This episode of Kilometre 0 features François Thomazeau talking about The cyclist and his shadow by Olivier Haralambon, which was published by The Cycling Podcast earlier this year. The book is a vivid exploration of what it is to ride a bike by Olivier, a philosopher and former racing cyclist. At the end of the 2020 Tour de France, François described the book – published in its original French as Le coureur et son ombre – as his favourite cycling book, which piqued our interest. François translated the book into English and The Cycling Podcast published it. Reading Olivier's book takes you into the very flesh of bike riding, it leads you straight into the noises, the sights, the smells, the urges involved in leaving the upward position for the stoop in the saddle. But it also takes you into the saddle itself, into the frame and the cogs and even the road, the tarmac, the rain and the sweat. It is more a book to feel than a book to read. – François Thomazeau Click here to buy the book Listeners in the US can buy the American edition published by our friends at Univoval University of Minnesota Press.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.