The Self Sufficient Cyclist
Rapha Handbook 03 – The Self Sufficient Cyclist
by Guy Kesteven
with Illustrations by Katerina Paraskevopoulou
Rapha Handbooks are a series of books designed to help cyclists find their way into cycling. Informative, inclusive and specifically written to demystify the world of cycling, all the Rapha Handbooks are individually illustrated to help reinforce and add some fun to the real world advice from many respected and experienced contributors, writers and cyclists.
The ‘Self–sufficient Cyclist’ isn’t a step-by- step bicycle maintenance manual (though there is a bit of that), a ‘rides you must do’ almanac or a set of rules on how to dress correctly. Instead it’s a frenetic free for all of insider knowledge to short circuit every potential cycling problem, to help give you the best rides possible and pick up quiet nods of respect in the process.
Cycling writer Guy Kesteven will show you how to organise a perfect social ride, then speak fluently about tubeless versus tubular tyres to admiring audiences over a post-ride coffee. He’s collared National champions to reveal how to turn a twisted towel into a tumble dryer, and quizzed leading bike designers on why 22 gears are actually more like 13. The bits about what to heist from a hotel buffet if you’re heading out for a long one and why inner tubes smell of fish are all his though. In short, whatever you want to know about self-propelled two-wheel riding we guarantee there’s some invaluable kudos- gaining, ride-saving, enjoyment-boosting wisdom in these pages.
“If you’re about to embark on the long, satisfying journey towards being ‘a cyclist’, this third in the series of Rapha handbooks is as necessary as the first two”
About the author
Guy Kesteven has been a cyclist since sharing the child’s seat on his mum’s bike with bags of veg from the market and then following that same bike on his first real rides. That was also when he started learning about bike tech and route selection the hard way. Teenage years spent avidly reading Winning magazine and Richard Ballantine’s classic Bicycle Book stoked the riding fire further, and soon he was learning the tools of the trade working in bike shops and warehouses. His addiction to riding, fettling and his enthusiasm for sharing that knowledge sneaked him onto the pages of the bike magazines where he has been a technical cycling writer and bike tester for over 20 years and an insatiably keen rider for the best part of 40. That’s a long time to learn a lot of lessons the hard way, but also pick up some priceless tips and tech insight on everything from map reading and bike handling to emergency roadside maintenance. Here he tested more bikes than anyone else in the world and dumped well over a million words about them onto their pages during a 20-year career, which he’s now transferred onto YouTube. We’re not expecting him to stop tinkering with bikes or stop talking about them anytime soon either.
About the illustrator
Aikaterini Paraskevopoulou is known for working in many different mediums, from textile design to illustration and editorial; as long as her artwork inspires positivity she’s happy. Aikaterini’s work is best described as playful, happy and bright – varying from hand painted artwork to digital illustration for a variety of brands and commissions. Her career may have just began but she’s already started an independent female empowerment magazine, a unique hand painted clothing brand called Aikaterini Designs and has many more exciting projects and collaborations in the pipeline.
Also in this series
Handbook 01 – Getting Started in Road Cycling by Guy Andrews with illustrations by Laura Quick
Handbook 02 – Longer Rides by Jo Burt
Handbook 04 – Exploring Off-Road by Helen Wyman with Illustrations by Laura Quick
Specification
| Dimensions | 185 x 135mm |
| Pagination | 144pp on Arcoprint Milk 100gsm paper |
| Images and text | 4 colour with illustrations |
| Cover | Sewn Flexibound, round spine, H&T bands, belly band in 150gsm Arcoprint Milk |
| Endpapers | Printed PMS on Arcoprint Milk 100gsm paper |
| Published | 2019 by Rapha Editions |
| ISBN | 978-1-912164-09-7 |