It was on 7 November 1869 in France that the first ever point-to-point bicycle race was organised. Paris-Rouen was won by an Englishman named James Moore.
The event not only signalled the transition of the bicycle as a mens of transport to the arena of sporting competition, it also marked the birth of a sport which would -more than a century later - touch deeply into the four corners of the world on both road and track.
Bicycle racing's roots are still fixed firmly in European soil where its genesis was as a working-class outlet of physical endeavour. This is hardly surprising, since the first racers - many of them from an impoverished rural background - used competition as a means of earning money to buy dinner for their families.
Today in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, South America and South East Asia cycling is becoming more and more popular as a sport. And while the working-class image still holds firm in the 'old world', cycling's image in these new frontiers encompasses all social classes.
Not every cycling fan may aspire to join elite events like the annual Tour de France, but the increasing number of people seen pedalling throughout inner-city, residential and country regions is testimony to cycle sport's growth.
Cycling is not just about road and track. The last decade has seen the rapid evolution of mountain biking from a gimmick to a fully recognised Olympic sport.
The sister sports of triathlon and duathlon have played their parts too, thanks to the presence of cycling in their agendas. And one can't ignore the recreational pleasures of a sport where sea is its only real barrier!
Increased interest in cycling means spin-off returns for the sport, including an upturn in retail manufacturing, expanding media interest, a boost in governmental support and funding for Olympic and national squads, bigger investment in training and racing facilities and -most importantly - better education in how to maximise personal performance.
And it is with this last point in mind that The Dean Woods Manual of Cycling has been written. This book is aimed at anyone caught up by the cycling phenomenon - from the enthusiast and beginner to the elite amateur.
Every aspect of cycle sport is covered in this 'bible', from the basics of getting started to the finer points of competition.
We look at the varying demands and necessities behind road, track and mountain-bike racing. There is also a thorough assessment of training principles based on the gold-medal winning theories of the Australian Cycling Federation - physiological and psychological preparation, the requirements of a sound diet, massage and first aid. There are chapters on the dos and don'ts of basic bicycle maintenance and an examination of the history behind the great events and riders of a sport so steeped in tradition.
The Dean Woods Manual of Cycling can't guarantee you the wins you want but, studied and followed closely, we feel you'll go a long way to maximising your potential.
Dean Woods and
Rupert Guinness
6-8 Handley Street (PO Box 654) Wangaratta Victoria 3677 Australia.
