Going the Distance: The Making of a world class endurance cyclist (Hardback)

Going the Distance tells the extraordinary true story of Joe Barr, one of the world’s most remarkable ultra‑endurance cyclists. His journey begins on a yellow Raleigh Chopper in Co. Derry, where long rides offered escape from the tensions of the Troubles. Those early miles sparked a dream of one day racing in cycling’s greatest events.

That dream was nearly shattered in 2012, when Joe collapsed from altitude sickness on the brutal 11,000‑ft Wolf Creek Pass during the Race Across America—a 3,200‑mile, non‑stop test of human limits. Two years later he returned to finish the race, and in 2019, at the age of 60, he came back again and won his category, proving that resilience can outlast age, fear and failure.

Joe’s story takes a powerful turn when his infant son is diagnosed with cancer. Riding became a lifeline, a purpose—and the beginning of an extraordinary career in ultra‑cycling. He went on to win the Race Around Ireland and major World Cup events across the globe, building a legacy defined by grit, heart and relentless perseverance.

This inspiring memoir explores what it truly takes to keep going when everything seems impossible: the physical suffering, the mental battles, the emotional toll and the unbreakable will required to push beyond the edge. Joe Barr’s life on the bike is a testament to courage, endurance and the power of refusing to give up.