top of page
A middle-aged crisis takes many forms''br brTadej Pogacar has 7% body fat, Chris Froome's resting heart rate is 30bpm, Mark Cavendish reaches sprint speeds of over 50mph. They're super-human cyclists for whom riding 3,500km over 21 stages across the Alps and Pyrenees is a matter of course.br brJames Witts is 44 years old, fatty deposits nestle on his back and he has a penchant for craft ale. He also rides a little. But not a lot. In his job as cycling journalist, however, he does have unparalleled access to the world's best riders and their world-class support staff. br brWhich got him thinking ' could spending time with the pros, discovering the training, gear and nutritional tricks of the trade, transform this back-of-the-pack sportive straggler into a fit-and-fast frontrunner? Doubtful, improbable though not impossible.brbrThis entertaining tale utilises his connections in the industry to gain access to the world's greatest teams and riders to reveal the tricks of the trade that he can then apply to my own less-than-world-class performance. This warm-hearted and amusing tale is Everyman dropped in the world of Supermen. brbrJames Witts trains, rides and eats using the regimes of the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer his very own Grand Tour. Will he sacrifice the pub for stamina boosting beetroot juice? Can an altitude mask really send his performance soaring? And will his ego cope with a drag-cutting, little-left-to-the-imagination skinsuit? Learn and laugh on a journey of a lifetime.

Riding With The Rocketmen

  • James Witts

    One ageing journo's journey on the shoulder of giants. Follow our author as he trains, rides and eats like the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer his very own Grand Tour. Will he sacrifice the pub for stamina boosting beetroot juice? Can an altitude mask really send his performance soaring? And will his ego cope with a drag-cutting, little-left-to-the-imagination skinsuit? Learn and laugh on a journey of a lifetime.
  • Material available

  • Rights Sold

    All Rights Available
  • Book Details

    Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport brPublication date: 01062023 brFormat: 234 x 153 mm | 288 pages
  • About the Author

    James Witts has a background in sports science. He's a regular writer for numerous cycling publications, including the highly acclaimed Cyclist magazine for whom he's a regular when it comes to covering professional cycling. He is also a regular writer for Cycling Plus, Pro Cycling magazine and Rouleur.

Related Titles

logo-white.png

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Registered in England No. 01984336

Registered Office: 50 Bedford Square,

London, WC1B 3DP

© Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2025

bottom of page