Other Ways to Win: A competitive cyclist's reflections on success

by Lee Craigie

'I rode back down the hill to the athlete's village. Some of Team Scotland had been watching on the big screen and I arrived to hugs of congratulations. I went inside for a shower and ceremoniously dropped my heart rate monitor into the bin. It was the first day of the rest of my life.'
A little before 1.30 p.m. on Sunday 21 July 2013, Lee Craigie crossed the finish line at Cathkin Braes in the southern outskirts of Glasgow several minutes ahead of her nearest competitor to become the British cross-country mountain bike champion. Lee's win was the culmination of seven years of training and sacrifice, but it marked the beginning of the end of her competitive career; less than a year later, at the same venue, this time representing her native Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, she crossed the line and quit professional bike racing for good.
Lee Craigie is one of Scotland's great bike racers, yet she has accomplished much more since retiring. In Other Ways to Win she tells her story of growing up near Glasgow and discovering the freedom of cycling – skipping French lessons and heading off into the Campsie Fells to see just how far she could ride. These teenage adventures established cycling as the thread which would run through her life – not only through her racing life and into a new life of two-wheeled adventure, but also through the positive impact she would have on the lives of others, particularly encouraging other women through her work with the Adventure Syndicate. Written with breathtaking honesty, she recounts epic adventures along the Tour Divide, Silk Road and the Highland Trail 550, and examines themes of friendship, loss, identity and the power of the outdoors – and, of course, cycling.
Lee Craigie's story is a welcome reminder that there is more than one way to win at cycling – and life.

Genres: Nonfiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2023

Reviews

[Nicola Whitbread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find myself really warming to Lee in her honest, open memoir about life on two wheels, the emotional turmoil of endurance sports, and the ways we can ‘win’ at life, whatever your goal or adventure. She’s refreshing and humbling, and I loved the format of this book as Lee recounts many different cycling adventures, both professionally and personally. I love reading and listening to women in adventure, they don’t have the bravado and ego that male adventurers tend to have, and frankly it makes for a better read. Lee, you’re smashing it. 4.5/5 ⭐️

[Rebecca Stonehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book.
Read my review here:
https://rebeccastonehill.com/top-5-bo...

[Naomi Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

super interesting and beautifully written. Lots to think about and relate to, and my love of bikes + the outdoors just gets bigger.

[Tamara Covacevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I moved to the UK I was happily surprised to find a great adventure community waiting for me. I was used to reading books about explorers in my country in the 1800s-1900s but is so cool that here I get to hear and read the voices of other adventurers sharing my world. I enjoyed this read a lot, and how honest it was, it resonated in many ways!

[Chloe Shuttlewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Craigie has a beautiful way of writing. I found it really difficult to put this book down. She has led (and is still leading) an incredible, inspirational life and I really admire her. I found it really interesting to read about her life as a professional athlete, including the pressures she was under, and how she moved into the world of adventure riding. Some of the stories she recounts are simply astonishing in terms of the level of fitness, determination, skill and perseverance that she has. The distances she covers, over incredibly harsh terrains, are just mind-blowing. It seems like Lee has no fear, and goes head-first into every adventure she embarks on. What an inspiration! I also love the way she is so passionate about helping people, especially young people who need help finding their direction in life, and showing us that to lead a fulfilling life, you don't have to spend lots of money; it's all about getting out there, out in nature, meeting new people and building on friendships. If only we could all have a bit of Lee's sense of just going for it and not being afraid of what might go wrong... This is a truly inspirational book and I can't wait to hear about the adventures that Lee goes on next!

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Other Ways to Win. Superb writing with a well-balanced tone between conversational (often very funny) sections and the more heightened reflective segues. I loved the way each of the chapters marked new learning, without it feeling didactic - wam and curious and empathetic instead. Mostly, though, it felt like 170 pages with a real person, who has done extraordinary things without losing humanity or insight- a testament to the skill and honesty with which Lee has written this memoir.

[K Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy and absorbing book that I listened to on Spotify; beautifully narrated by the author with her lovely lilting accent. Lots about her love/hate relationship with bike racing as well as her beautiful observations of the countryside she pedals through and the people that help her on her way.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Very inspiring. Very much enjoyed her take on the world, on working with and through resistance to hard stuff, rather than fighting to overcome it. Lots to take away and ponder on.

[Katie Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of wisdom and lots of adventures. Gave me an urge to get out on my bike in this lambing weather to feel the raw rain on my face. Great book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first cycling book I've read, as I usually read running & hiking as a runner & hiker myself, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
I'm now just exploring cycling, and this book further ignited my idea for adventures on two wheels.

I found Lees' cycling background interesting and her transition from competitive cycling to adventure biking, in a way, relatable to myself.

Enjoyable read

[Martin Mcshane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using races, reflections and reminiscences Lee Craigie offers an autobiography and questions about how we might best live a life worth living. It is about suffering and discomfort but neither were experienced in the reading of this most enjoyable book 🤗

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my now favorite books. I don't know if I'm rating it for the way it was written but the stories Lee tells and her own perspective on riding and being in nature are crucial to my understanding of having a healthy mindset. Thank you Lee for writing this book.

[Paul Below · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee is a great inspiration. Finished in one sitting as hard to put down