Riding With The Rocketmen: One Man's Journey on the Shoulders of Cycling Giants

Entertaining read, full of interesting insights.

I cycle. Regularly. I've cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End, 1,000 miles in 10 days and Aberystwyth to Lowestoft, 326 miles solo in 3 days. But, a confession, I quake at the sight of climbs. I am built to go down, not up.Reading James Witt's superb book Riding With The Rocketmen, there were many times I was pleased it was him, not I, taking on the challenge of L'Etape du Tour - an annual amateur cycling race held on closed roads, 16,000 cyclists tackling the Queen Stage of the Tour de France. The hardest stage. Brutal, legendary mountain climbs, terrifying descents, searing 40C heat. Plus the nagging doubt you will not make the time limit and be cut from a race you have been training months for. Swept up unceremoniously by the broom wagon.But can you learn from the pros and improve your chances at succeeding in such a hard challenge?James Witt utilises an extensive contact list to access the experts in training - from power output, bike position, nutrition, psychology, oxygen supply and the effects of altitude and aerodynamics. His meticulous research is juxtapositioned with his attempts to get fitter, stronger, have more endurance, to lose weight and continue to work full time, move house and play 5 a side football on a Monday.There is much to enjoy in the book, especially for the cycling aficionado.An excellent book with a unique perspective. The everyman trying to be a better man (cyclist), learning from the best and trying to apply this to achieve a very challenging and notable goal.After reading Riding With The Rocketmen, would I, at almost 55, take on the Etape? No, probably not. But it has made me better informed and taught me lessons I can use in my own cycling endeavours.I still fear steep hills and the dread of suffering. But James Witt has shown that suffering is part of what makes cycling. When you climb for 25km, 9% gradients, extreme heat, suffering is a given.But with the right attitude, advice and application, you can achieve your goals - and hopefully reduce the suffering a touch.Excellently written, very enjoyable and highly recommended. A big chapeau!

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my cycling mad husband he enjoyed it very much

I have no intention od doing the Etape du Tour, but if I did this book would give me a great idea of what I would need to do to stand a chance of finishing.Over a number of chapters James Witts get professional advice on how to improve his fitness, diet and mind and then puts it into practice in his build up.An excellent well written book, with advice on where to go if you have the money or what do if you don't to stand the best chance of success, leavened with humour and a self-effacing admission of his own failings.

In-depth and technical, yet funny and down to earth. This is a brilliant and behind the scenes look at the science of professional cycling through the eyes of an average guy.

I loved this book, I thought it was brilliant. I’ve read a number of cycling books over recent years (in fact it’s about all I do read about) and this was one of my most enjoyable reads of late.Why? It has a bit of everything. Storytelling, tech, science, humour, one man’s quest for personal greatness and above all relatability.I’m a very casual reader, it usually takes weeks if not months for me to get through a book but this was an absolute page-turner and I’d finished it within a week (that never happens generally).Most of the cycling books I read are generally very interesting but they don’t tend to carry the humour or relatability. I’m fascinated by how the pro’s do it and the tech and science stuff but that’s not the world that I live in. I live in a world similar to the author, I’m an ageing, keen, but not a particularly proficient or talented cyclist, this Everyman tale was a really enjoyable read that I just found very accessible.Chapeau Mr Witts!

Tech books such as this can tend to be a tad dry. However I found this to be very well researched, highly factual and even amusing at times.

Enjoyable, funny and intuitive yet relatable for all levels of cycling enthusiasts.I love a cycling read and while this book gives great detail about top level pro-athlete training, it does so with less of the chest bumping and muscle flexing, and more of the self deprecation and humour. Cycling’s version of Penguins stopped Play.Good stuff James Witts..