The Cycling Addiction
Suffering, Speed and the Search for Meaning on Two Wheels
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The Cycling Addiction
Narrated by:
Phil Cavell
Pre-order Now for £14.48
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Narrated by:
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Phil Cavell
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By:
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Phil Cavell
‘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
‘I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work’ ELINOR BARKER MBE
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.©2026 Phil Cavell (P)2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic reviews
Offers not just insight into what drives us to ride, but also a vocabulary for understanding when that drive becomes too much ... I deeply admire his ability to bridge science and lived experience. (Prof. Dr. Michael Liebrenz, Head, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern)
Cavell is a fount of cycling knowledge
Phil Cavell, a bicycle polymath
I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work (Elinor Barker MBE)
Phil Cavell reveals himself to be a Philosopher of Cycling – someone brave enough to enter the space between the unknowable and the known. TheCycling Addiction is a fascinating journey of self-reflection and exploration. (Dr Peter Keen)
A tour de force which makes me re-appraise how I think about pro cyclists and my understanding of what they endure, while reinforcing my appreciation of this beautiful, crazy sport. (Andy McGrath, William Hill award-winning author.)
I was always astounded at Phil's ability to work out what the fuck was going on in the middle of all the chaos that is a bike race. He also understands how people work. Now, this book might not make you a better bike racer, but it might help you understand why and what motivates us to go deeper and further. Phil also tells a great story. Enjoy. (Guy Andrews)
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