Recommended Cycling Books and Videos: A Must-Read and Must-Watch List to Inspire Taiwanese Riders

Introduction

When you’re not riding, how do you keep your passion for cycling alive? Reading a book about the Tour de France, watching a documentary of riders conquering mountain passes, or scrolling through foreign cyclists’ travel diaries on YouTube late at night—these are all extensions of cycling culture. Good books and videos don’t just provide information; they can spark a new understanding of riding, helping you rediscover the bicycle parked at your door and the possibilities it can take you to.

Book Recommendations: A Reading Perspective on Riding

Works Related to “The Tour de France: An Epic on the Road”

The Tour de France has over a century of history and is the most important cultural symbol of cycling. Biographies and history books featuring Lance Armstrong, Eddy Merckx, and Bernard Hinault as protagonists, though partly written in English or French, are not hard to find in Chinese translation. Understanding the history of the Tour gives you a deeper foundation in road cycling culture.

Travelogues in the Vein of “Riding on the Road”

Taiwan’s publishing scene offers numerous cycling travelogue books, usually written by authors who turn their own round-island or long-distance journeys into words. The greatest value of these books is their down-to-earth quality—Taiwan’s industrial roads, the warm hospitality of the Amis people, the fear and grandeur of night riding on unlit eastern highways—these scenes resonate especially strongly with Taiwanese readers.

Training Science Books

The English book The Cyclist’s Training Bible (by Joe Friel) is a standard reference for road cycling training. Even if you’re not racing, its foundational concepts on periodization and power-based training are highly useful for riders looking to train systematically. Partial Chinese translations of this book are available.

Video Recommendations: The Power of Visual Inspiration

Documentary: The Wolfpack and Team Culture

Professional team documentaries let viewers see the truest face of cycling: not just race results, but training life, teammate relationships, and stories of failure and comebacks. Netflix and YouTube both offer numerous high-quality cycling documentaries.

Local Taiwanese YouTube Channels

Taiwan has many cycling YouTubers covering everything from training insights and gear reviews to travel diaries. Seeing Taiwan’s mountain roads and coastline through the eyes of fellow Taiwanese riders creates a familiar sense of connection and can also reveal great routes you’ve never ridden before.

Strava Art Film

Strava’s annual year-in-review data videos visualize the collective movement of riders worldwide, offering a beautiful macro-level perspective on cycling culture.

• Search keywords like “台灣自行車” (Taiwan cycling) or “環島騎乘” (round-island riding) to find local travel documentaries
• Subscribe to a few international cycling channels you like to stay current on training and gear trends
• Cycling crash videos on YouTube may be shocking, but they play a positive role in building safety awareness

Streaming Platform Resource Guide

YouTube: The richest free content library, from beginner tutorials to pro riders’ training diaries—the most recommended starting resource.

Netflix: Cycling documentaries and biographical films are added from time to time; search “cycling” or “Tour de France” to find related content.

Zwift / TrainerRoad: Not just training platforms—they also offer community and educational content, with structured training plans and instructional videos for paid subscribers.

Podcast: English-language podcasts such as The Velominati and Faster offer in-depth training and culture discussions; while Taiwanese or Chinese-language cycling podcasts are currently scarce, it’s worth keeping an eye out for new additions.

Practical Tips

• Build your own reading and viewing list: Whenever you hear a recommendation, add it to your to-read/to-watch list immediately so you’re never at a loss for content in your free time
• Combine books with practice: When you read about a training method, try it out on your next ride—it sticks better than reading alone
• Share with fellow riders: Recommend good books and videos to your riding buddies, spark discussion through exchange, and let knowledge flow through the community
• You don’t have to read everything: Training science books are often information-dense; choose the chapters most relevant to your current riding goals to avoid information overload

Conclusion

The richness of cycling culture extends far beyond the act of pedaling. When you open a book on Tour de France history, or watch a rider tearfully completing a round-island journey in a documentary, that emotion and inspiration is a shared feeling that transcends language and borders. Let books and videos nourish your riding life—on rainy days when you can’t get out on the bike, use these stories to keep your curiosity and passion for the cycling world alive.

Related Reading

• Cycling and Round-Island Literature: The Writing Tradition of Taiwan’s Riding Travelogues
• The Food Culture of Cycling Travel: Signature Snacks and Local Cuisine Along Taiwan’s Riding Routes
• 10 Cycling Podcasts Worth Listening To: The Best Companions for Your Commute
• Pedaling Through Words: Ten Must-Read Books for Cycling Enthusiasts