X-Book

On the Road Bike

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Ned Boulting has noticed something. It's to do with bikes. They're everywhere. And so are their riders. Some of these riders seem to be sporting sideburns and a few of them are winning things. Big things. Now Ned wants to know how on earth it came to this. And what, exactly is 'this'.

In On the Road Bike, Ned Boulting asks how Britain became so obsessed with cycling. Ned’s search puts him in contact with some of the wonderful and wonderfully idiosyncratic people who have contributed to this nation’s two-wheeled history. It's a journey that takes him from the velodrome at Herne Hill to the Tour of Britain at Stoke-on-Trent via Bradley Wiggins, Chris Boardman, David Millar (and David's mum), Ken Livingstone, both Tommy Godwins, Gary Kemp (yes, him from Spandau Ballet) and many, many more. The result is an amusing and personal exploration of the austere, nutty soul of British cycling.

Critics Review

Funny, fascinating and frequently touching ... will be enjoyed by anyone with even a passing interest in cycling. No bib shorts required
Guardian
Don't expect to read a better sports book this year. Funny, serious, quirky, hard hitting.
Brendan Gallagher
Quirky, insightful, soulful. Could be subtitled 'cyclists are odd - discuss'
@DickinsonTimes
It's very funny, surprisingly insightful and features telling observations from a litany of engaging personalities along with Ned's amusing take on his own cycling experiences
Wheelsuckers
Boulting is a delightful narrator, amusingly preoccupied by his own middle-class roots
Financial Times
An amusing and personal exploration of the austere, nutty soul of British cycling
Nudge
Author Ned Boulting
Narrator Ned Boulting
Duration 8 hours and 15 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781448179763
Format Audiobook
Publisher Random House
Genre Cycle racing, Cycling: general and touring, Popular culture
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.