Cyclopedia : It's All About the Bike

The world of cycling is a veritable treasure trove ready to be plundered and in "Cyclopedia," renowned two-wheeled aficionado, William Fotheringham, delves deep to unearth some 24-carat bike booty. This essential book is a miscellany of facts, figures, interesting snippets and quirky characters from the world of cycling. It tells you everything you could ever want to know about the bicycle from the history of the Tour de France to Chris Hoy's dominance of the Beijing Velodrome via the origins of the ubiquitous quick release system and the diet that powered Graeme Obree to the world hour record - marmalade and cornflakes. "Cyclopedia" has all the gear, the equipment, the races, the chases, the faces, the places, the drugs, the sex and the scandals to convert any amateur cyclist into a fully-fledged BMX bandit.

William Fotheringham writes for the Guardian and Observer on cycling and rugby. He is the author of the bestselling cycling classic, the biography of Tom Simpson, Put Me Back on My Bike, as well as Roule Britannia: A History of Britons in the Tour de France. His most recent book, Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi was published in 2009.