What do you think?
Rate this book
Riding With The Rocketmen: One Man's Journey on the Shoulders of Cycling Giants
' Humble and very funny ' - Ned Boulting
' Essential reading for any Étape rider ' - Daniel Friebe, co-host of The Cyclist Podcast
An Everyman dropped into the world of Supermen... Can this amateur cyclist complete L'Étape du Tour?
Tadej Pogacar has 7% body fat, Chris Froome's resting heart rate is 30bpm, Mark Cavendish reaches sprint speeds of over 50mph. They're super-human cyclists who ride 3,500km over 21 stages across the Alps and Pyrenees as a matter of course.
James Witts is 45 years old, fatty deposits have begun to nestle on his back and he has a penchant for craft ale. He also rides a little. But not a lot. In his job as cycling journalist, however, he does have unparalleled access to the world's best riders and their expert support staff.
Which got him could spending time with the pros, discovering the training, gear and nutritional tricks of the trade, transform this back-of-the-pack sportive straggler into a fit-and-fast frontrunner?
In this entertaining and warm-hearted tale, Witts gains access to the world's greatest teams and riders to reveal the tricks of the trade. Follow along as he trains, rides and eats using the regimes of the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer a stage of the Tour de France.
Will he sacrifice the pub for stamina-boosting beetroot juice? Can an altitude mask really send his performance soaring? And will his ego cope with a drag-cutting, little-left-to-the-imagination skinsuit?
' Essential reading for any Étape rider ' - Daniel Friebe, co-host of The Cyclist Podcast
An Everyman dropped into the world of Supermen... Can this amateur cyclist complete L'Étape du Tour?
Tadej Pogacar has 7% body fat, Chris Froome's resting heart rate is 30bpm, Mark Cavendish reaches sprint speeds of over 50mph. They're super-human cyclists who ride 3,500km over 21 stages across the Alps and Pyrenees as a matter of course.
James Witts is 45 years old, fatty deposits have begun to nestle on his back and he has a penchant for craft ale. He also rides a little. But not a lot. In his job as cycling journalist, however, he does have unparalleled access to the world's best riders and their expert support staff.
Which got him could spending time with the pros, discovering the training, gear and nutritional tricks of the trade, transform this back-of-the-pack sportive straggler into a fit-and-fast frontrunner?
In this entertaining and warm-hearted tale, Witts gains access to the world's greatest teams and riders to reveal the tricks of the trade. Follow along as he trains, rides and eats using the regimes of the planet's toughest athletes, to conquer a stage of the Tour de France.
Will he sacrifice the pub for stamina-boosting beetroot juice? Can an altitude mask really send his performance soaring? And will his ego cope with a drag-cutting, little-left-to-the-imagination skinsuit?
288 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2023
6 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 15, 2023
Good but I felt like I’d read much of this before in other cyclist self help guides. It’s an entertaining story with some good technical advice. Would have enjoyed it more fully if it did t repeat stuff I already knew which is not the authors fault.
June 29, 2023
Of Mountains and Everymen
I cycle. Regularly. I've cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End, 1,000 miles in 10 days and Aberystwyth to Lowestoft, 326 miles solo in 3 days. But, a confession, I quake at the sight of climbs. I am built to go down, not up.
Reading James Witt's superb book Riding With The Rocketmen, there were many times I was pleased it was him, not I, taking on the challenge of L'Etape du Tour - an annual amateur cycling race held on closed roads, 16,000 cyclists tackling the Queen Stage of the Tour de France. The hardest stage. Brutal, legendary mountain climbs, terrifying descents, searing 40C heat. Plus the nagging doubt you will not make the time limit and be cut from a race you have been training months for. Swept up unceremoniously by the broom wagon.
But can you learn from the pros and improve your chances at succeeding in such a hard challenge?
James Witt utilises an extensive contact list to access the experts in training - from power output, bike position, nutrition, psychology, oxygen supply and the effects of altitude and aerodynamics. His meticulous research is juxtapositioned with his attempts to get fitter, stronger, have more endurance, to lose weight and continue to work full time, move house and play 5 a side football on a Monday.
There is much to enjoy in the book, especially for the cycling aficionado.
An excellent book with a unique perspective. The everyman trying to be a better man (cyclist), learning from the best and trying to apply this to achieve a very challenging and notable goal.
After reading Riding With The Rocketmen, would I, at almost 55, take on the Etape? No, probably not. But it has made me better informed and taught me lessons I can use in my own cycling endeavours.
