Best of PEZ: 5 Favourite Books: At the end of each year we have the opportunity to go back and look at the books we featured in the last 12 months. The number of publications we received in 2024 was a bit less than average but nonetheless there were plenty of real standouts. Whether history, biography or even cookbooks, there is always something to enjoy. Add in the production quality of some of these books which would please any bibliophile and there are lots of ideas for future enjoyment.
The list is topped by two of the most recent books, both from Rapha Publications. As we noted in our reviews, both volumes are just so beautiful to leaf through but they are different. “Kings of Pain” celebrates (is that the right word?) the superhuman effort, the suffering, the exhaustion and exhilaration of pro racing cyclists over decades. “The Extra Mile” marks the 20th anniversary of Rapha.cc as a going concern and provides wonderful insight into the minds of its principals.
- Read the full PEZ “King of Pain” review of HERE.
- Read the full PEZ “The Extra Mile” review HERE.
An unusual book in that it is composed of interviews by a range of people who knew him, including family members, industry figures and cycling friends, Jobst Brandt’s biography “Ride Bike!” is a great look at not only a particular individual but also what the cycling scene was like as it developed in California over the decades.
- Read the full PEZ “Ride Bike!” review HERE.
One of the most thought-provoking books of the year has to have been “Live to Ride,” which is a reflection on what it means to ride a bicycle. The author wishes to unify the different communities of riders and his mantra: “If you’re riding a bike, you’re doing it right” is very appealing. All of us have a “bike life” and sometimes it is worthwhile to think more deeply about, along with what others might receive from their riding.
- Read the full PEZ “Live to Ride” review HERE.
Next up is the mammoth history of what was once the world’s largest bicycle company, Raleigh. This is a deep dive into the corporate archives of the firm and is both interesting from the standpoint of cycling but also as a corporate biography. With Raleigh today more or less just a brand name and with no production in the United Kingdom, this book is a remarkable view into the past and its glories.
- Read the full PEZ “Raleigh—Past And Presence Of An Iconic Bicycle Brand” review HERE.
And since I enjoyed it so much, my sixth book chosen is the entertaining “Willkie Sprint,” about the first women racing the Little 500 at the University of Indiana in 1988. Lots in here that was new to me!
- Read the full PEZ “Willkie Sprint” review HERE.
# Stay PEZ for more great book review from Leslie Reissner in 2025. #
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