The Cycling Addiction

''It offers readers not just insight into what drives us to ride, but also a vocabulary for understanding when that drive becomes too much.'' Dr Michael Liebrenz, Head, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern The author of the bestselling The Midlife Cyclist explores how our cycling addiction can safely be used to become stronger and faster. ''Make pain your friend'' is a mantra cyclists at every level take to heart - pain is the internationally recognised currency of bike racing. You become immersed, single-minded, even obsessed with your training and racing. However, in a sport that requires such a physical and emotional investment, Phil stops to ask: where''s your head at? The Cycling Addiction helps riders to understand and improve their most effective cycling muscle: the human brain. Each chapter focuses on a plausible justification as to why so many of us seek to suffer, and why our bikes are our preferred instruments of self-torture. Blending smart science and practical advice, Phil Cavell turns to psychiatrists, team physicians, as well as stars such as Philippa York (Robert Millar), Chris Boardman and Eddy Merckx for answers. With a profound understanding of and respect for the cycling tribe, this book examines how our addiction can be controlled and utilised to reboot our mindsets and revolutionise our riding, for good.

Autorentext

Phil Cavell is joint founder of the pioneering Cyclefit organisation which runs worldwide education programmes and provides bike-fitting services to professional cycling teams and athletes. He is the author of the best-selling Midlife Cyclist.

Klappentext

'Every cyclist will see a part of themselves in these pages. Honest, insightful and impossible to put down!' PFEIFFER GEORGI

'Cavell interrogates our collective motivations to ride, race and suffer... [and] skilfully weaves evolutionary science, expert analysis, pro racing anecdotes**' BIKE RADAR**

'All in all, The Cycling Addiction is a dazzling book' PEZ CYCLING NEWS

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE MIDLIFE CYCLIST - WHY WE SUFFER, WHY WE RIDE

'Make pain your friend' is the mantra of cyclists everywhere - but what lies behind our willingness to suffer?

In The Cycling Addiction, bestselling author and bike-fit pioneer Phil Cavell takes you inside the mindset of riders who chase the edge. From weekend warriors to legends of the peloton, he explores the obsession with performance, pain and progression that defines the sport.

Through compelling stories and insights from leading thinkers and icons - including Philippa York, Chris Boardman, Sean Yates, Joe Pidcock and Tim Krabbé - Cavell uncovers the powerful psychological forces that drive us to push harder, ride faster and go further than we thought possible.

Provocative, relatable and deeply insightful, this is a book about more than cycling: it's about ambition, identity and the addictive pursuit of improvement.

Ride fast. Be lucky. Stay humble.

'Offers not just insight into what drives us to ride, but also a vocabulary for understanding when that drive becomes too much' DR MICHAEL LIEBRENZ

Inhalt

1. Prologue
2. The Thing (aka The Brain): Bike-racing is just nature's way of making another bike-racer
3. The Blackbox Cyclist: A bike-racer's algorithm
4. An Impulse to Go: The creation of motivation and intention
5. An Impulse to Stop: Central Governor Theory
6. When is Too Much: Am I an addict?
7. Machines That Go Ping: Hooked-on maths
8. Blue-Print or Recipe: God in your own skin-sack?
9. Escaping the Algorithm: The road to freedom, 12 Steps