I still fear steep hills and the dread of suffering. But James Witt has shown that suffering is part of what makes cycling. When you climb for 25km, 9% gradients, extreme heat, suffering is a given.
But with the right attitude, advice and application, you can achieve your goals - and hopefully reduce the suffering a touch.
Excellently written, very enjoyable and highly recommended. A big chapeau!
I cycle. Regularly. I've cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End, 1,000 miles in 10 days and Aberystwyth to Lowestoft, 326 miles solo in 3 days. But, a confession, I quake at the sight of climbs. I am built to go down, not up.
Reading James Witt's superb book Riding With The Rocketmen, there were many times I was pleased it was him, not I, taking on the challenge of L'Etape du Tour - an annual amateur cycling race held on closed roads, 16,000 cyclists tackling the Queen Stage of the Tour de France. The hardest stage. Brutal, legendary mountain climbs, terrifying descents, searing 40C heat. Plus the nagging doubt you will not make the time limit and be cut from a race you have been training months for. Swept up unceremoniously by the broom wagon.
But can you learn from the pros and improve your chances at succeeding in such a hard challenge?
James Witt utilises an extensive contact list to access the experts in training - from power output, bike position, nutrition, psychology, oxygen supply and the effects of altitude and aerodynamics. His meticulous research is juxtapositioned with his attempts to get fitter, stronger, have more endurance, to lose weight and continue to work full time, move house and play 5 a side football on a Monday.
There is much to enjoy in the book, especially for the cycling aficionado.
An excellent book with a unique perspective. The everyman trying to be a better man (cyclist), learning from the best and trying to apply this to achieve a very challenging and notable goal.
After reading Riding With The Rocketmen, would I, at almost 55, take on the Etape? No, probably not. But it has made me better informed and taught me lessons I can use in my own cycling endeavours.
I still fear steep hills and the dread of suffering. But James Witt has shown that suffering is part of what makes cycling. When you climb for 25km, 9% gradients, extreme heat, suffering is a given.
But with the right attitude, advice and application, you can achieve your goals - and hopefully reduce the suffering a touch.
Excellently written, very enjoyable and highly recommended. A big chapeau!
February 25, 2025
The book was far beyond my knowledge of cycling and the equipment, training and vocabulary used. It is clear Mr. Witts uses his extensive experience in writing about the sport in order to undertake this challenge, but because I am at best a casual fan of the sport - watching some of the Tour de France and read about some of the history is about the extent of how much I follow cycling - this book was certainly not written for a reader like me.
The humor, especially the self-deprecating kind, was excellent and it was okay to read about his own adventures as he attempts to complete a leg of the famous course. But all of the technical jargon, the many people involved in his journey and the sheer volume of this material in a fairly short book made it very tough for me. I am rating this book three stars as while it wasn't my cup of tea, cycling enthusiasts will really enjoy this one and that is the intended audience, not the casual, occasional fan like me.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Sport for providing a copy of the book. The opinions in this review are strictly my own.
The humor, especially the self-deprecating kind, was excellent and it was okay to read about his own adventures as he attempts to complete a leg of the famous course. But all of the technical jargon, the many people involved in his journey and the sheer volume of this material in a fairly short book made it very tough for me. I am rating this book three stars as while it wasn't my cup of tea, cycling enthusiasts will really enjoy this one and that is the intended audience, not the casual, occasional fan like me.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Sport for providing a copy of the book. The opinions in this review are strictly my own.
December 22, 2023
A great exploration of the #cycling. I have no intention of riding the Etape du_l Tour, but if so it would give me a great idea of what I would need to do to stand a chance of finishing. The book is a delightful exploration of the cycling world. The narrative weaves through the exhilarating experiences of cyclists, capturing the essence of their passion for the sport.
November 3, 2023
5 stars with the caveat that this book is for an extremely niche audience— if you love cycling, follow the Tour de France closely and train for endurance events, you won’t be able to put it down 🎉
August 10, 2024
This is a very relatable book, a middle aged man from the south Bristol area. That’s me! I found this a really well written book, wonderfully witty bringing what could be a dry subject (at times) to life. Covering so many areas of the sport, it’s a great cycling bible for an amateur cyclist.
August 24, 2024
Right up my street. Time to sign up for de Ronde and/or L'Etape!
December 28, 2024
Funny style and quite interesting to know more about professional cycling.
April 5, 2025
Hugely disappointing. Over detailed. If he was riding Le Loop rather than Etape du Tour it might have more credibility.
May 9, 2025
loved every bit - if you ride as a mortal, you'll love this book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews