Great Rides According to G

by Geraint Thomas

2023. First Edition. 209 pages. No dust jacket. Signed by the author. Pictorial cloth covered boards. Flat signed by author to title page. Pages remain bright and clean with minimal tanning and foxing. Binding remains firm. Boards have mild shelf wear with light rubbing and corner bumping. Some light marking and sunning.

Genres: Cycling, Sports

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this book felt it was boring overall

[Cliff M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cheerful, upbeat and occasionally funny account of bike rides to which professional cyclist Geraint Thomas (‘G’) has returned over the years (often because his team has mandated them for training purposes!) and which he recommends for cyclists looking to do enjoyable rides abroad. Geraint admits to having used some of these rides himself when supposedly on a family holiday (thus answering Sara’s undoubted question “What the hell are we doing here?”). My favourite example being him taking the family to LA on holiday (not everyone’s first choice) so he could enjoy riding the Sierra Nevadas (which I know myself are fantastic riding and hiking country). I am inclined to think that the rides Geraint obviously loves; visits on holiday; and, which he aspires to return post retirement (or even relocate there) will be the ones that Sunday riders like me (as was, back in the day) will enjoy most.

Having said all that, I confess I have read far, far better books on cycling. In fact pretty much every book I’ve read on cycling has been better. I’m even told that Geraint’s other books are all better than this one and this book was a result of the publisher wanting to squeeze the last bit of juice out of the Welsh lemon before he retires (though perhaps his best books will appear after he has retired.). It explains why some brutal mountain climbs appear in a book called ‘Great Rides’ when they should perhaps have appeared in a previous book ‘Mountains According to G’ or a future book ‘Rides for Total Masochists’.

Though this book will never make a top 100 cycling books list, the ghost writer Tom Fordyce has done a great job of keeping G’s voice in the words throughout. Anyone who has enjoyed Geraint’s brilliant and brutally honest post-race interviews over the years will recognise his voice in the words straight away. I suspect Tom has achieved this by typing-up words from taped interviews with Geraint rather than asking him to write a full draft (people can rarely retain their full personality in their written accounts, often lapsing into ‘Kevin speak’ when asked to provide them).

If you are looking for new places to have a cycling holiday then I think some of the recommendations in the book are absolutely spot-on (based on my own experiences). But be warned: if a ride recommended by G is one he rides forty times a year for training purposes then it will be tough. G is a lovey guy but he has no idea how much better he is than us mere mortals…

Best dipped into now and again rather than read cover to cover, unless you really are a looking to book your next trip…

[Bryn Bolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright.

[Chris Hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a feeling this was pencilled in as a retirement book and they had to change tack late on. Shorter than his other books, lacking in many fleshed out anecdotes, and if you were to take out all the “take road A, turn left onto road B” route instructions, there’s barely enough left for a long-read magazine article.

Unless you know someone specifically looking for some very niche coffee shop recommendations there’s nothing in here I can really point to as a reason to buy it.

I’d originally given this two stars, but got to the end of the review and remembered it’s being sold for £20 and felt I had to knock another star off.

I’ve very much enjoyed Thomas/Fordyce’s previous efforts, enjoy the podcast, but this book is scraping the barrel.

[Stephen Kirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice addition to the other books in G’s cycling collection. However if I’ve got any complaints… how hard would it have been for the publishers to add a map or route plan page for each ride that’s discussed?

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for any cyclist who wants to follow the routes of the professionals (and eat great food and regularly stop for coffee, anywhere in the world) Tour de France winner, Welshman Geraint Thomas, has a lovely and amusing writing style and, as a cyclist myself, really does make the individual routes seem very achievable, albeit you should be aiming to do them a lot slower than the author! Indeed one of the routes I am very familiar with - Wicklow Gap and Sally Gap, down to Laragh and Blessington just outside Dublin. Stunning scenery and comparable with any of the others in the book (well, some of them anyway!) In 2024 Geraint finished third in the Giro d'Italia, it'll be interesting to see how he does in the Tour de France. On the basis of this book I'll be rooting for him and seeking out his other books!

[Andrew Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the large print it still took me over 3 months to read! From the land of my fathers, across the seas and back again this is an easy read of inspiring bike rides from around the world. Enough detail to get you to reach for a map or equivalent software to plot your adventure without being overly prescriptive.

Maybe one day I will actually do one or two of the rides but enjoyable enough travel by imagination through these pages.

[Alan Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent, but not brilliant book. I enjoyed the autobiographical bits, particularly about his early racing days, which were interspersed in the Wales routes but wasn’t sure about the detailed route descriptions. His personality and wit shines through, which saves the book from being a boring travelogue.
I enjoyed the book and the anecdotes but I’m not sure the book achieves its intentions - whatever they may be!

[Mat Greener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big G fan rate his first two books world according to G & tour according to G among my favourite cycling books. This book is a good read describing various places to ride. I liked reading about places I have already ridden & compared my thoughts . Although routes are described if you haven't ridden in a place I think it is hard to replicate the route he suggests exactly but it gives you a flavour of the place & maybe motivation to ride there.

[James Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot work out if 2 stars is too generous. A book that has moments of interest, but then gives up too often and becomes a tourist board recommendations of places to eat and drink at, but all in a dull and uninviting manner.

[Stefano · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5, but a solid one nonetheless. It’s classic G with a simple and effective recount of great rides across the world. Some more relevant anecdotes would have been welcome, but still a good selection and account of what G found to be cracking rides

[Alex Meecham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid and an easy read. Nothing spectacular but entertaining at points. I’d prefer it if the author focused more on the challenges on the cycling climbs vs. the directions (and road names) which nobody can relate to.

[Filip Olšovský · Rating 3 out of 5]

Add a micropage with all the routes in gpx and you'll immediately get my 4th star.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geraint Thomas shares the great routes that he’s cycled. Part travelogue and part memoir.

[Mark Songhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, just what you'd expect, which is a good thing. Full of nice anecdotes and observations on bikes, cyclists and more, all delivered in straightforward style.

[Joel Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great

[Luke Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book but not quite at the level of his previous ones. Though it absolutely makes me want to get on the bike and ride

[Jane Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

G’s journey through his cycling career as told by the description of some of his favourite/most memorable rides. You can’t be uncheered by his Welsh wit & anecdotes

[Max Deacon-Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok

[James]

One of Dad’s