Instead of straining your eyes in front of the computer all the time, how about getting yourself a nice book that you can read in the loo, in bed, on the train or wherever – without needing a power supply. Excellentbooks.co.uk are publishers of several cycle route guides including the best selling “Ultimate C2C guide” while Pomegranate press will be publishing CYCLING SUSSEX by Adam Trimingham. It covers “routes in towns and long-distance cycle paths” (but no mentionof mountain bike routes), with “detailed and attractive maps plus plentiful colour photographs of local attractions, together with details of shopping, refreshment etc facilities on the way.” More details from Pomegranate press.

We’ve just got news of John Metcalfe’s new Mountain Bike Fitness Training book published by his Offroad Media company. John is an experienced mountain biker and sports scientist who regularly writes for a broad range of magazines and has had work published on Bikemagic too, and this comprehensive book deals with the reality of practical training, dismissing old wives tales and covering everything from DH to Marathon ride fitness as well as seperate sections on fitness issues for women and veterans.

If it’s anything like his other work it’ll be excellent but we’ll try and get copies of the all the books mentioned to review shortly.