Books

NEW Innovative, tough waterproof map

South Pennines & Peak District Off-Road Cycle Map

Published June 2019 RRP £8.95

14 epic circular bike rides along classic trails
20 family trails
Cycle-friendly accommodation listings
Routes shown include:
Sections of the Trans Pennine Trail
Sections of the Pennine Bridleway
and a 110 mile ‘Pike to Peak’ circular route

Ultimate Devon Coast to Coast Guide (Updated 2019)

This is the fully updated and revised 2nd edition of the definitive guidebook to one of the most popular long distance cycling routes in the UK. All the information you need to complete this 100 mile signed cycle route across Devon, the guide features: detailed full-colour mapping; accommodation listed and mapped; eating spots and places of interest; bike shops, tourist information and lots more; and, full colour photos.
The route uses some of the country’s finest dedicated cycle paths, developed by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans. These include the Tarka and Plym Valley Trails and the Granite Way. They are linked by quiet minor roads and bridleway tracks, making the route suitable for leisure riders, mountain bikers and tourers. Is there a more varied and beautiful 100 mile cycle route in the country? It’s hard to think of one. This is a great short break or a weekend challenge.

Cycling Northern France (2013)

270 page spiral bound guidebook and waterproof, folded map bundled together in a plastic folder. Book and map describe 8 touring routes as follows with 1:200,000 Michelin mapping plus detailed area and town maps.

Brittany Coast to Coast; Around the Cotentin; St. Malo – Mont St. Michel Circular; Avenue Verte & Seine Valley (Dieppe-Paris-Le Havre); Boulogne to Lille; Paris & the Marne Valley; River Rhine via the Vosges; and, North Burgundy (Burgundy & Nivernais Canals).

Book also includes touring route directions, cycle-friendly accommodation listings and places of interest.

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Cycling Southern France (2008, updated and expanded 2016)

Loire to Mediterranean

A comprehensive guide to major leisure cycling routes south of (and including) the Loire Valley in France.

France is one of Europe’s finest cycling destinations and the recent explosion of quality, specially built and signed routes has only enhanced this reputation.

Expanded in 2016 to include:

* 18 pages of Route Atlas mapping detailing all of Southern France’s main greenways and signed touring routes.
* Rhone valley route from Geneva
* Explore the Cote d’Azur between Toulon and Nice on two wheels
* Extended Lot Valley route along the highly scenic upper reaches of the valley

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Veloscenic – Paris-Versailles-Mont St Michel (March 2018)

One of France’s most popular long-distance cycle routes, the route links Paris via Versailles, Chartres and Alencon, to Mont St-Michel.

It also takes in some of northern France’s finest scenery, passing through the Chevreuse Valley, the Perche, Normandy Maine and the Bocage Normand.

Following numerous traffic-free trails and many miles of quiet, rural roads it let’s you enjoy four UNESCO World Heritage sites and three regional nature parks.

This guide includes all you need to enjoy the route to the full; maps, directions, alternative route options, what to see, accommodation and much more.

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Avenue Verte – London to Paris by Bike (2017)

If you thought cycling between London and Paris on traffic-free paths and minor roads was simply a nice idea but not really practical, think again; launched in summer 2012, the Avenue Verte cycle route connects two iconic sights, the London Eye and Notre Dame cathedral, letting you pedal between the hearts of both cities on traffic-free trails and quiet roads, taking in some fantastic landscapes along the way.

The most direct route via the Epte Valley is 398 km (247 miles) and the variant via Beauvais and the Oise valley is 462 km (287 miles). In total both route options cover around 582 km (362 miles). The vast majority of the Avenue Verte uses traffic-free greenways and minor roads with a number of sections being specially constructed for the route and it is signed along almost its entire length. There are plans to add more traffic-free sections in future, with more greenway to be added on the French side in particular.
This second updated edition also includes suggested alternative sections avoiding the notoriously complicated official section through Horley and Crawley and a suggested shortcut through Paris, avoiding the official route through its industrial northern suburbs.

Ultimate Trans Pennine Trail Guide (4th edition) 2017

The Trans Pennine Trail guide book covers the hugely popular 370 miles (595km) of trail across the north of England is a big favourite with walkers and cyclists, with many sections available for horse-riders and wheelchair users. The trail is suitable for users of all ages and abilities due to its easy gradients and traffic free conditions. This guide is packed with full colour maps, trail info and photos, making it perfect for planning and use along the way. Often traffic-free routes linking Southport, Liverpool, south Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Hull and many more settlements through often unheralded but very attractive scenery.

Ultimate UK Cycle Route Planner (3rd edition) 2016

All of the UK’s signed cycle routes brought together on one map – now a comprehensively updated and expanded 2nd edition. Using the outstanding quality and detail of Times Comprehensive Atlas mapping, Sustrans’ National Cycle Network and other popular cycle trails are featured and defined – traffic free or on road. Family cyclists will love the listed traffic-free trails.

Other routes include regional routes such as county cycle ways and those National Trails on which bikes are allowed such as the Pennine Bridleway and the Ridgeway. Many hundreds of miles of minor road routes have been added for the 2nd edition and links to signed cross-channel routes such as the Avenue Verte (London-Paris) are shown so that long distance route planning is also made easy.

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Brompton Bicycle 3rd edition (2020)

“Brompton Bicycle” tells the fascinating story behind one of the world’s most unusual and popular folding bikes. It also details how you can modify and convert your Brompton for such uses as child carrying and tackling hilly country and acts as a unique maintenance and repair manual, full of tips you won’t find in any standard bike repair book. In short, everything you need to enjoy this incredible bike to the full. The first edition was hugely popular with the legions of Brompton fans; the second edition contained an extra 32 pages. The third edition is bigger than ever (now 224 pages), with new info on where Brompton may be heading in the future, a full overview of the Brompton Electric and all the competing retrofit kits and, of course, the low-down on other new products and company developments.

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Electric Bicycles (2011)

Electric Bicycles covers all aspects of this rapidly growing form of transport and leisure riding, with chapters on history and development, classic models, choosing and using and much, much more. Little known until recently, electric bikes are advancing rapidly, both in terms of popularity and technology.

David Henshaw has edited and published A to B magazine, specialising in folding and electric bikes, since 1997.
Richard Peace is founder of Excellent Books, specialising in cycle publishing, and has been writing about cycling for more than 15 years.

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Ultimate C2C Guide 3rd edition (2014)

A completely new, fully updated edition of the best selling guide to the UK’s premier long distance cycle route – around 140 miles of superb scenery, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, taking in the Lake District and the Northern Pennines on the way.

This is the complete guide, including detailed 1:50,000 maps of all route options, directions, what to see and do, accommodation, places to eat and much more.

The guidebook covers the route from Whitehaven or Workington to Sunderland or Newcastle.

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Ultimate Scottish Coast to Coast (2015)

From the creators of the original C2C, this is a new cycle route through the Southern Uplands of Scotland, from coast to coast. PRE-ORDER NOW.

Linking Annan on the Solway Firth and South Queensferry on the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, the Scottish C2C is a 122 mile signed cycle route. It is a mix of country lanes, high quality cycle paths and seaside promenades with two challenging climbs, over the classic Devils Beef Tub and through the Moorfoot Hills before opening out onto a panoramic view of the Lothians, Edinburgh Castle, and the Firth of Forth. It finishes under the mighty Forth Bridge. This is the complete guide, including maps, directions, attractions along the way, accommodation and much more.