To Hell on a Bike: Riding Paris-Roubaix: The Toughest Race in Cycling

by Iain MacGregor

'Paris-Roubaix is the best race in the world and knocks spots off the Tour de France.' Sir Bradley Wiggins.Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North. The ultimate monument in cycling's Classics. More than 150 miles across dusty or muddy roads, much of it puncture-inducing and bone-breaking cobblestones. Even professional riders blanche at the very mention of it. Tour de France winners (with the notable exception of Wiggins in 2014) make their excuses from it. So why on earth would an amateur even dare to attempt it?In To Hell on a Bike , Iain MacGregor does just that and as he prepares for the ride of his life, he explores the history and culture of this extraordinary race. With insights from legends of the sport, trainers, mechanics and fellow writers, as well as those who have maintained the traditions of Paris-Roubaix since its inception over a century ago, it is the ultimate story of the ultimate cycling challenge.

Genres: Cycling

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

Iain MacGregor has been an editor and publisher of nonfiction for over twenty-five years. As a history student he visited the Baltic and the Soviet Union in the early 1980s and has been captivated by Soviet history ever since. He has published books on every aspect of the Second World War on the Eastern Front 1941-45 and has visited archives in Leningrad, Moscow and Volgograd. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and his writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Spectator and BBC History Magazine. He lives with his wife and two children in London.

Reviews

[Ron S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat pedestrian cycling history MAMIL memoir.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got book up as part of a 'job lot' of cycling books in a charity shop and it's going straight back there. Some sections were of interest, for example the history sections and the chapters at the end where he actually does the event. In between there were many pages of tediousness where he meets numerous people connected with the event and asks them more or less the same questions with more or less the same answers. I'm not sure I can even recommend this book to cycling anoraks, you would be better spending your time going for a bike ride. Towards the end of the book I felt like shouting at him, "just get on with it, its a bike ride"

[John Hind · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as expected, someone preparing for the sportive making it sound as if he was actually racing, more of a pat on his own back than anything else! I wish he wouldn’t have kept referring to the event as a race, it certainly isn’t and is nothing compared to what the professional riders, and many good local cyclists, do regularly.

[David Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Hell on a bike

A really enjoyable read about the history of the race and Iain's challenge to complete it. A companionable writer of great charm he makes this ride sound both hellish and fun. Chapeau!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does exactly what it says on the tin

Very deftly describes this great race and what it takes to complete it. Definitely felt like I was living, or rather cycling, through some of those sections of cobbles

[sean fullerton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why this guy keeps calling his amateur sporting event a race I've no idea, plus there is a major howler when he describes fixing a puncture! Hub and rim there's a difference mate !

[Filip Olšovský · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average account of an extraordinary race.

[Ricardo Motti · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fun it is to read about people doing things I’d never ever ever ever do.

[Dan Taylor]

yes