For a cyclist, it's not all about pedaling and pedaling.

In your downtime, between marathon cycling sessions, on vacation, or taking advantage of the limited free time that modern life affords us, cycling literature is a great hobby for fans of our sport . Reminiscing about incredible feats, discovering the darkest and most controversial truths about cycling, or learning about the latest advances in physical preparation or nutrition... There's a vast repertoire of titles and authors to fill your "personal library" and continue enjoying cycling, but in a different way.

Here's a brief selection of five books on interesting topics covering the various facets and aspects of the world of cycling. A few touches of a vast "canvas" of publications that you, as individuals, can shape as you see fit through your personal selection.

The Giro d'Italia (Dinno Buzzati, 1981) .

Although it was first published in 1981 and in Italian, this book is nothing more than a compilation of articles Buzzati wrote for Corriere della Sera for the 1949 Giro. His chronicles went beyond the merely sporting, and, like a great writer, transcended the everyday to become an x-ray of an Italy devastated by World War II. Passages full of reality, anthropology, geography, and poetry narrate the exploits of the Coppis and Bartalis.

Much more than a compilation of articles for the glossy magazine of this iconic transalpine newspaper, it's a heartbreaking novel that takes the reader back to a very difficult time in the reconstruction of Europe after the war and in the belief in new values ​​that have led us to this day.

For Spanish readers, there is an edition in the language of Cervantes published in 2014, translated by David Paradela, which you can find at this link .

The Wheel of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong (Juliet Macur, 2014)

Literature has undoubtedly been no stranger to one of the saddest and darkest episodes in recent years in the international cycling peloton. The famous shadow of doping has loomed since the 1990s—and still does—but the American's case has perhaps been one of the most traumatic to digest. His seven tours were overshadowed in 2012 by the revelation that he had used EPO and other doping substances and methods, and he was stripped of his license by the UCI, banned for life, and sued by his sponsors and former teammates, like Landis.

The life of the Texan, who recovered from cancer in the 1990s, is a roller coaster of positive and negative experiences, both personally and professionally. A model image to the outside world, over the years, became a terrible story framed in one of the darkest periods for world cycling.

Its author is American Juliet Macur, one of the most renowned sports journalists at the New York Times and a scourge of such behavior in professional sports in the United States for years. You can purchase it translated into Spanish on this website .

In Praise of the Gregarious (Roberto Benito, 2018)

Salamanca-born journalist Roberto Bonito is the author of this book that focuses on the role of the teammates, fundamental—and sometimes forgotten—in a cycling team. Through its various chapters, he highlights the role of these riders in support of the leaders of the various squads in the peloton, the profiles of their protagonists, their most surprising stories, and the most curious and amusing anecdotes from their great work.

A title that dignifies the profession of many cyclists who live in the shadows but are essential to achieving collective goals. As its author highlights, “'In Praise of the Dominant' tells the stories of those who do the least 'showy' work in the world of cycling. They set the pace for their leaders, lend them their bikes, fetch water bottles, food, or clothing... they face the fear of leading the way, show the way, and see the dangers before anyone else. They are teachers and students, always willing to teach and learn. They are fathers, mothers, and siblings. They are thrilled by successes, even those of others. Dominant cyclists are a species that will never be in danger of extinction because cycling is a team sport.”

A different option from books that chronicle the exploits of main characters and big stars. It can be yours by visiting this website , as it is written in Spanish.

Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal (Daniel Friebe, 2012)

One of the greatest writers of cycling literature, Daniel Friebe, is the author of this portrait of a true cycling legend: Edouard Louis Joseph Merckx, known as Eddy Merckx. A cyclist known as "the cannibal," he dominated the sport between 1965 and 1978 and whose voracity, even today, has never been matched by any other professional rider. A biography that goes beyond the sporting aspect to reveal the figure of a man with a strong personality on and off the road, who was an icon for many for decades.

It tells stories as diverse as his stage victory in Tourmalet in the 1969 Tour de France, riding solo for 140km despite being the clear leader, his relationship with doping with three strange cases, the attack by a fan in 1975 or the accident on the track in Blois, France, which cost the life of his friend and teammate Fernand Wambst, an event that affected him physically and psychologically forever.

If you're fluent in English or are learning, this can be a great opportunity to read a great book while improving your English skills. You can get it through this link .

The Science of Cycling (Mikel Zabala and Stephen Cheung, 2018)

This informative and research-based publication is one of the most up-to-date and highly regarded works on scientific principles and their practical application in cycling. An essential work for sports directors, physical trainers, cycling professionals, and enthusiasts, it serves as a kind of "bible" on training and applied science. One of its authors is Spaniard Mikel Zabala, a professor at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at the University of Granada and a member of the Movistar Team, among many other collaborators with institutions related to the world of cycling.

The topics covered are numerous, including aerodynamics, bike fit, biomechanics, nutrition, training planning, injuries, fatigue or overtraining, the latest training techniques, and much more. It includes contributions from 43 cycling scientists from around the world.

If you enjoy training, physical preparation, and staying on top of cycling, this book is a must-have for your personal library. A book to savor topic by topic and draw your own conclusions as you put its guidelines into practice during your rides and training sessions. The book is available on this website .

In addition to these five titles, we're also proud to mention the publishing house 'Libros de Ruta' , which specializes in cycling publications. This is a very interesting website with all kinds of books related to this blessed sport. Highly recommended.

Beyond all of these we've presented, there are countless titles that many of you probably know and miss in our article. We encourage you to share them with everyone in the comments below! See you on the road...or at the bookstore!