Thirty Three Cyclists

What do a German aristocrat, a Harlem bike messenger, a Boston seamstress, and a Swiss chemist have in common?
They all rode bicycles-and they all rewrote the rules of what was possible.

Thirty Three Cyclists traces two centuries of invention, endurance, and rebellion through the lives of thirty-three remarkable riders. Some are famous, while others have nearly vanished from history. What unites them is a shared desire to challenge conventions.

"This is one of the most fascinating and enjoyable books it has been my pleasure to read. The writing is intelligent, the research impressive and the reading remarkably easy."
- Brian Palmer, thewashingmachinepost.net

This is not a book about gear ratios, training plans, or race results. It's about men and women with the insatiable human urge to explore new possibilities, test personal limits, and see what lies just beyond the horizon. You'll meet riders like:

Anthony Pizzo, who pedalled across the U.S. handcuffed to his bicycle.
Tommy Godwin, who rode 200 miles a day through blackouts and blizzards to set a record that stood for 75 years.
José Meiffret, who wore a skull and crossbones on his jersey while riding 200 km/h on a German autobahn.
Freddie Mercury, whose Tour de France-inspired anthem became a cycling classic.
Nelson Vails, a New York courier who became the first Black American cyclist to win an Olympic medal.
Vedangi Kulkarni, who circled the globe not once but twice before she turned 27.

Blending meticulous research with narrative storytelling, Thirty-Three Cyclists is perfect for fans of true adventure stories, cycling biographies, and sports history, and readers of Jon Krakauer, William Fotheringham, or Malcolm Gladwell.

It's not a book about cycling. It's a book about what happens when ordinary people dare to do something extraordinary on a bicycle.