If Simon Warren hasn't yet been honoured with a knighthood, it's long overdue. For over a decade, his hill climbing books have given cyclists all the N+1 justification needed. A godsend is Simon Warren!

His latest additions, "Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills" and "100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of the Tour de France", have just been published together as a double whammy - think Hardknott & Wrynose Pass, but in colourful paperback format.

Together, they will fuel whatever fire you have for chasing hills!

But who is Simon Warren and what does he know about hill climbing?

Simon has been cycling for longer than many have been alive. As he notes in "Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs," Warren first noticed the correlation between light weight and increased speed in the early 1990s.

For decades, Warren has been on a quest, always ready to embark on a road trip in search of the most challenging hills. His inclination towards inclines is evident in his willingness to tackle gradients that would make most of us wince, with his teeth clenched and lungs bursting.

And ever since the publication of his first guide to UK climbs, Simon has been chronicling and sharing his golden finds through his books and his website, which includes the opportunity to join the 100 Climbs Club.

These two latest little pocket guides/bathroom readers tell the story of many hills.

"Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs" is a sequel to the original "100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills", released in 2010.

As Simon says, this book contains some new finds and those hills he couldn't include in the first publication.

In "100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of the Tour de France", Simon crosses the Channel to record the biggest, best, and most well-known uphills in the Tour's history. As Simon notes,"technology may advance, training and diet may evolve, but these mountains are constant."

Fans of the series will be familiar with the format: each book features 100 exhilarating climbs organised by region to make researching and planning your next adventure a breeze. The vibrant colours and photographs will keep you flipping through the pages for hours.

Simon's passion for cycling shines through in the various anecdotes at the book's beginning, including his humorous reflections on time trial codes.

Additionally, a checklist for all 100 hills allows you to record the date you conquered each climb and your time. There is little to add - although it would be handy to have a "Notes" row for jotting down any excuses like "headwinds" or "wet surface".

Each hill or climb gets its own spread, with a photo capturing the essence of the climb and a rating out of 10 to give you a quick sense of its challenge.

There's also a climb profile, complete with descriptive and humorous annotations like "Finally the slope eases" and "Things start to get nasty," to add some fun to your preparation.

A comprehensive fact file provides all the key information needed to tackle the climb, including an approximate climb time to help you gauge your position as you imagine your ascent. Additionally, Simon shares his account of riding the hill, offering insights into what to expect at the base, navigating the route, changes in gradient, and other valuable tips.

"Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs" and "100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of the Tour de France" provide hours of fantasising. How will you tackle the challenges - in order of appearance and by region? Alphabetically? From most difficult to least?

Or in reverse...100 greatest descents of the Tour de France, anyone?

Even if hill chasing isn't your usual pursuit, remember the benefits that come with a book penned by Simon Warren: strong N+1 justification, the freedom to cycle whenever the weather's right, and the excitement of away days!

Get your copies today!

Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - £16.95 from www.adventurebooks.com

100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of the Tour de France - £16.95 from www.adventurebooks.com

0 Comments