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The Cycling Addiction
- Author
- Phil Cavell
- Narrator
- Phil Cavell
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 30 July 2026
- Run Time
- 11 hours 59 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
'A tour de force' ANDY McGRATH
‘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.
Critics Review
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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
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Cavell is a fount of cycling knowledge
Cycling Weekly
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Phil Cavell, a bicycle polymath
Cyclist Magazine Podcast
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I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work
Elinor Barker MBE
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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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
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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.
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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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With wisdom and wit, this book reveals the magic and meaning behind every ride
Joe Friel
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Phil Cavell interrogates our collective motivations to ride, race and suffer… [and] skilfully weaves evolutionary science, expert analysis, pro racing anecdotes
Bike Radar
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Every cyclist will see a part of themselves in these pages. Honest, insightful and impossible to put down!
Pfeiffer Georgi
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The latest brilliance from Phil Cavell
Matt Kelly, founder and editor-in-chief The New European
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Cavell skilfully weaves evolutionary science, expert analysis, pro racing anecdotes and his own experiences
Bike Radar
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All in all, The Cycling Addiction is a dazzling book
Pez Cycling News
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Cavell skilfully weaves together evolutionary science, expert analysis [and] pro-racing anecdotes... a companion piece to Tim Krabbe's seminal novel The Rider
Cycling Plus
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The Cycling Addiction seeks to discover what it is that draws us to such a punishing sport, and what functions of the mind, body and evolution are responsible for cyclists producing extraordinary feats of endurance
Cyclist Magazine
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Deeply interesting… it really touches a nerve
Cyclist Magazine Podcast
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Phil Cavell
- Narrator
- Phil Cavell
- Duration
- 11 hours 59 minutes
- Release Date
- 30 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781399419215
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Cycling: general and touring, Health psychology, Sports psychology, Fitness and diet, Sports training and coaching
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Cycling Addiction: Suffering, Speed and the Search for Meaning on Two Wheels, written and read by Phil Cavell 'A tour de force' ANDY McGRATH‘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 MBEFROM 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.
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