more than 150,000 miles in my lifetime, and these are the books that have stayed with me. They’re the ones cyclists still talk about decades later — because the writing, the stories, and the truth inside them never wear out.

1. The Rider — Tim Krabbé
   The greatest cycling book ever written. A deep dive into the mental game of a single race, told minute by minute. Every cyclist eventually finds this book — and it changes how you see the sport.
2. French Revolutions — Tim Moore
   A hilarious, brutally honest attempt to ride the entire Tour de France route. He suffers. He laughs. You laugh. It’s cycling misery told perfectly.
3. Miles From Nowhere — Barbara Savage
   A worldwide bicycle journey from a time before GPS, smartphones, or Instagram. Raw, emotional, unforgettable.
4. Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance — Lennard Zinn
   The gold standard guide for fixing, maintaining, and understanding your bike. This is one of those “every cyclist owns it eventually” books.
   
5. It’s All About the Bike — Robert Penn
   A beautiful book about craftsmanship and obsession as Penn travels the world building the “perfect bike.” A love letter to cycling itself.
6. The Secret Race — Tyler Hamilton & Daniel Coyle
   One of the most brutally honest insider accounts of pro cycling ever written. It changed the sport forever.
7. Where the Pavement Ends — Erika Warmbrunn
   An underrated gem. A solo ride from Russia to Mongolia to Vietnam — courageous, humble, human.
8. Ride the Revolution — Various Authors
   A collection of women’s cycling stories — racing, adventure, activism, breakthroughs. A must-read to understand the full cycling world.
9. The Escape Artist — Matt Seaton
   A beautifully written memoir about cycling, life, obsession, loss, and the search for balance. Deeply moving.
10. Bicycling Science — David Gordon Wilson - A legendary deep-dive into how bicycles really work — physics, aerodynamics, biomechanics, efficiency, power transfer, everything.  It’s been updated multiple times over the decades and remains the definitive technical book for serious cyclists.

📚 My Top 3 Picks for Newer Cyclists

Best Story:
The Rider — Tim Krabbé

Best Adventure:
Miles From Nowhere — Barbara Savage

Best Practical Guide:
Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance — Lennard Zinn

Why These Books Still Matter

Books like these don’t fade. They remind us why we ride — the freedom, the suffering, the humor, the challenge, and the beauty of seeing the world from a bicycle. If you're a senior cyclist, a brand-new rider, or someone rediscovering cycling, these books will stay with you.

If you enjoy this list, you might also like:

• 70 Is the New 50 in Cycling
• How Bicycles Can Change the World
• Your First Multi-Day Bicycle Tour

FAQ

What’s the best cycling book for beginners?

The Rider is the purest introduction to the sport. For something more practical, Zinn’s maintenance book is the go-to.

What’s the best long-distance cycling memoir?

Miles From Nowhere — nothing else captures the spirit of adventure like it.

Are these good books for older cyclists?

Absolutely. As a 70-year-old cyclist myself, these are the books that still inspire me to ride farther, think deeper, and appreciate the sport more than ever.