The Cycling Addiction : Suffering, Speed and the Search for Meaning on Two Wheels

Every cyclist will see a part of themselves in these pages. Honest, insightful and impossible to put down! Cavell interrogates our collective motivations to ride, race and suffer… [and] skilfully weaves evolutionary science, expert analysis, pro racing anecdotes 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.