Phil Cavell in Bath 2026

The bestselling author of The Midlife Cyclist comes to Bath! Join us to celebrate the publication of Phil Cavell's latest book, The Cycling Addiction, a highly readable exploration of why cyclists willingly embrace pain and relentlessly pursue self-improvement, which combines insights from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy with stories from the world of professional road racing to examine what really drives us to ride.

'Make pain your friend' is the mantra of cyclists everywhere - but what lies behind our willingness to suffer?

In The Cycling Addiction, bestselling author and bike-fit pioneer Phil Cavell takes you inside the mindset of riders who chase the edge. From weekend warriors to legends of the peloton, he explores the obsession with performance, pain and progression that defines the sport.

Through compelling stories and insights from leading thinkers and icons - including Philippa York, Chris Boardman, Sean Yates, Joe Pidcock and Tim Krabbé - Cavell uncovers the powerful psychological forces that drive us to push harder, ride faster and go further than we thought possible.

Provocative, relatable and deeply insightful, this is a book about more than cycling: it's about ambition, identity and the addictive pursuit of improvement.

Ride fast. Be lucky. Stay humble.

'Every cyclist will see a part of themselves in these pages. Honest, insightful and impossible to put down!' PFEIFFER GEORGI

'Cavell interrogates our collective motivations to ride, race and suffer. [and] skilfully weaves evolutionary science, expert analysis, pro racing anecdotes' BIKE RADAR

'All in all, The Cycling Addiction is a dazzling book' PEZ CYCLING NEWS

Phil Cavell is an author, educator and one of the original worldwide pioneers of modern bike fitting. As co-founder of Cyclefit, he helped establish bike fitting as an evidence-informed discipline. He wrote course and devised practices that have served to educate: teachers, students and practitioners around the world – influencing the way the modern cyclist thinks about: performance, comfort, efficiency and the enduing relationship between athlete and machine.