The Ride of My Life | A collection of cycling stories

It’s been a while since I posted, but I’ve been lurking, mainly in threads full of people doing awesome things on bikes. There have been so many amazing rides this year (Tour Divide, TCR, the 24-hour record... even the ‘Tell us about your weekend ride’ thread...) which have led to some truly inspiring writing and ride reports. They’ve got me thinking about a new project, and it's not a bike...

Now I love a good cycling story, but something feels a bit impermanent about great writing that only gets a digital life. Over time these stories slip down the Google rankings, and before too long it becomes increasingly hard for new readers to discover them. I’m old school when it comes to books (paper beats Kindle all the way), and to me these tales deserve a longer-lasting life in good old paper and ink. So I’ve been toying with the idea of putting together a book of the best of these cycling stories: highs and lows, thrills and spills; track, cyclocross, commuting, stolen steeds recovered, whatever. Just a big beautiful book full of two-wheeled adventures. The working title, until someone suggests something better, is The Ride of My Life.

I’ve started collecting stories and potential writers, and if the project gets enough momentum then I shall approach a handful of publishers. There is always a chance that none of the traditional trade publishers are interested, and if that is the case then there are other publishing routes that I would explore, like Unbound, Kickstarter and other initiatives. And once it’s in print I reckon people might even buy it, you never know.

Anyway, we’ll cross that bridge when we reach it. For now I’m at the very early stages of searching for the stories themselves, which is really the reason for the post. So if you have written about a monumental bike ride and you’d like the chance to see your work in print, then please get in touch. I’m a writer / editor myself, so can help with tidying things up, more important is the story itself. Or if you’ve read someone else’s ride report or blog post that sent shivers down your spine, please let me know where I can read it too! Hit me up with links, articles or other suggestions. There might even be scope for some photos, so I’m also keen to hear from photographers. Alternatively if you think the whole idea sucks balls then tell me that too - all feedback gratefully received!

At the moment there is not much more to the plan than what I have written above. I am gauging interest from cyclists, readers and writers, and trying to get a feel for whether this project has got legs. As you can see, the exact publishing model is unclear, but one way or another I am committed to producing a beautiful collection of stories by inspiring cyclists. Hopefully some of you might want to come along for the ride.

Either way, apologies for the long post and thanks for reading if you made it this far. And if this is a bit TL;DR then a book probably isn’t up your street anyway. Cheers!

Just seen this and I think it sounds like a great project. I wrote about riding a '10' recently and the story got some really good feedback. I don't know if it's any use to you, perhaps not quite an epic, but it felt like it at the time!
Here's a link if you're interested.
Hope the project is a success!

https://generallucifer.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/162-the-ten/

Here is one of my own... (Please note that the english version is available at the bottom of the French one. T.Y)
https://unvelopourdesmots.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/nighthawks-bivouac-dans-la-loire/

Enjoyed reading that.
I think it would work even better if your started with an excerpt of some of the "meat" and then went back to the beginning (if that makes sense).

Eg: start like this:

I’m shivering on the start line.
An old chap holds a stop watch in his gloved hand, breath billowing. Freezing mist clings to the bare fields all around and the trees look black and dead. The sky is pewter.
I fumble with the cycle computer I’ve stuck to my tri-bars with black electrical tape, zeroing the speedometer. I’m trying to breath but I can only manage shuddering gasps. The next bloke off after me glides up and wishes me good luck. He’s dressed like a Power Ranger. Pointy helmet, skinsuit, a bike that costs more than my car. I look back and see more of the same, Imperial Stormtroopers on carbon stealth machines. My bike cost sixty three quid.
I look forwards, at the road.
Don’t let anyone pass.

Then put the rest afterwards.

That was a great read.. good work.

I did a piece for the Ride Journal that I'd like to throw into the ring if I may?

@General_Lucifer, crackin read that, good work.
@Sparky, got a link, or an issue number?

I just looked it up: issue 8, page 70. Bit in retrospect it's not good. And also about a bike, not a ride.

Will have a read tomorrow. Nowt wrong with a story about a bike. Me and littlen did a thing for school about her bike, she did it from the perspective of the bike.