The Midlife Cyclist

The Road Map for the +40 Rider Who Wants to Train Hard, Ride Fast and Stay Healthy

By: Phil Cavell

Narrated by: Phil Cavell

Bloomsbury presents The Midlife Cyclist written and read by Phil Cavell.

'I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work.' – Elinor Barker MBE, multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist

'The Midlife Cyclist is a triumph' – Cycling Plus

'An amazing accomplishment... a simple-to-understand précis of your midlife as a cyclist – you won't want to put it down.' – Phil Liggett, TV cycling commentator

'Phil is eminently qualified to write The Midlife Cyclist. Well, he is certainly old enough.' – Fabian Cancellara, Tour de France rider and two-time Olympic champion

——

Renowned cycling biomechanics pioneer, Phil Cavell, explores the growing trend of middle-aged and older cyclists seeking to achieve high-level performance.

Using contributions from leading coaches, ex-professionals and pro-team doctors, he produces the ultimate manifesto for mature riders who want to stay healthy, avoid injury – and maximise their achievement levels.

Time's arrow traditionally plots an incremental path into declining strength and speed for all of us. But we are different to every other generation of cyclists in human history. An ever-growing number of us are determined to scale the highest peaks of elite physical fitness into middle-age and beyond. Can the emerging medical and scientific research help us achieve the holy triumvirate of speed and health with age?

The Midlife Cyclist offers a gold standard road-map for the mature cyclist who aims to train, perform and even race at the highest possible level.©2022 Phil Cavell (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Critic reviews

A must-read... this brilliant book shows you that getting older doesn't mean getting slower! (Alan Murchison, The Cycling chef and masters cycling champion)

Phil is eminently qualified to write The Midlife Cyclist. Well, he is certainly old enough. (Fabian Cancellara, Tour de France rider and two-time Olympic champion)

A road-map for the mature cyclist

Phil's book can help you be as good today as you always said you were (Carlton Kirby, Eurosport commentator)

I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work (Elinor Barker MBE, multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist)

An amazing accomplishment... a simple-to-understand précis of your midlife as a cyclist – you won't want to put it down. (Phil Liggett, TV cycling commentator)

I’m determined to grow old gracefully in lycra, and Phil Cavell has been helping me to do it successfully for years. (Gary Kemp)

The Midlife Cyclist is entertaining, insightful, well-researched and vital reading for all youngsters over forty who have a love affair with the bike. (Norman Foster)

A must for the older athlete, it's motivated me to train harder again. (Sir Rocco Forte)

The Midlife Cyclist is a triumph

Are you middle-aged? Are you slower than you used to be, more tired? Read this book. It will help you.

The Secret

He gave it away in this book. I am not going to say it, but if you know you know, and now you know for sure.

I'm not a cyclist, but it's worth a read.

Being the only rational person in the office who doesn't cycle, my colleague were hoping that it would inspire me to join their ranks as certified road pests. Although it failed to inspire me to make a commitment to long-term in saddle abuse, it is still worth reading. Definitely has a message for all of us struggling with training and performance in our chosen sports and hobbies as we get older. Definitely carries a message that will resonate with anyone over 40.

That I can still compete at my age.

41 and still going strong and now I have new insights on how to improve my cycling.

Good, not great.

Good, not great. Lots of useful information, albeit not supremely entertaining. know what you’re getting into.

Worth the read

This is a must read for those over 40 and wanting to have a healthy second half, rather than a decline in health. Aging doesn’t have to mean giving up. Too many are in poor health because they think that’s the normal progression. Bull crap. Read, ride, strength train! Get after it!