Review: The World of Cycling According to G

The blurb says:

The World of Cycling According to G is like no other cycling book, from no other rider: a thrilling group ride through the secret stories and clandestine codes, the great names and small details, the insider tactics, pivotal races and essential etiquette.  

Double Olympic gold medallist, multiple world champion and Team Sky superstar Geraint Thomas leads us inside the pro peloton, round the back roads of British cycling culture and into his constantly whirring brain - a place packed with stories of boozy nights with Wiggo and hard yards with Cav, the correct way to shave a man's legs and the remarkable restorative powers of well-made Welsh cakes. 

There is a connoisseur's advice (who should do what in a breakaway?), lessons in biking protocol (ever wondered how to pee on the move?) and mandates for good cycling living (never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down). 

Charming and informative, diverting and droll, it is the perfect companion for anyone who has ever hugged the drops of a racing bike or relished the pros' daring deeds. Because G treats the sport just as the rest of us see it: not a job, but an escape and an adventure, something that puts a grin on your face and fire in the legs like nothing else. 

Besotted by bikes? Soppy for cycling? This book is for all of us riders happily in love.

Let's not beat around the bush, I'm a fan of Geraint Thomas, both on the bike and his public manner off it. In fact I'm a big enough fan that I queued up at Waterstones in Manchester to meet the man himself and get my copy signed. If you've ever seen an interview with Geraint Thomas, you've probably decided from that whether you like him or not too. Those same feelings can tell you immediately whether this book is for you.

I know that sounds simplistic, but I've read a fair few autobiographies of people who I don't particularly like, but who've led lives fascinating enough to draw you into an account of their lives. This is not one of those books, and that's not a slight to Geraint Thomas' achievements.

This book is not a blow-by-blow account of Geraint Thomas' life and career, in the usual this happened, then this happened style. It's closer to a collection of anecdotes, which are broken into sections and then smaller chapters. This makes it ideal for picking up for a few minutes at a time if that's your preference, but equally means it can be an easy and enjoyable sprint, rather than a long, grinding climb.

All of Thomas' main achievements are covered, of course. His Olympic successes are widely contained in the Velodrome and Team Pursuit sections of the book, but also referenced elsewhere when relevant.

The nature of the book really allows "G"'s charisma to shine through. The book's written in a very conversational style, in that you can just as easily imagine the words coming out of Thomas' mouth as being ghostwritten onto paper. It probably is more a transcript of an interview between himself and Tom Fordyce, and when you have a personality like Thomas, it's the best way forward.

Naturally, the book is hilarious at times. The chapter on that infamous stage of fatigue known as The Bonk had me in stitches, unable to read for tears streaming out of my eyes. But there's a serious side to it as well, especially when discussing cycling matters. If nothing else, the book made me fully appreciate just how knackering the world of professional cycling is.

It also made me crave omelettes and want to try the included Welsh cake recipe, but that might just be me.

If you were looking for a scientific pedal-by-pedal account of everything from the Beijing Olympics to this year's E3 Harelbeke, you probably came to the wrong place. If you're a cyclist at whatever level, the chapters full of tips and etiquette rules for you may prove invaluable. If you're a non-active mere fan of the man they call G (although not unless you know him, according to The Rules), you'll love the book's charm and probably learn a thing or twenty about what it takes to make it.

In short, unless you've got some sort of overt grudge against Geraint Thomas' personality, you will enjoy this book on some level. Go and buy it.

The World of Cycling According to G is available in print (RRP £20), unabridged audiobook or eBook now.