Stage 17, 1969. It’s Le Tour and Eddy Merckx has all but secured his overall victory with a lead of over eight minutes. Though on this day Merckx attacked early, and rode solo for 140 kilometers to win the stage and add to his commanding lead. He went on to win the final time trial, and the tour, ending the race with a lead of seventeen minutes, fifty four seconds. It was his first of five Tour de France wins.

Cycling history is ripe with stories of heroism, abandonment, adversity, and revenge. As incredulous as they may be, these stories have etched their way into the folklore of the sport, and represent more than the winning of a race, an attack, or a life lived off the bike. Often they represent a country as a whole, an ideology, and in some circles, a religion. Churches have been dedicated to individual riders (Marianne Vos), and to historical mountain passes (Madonna del Ghisallo). The importance of such personas and events are magnified when accepted by a population. Riders become gods, and mountain passes become roads of pilgrimage.

Over the years an array of road cycling magazine have flooded bookshelves worldwide with their depictions of the sport. Some are dedicated to news, some to product reviews and domestic reportagé. There are a few publications, however, that stand out above the rest. Their portrayal of cycling is juxtaposed by the lives and passions of the individuals who make up the cycling world. The everyday citizens who add complexity and interest to an already overwhelmingly diverse culture are a key element in these works. Their design is tailor-made yet palatable to anyone who finds a copy at the local cycle café or commercial bookshelf. And to those who feel a yearning to devour as much as they can, these five publications deliver.

ROULEUR Originally published in 2006 by Rapha, and sold in 2012 to Gruppo Media Ltd, Rouleur was one of the first road-specific magazines to reach mass appeal. It’s eloquent covers, minimalistic design, and dramatic storytelling has made it one of the most respected publications in the industry. Now on it’s 59th edition, Rouleur has expanded not only to road cycling, but also to cyclo-cross, and continues its renowned approach to sports journalism. It features on frame builders, manufactures such as Campagnolo and Continental, and stunning photography make it more of a collector‘s magazine than any other on this list. Rouleur is issued eight times per year, and costs $20, £10. Rouleur.cc

MONDIAL In 2015, three years after parting ways with Rouleur, Rapha released the first issue of its new biannual magazine, Mondial. It began as a concept, and now stands as Rapha’s sole in house publication. It represents the people of cycling, more than it does the riders and companies. It is also more akin to literary magazine than a traditional source of cycling journalism. It offers essays, biographies, first-person narratives, interviews, travel, food, and cultural scope. It’s depth is impressive for a magazine run under the label of an apparel brand, yet it is not biased, nor closed minded. The quality of writing is high, and the attention to detail and printing is nothing less than what you would expect from the world‘s leading cycling apparel brand. Mondial is issued twice a year, and costs $20, £10. Rapha.cc

SOIGNEUR A Dutch publication, Soigneur brings together the best of European racing, style, photography, and journalism. Only 14 editions in, Soigneur has carved a niché in the already abundant world of cycling literature, providing readers with a unique perspective on the past, present, and future of the sport. For those who are don’t read Dutch, Soigneur has published its first international issue, 00, and continues to produce content both online and in print. The magazine’s appeal is its connection with local history and culture, and the perspective it brings to the global sport of road cycling. Even if you can’t read the text of the original editions, its design alone will bring closer to the sport and inspire you to get out and ride. Soigneur is issued quarterly, and costs $20, €15 Soigneur.nl

SIMPSON Don’t let this magazine’s size fool you. Taking it’s name from one of the most successful British cyclists of all time, Tom Simpson, this magazine is more an experience than a good read. It brings you in and keeps you there, front start to finish. Independently published since the start, Simpson is full of top-notch writing. It’s special edition issues, such as The People Edition and The Social Cycling Edition offer a specific look into the different avenues that make up road cycling. Their limited prints per year mean the quality of each issue remains high, and it’s hard not to feel inspired by the story telling. It’s also visually stimulating, and is the perfect size for commuting, road trips, or a large jersey pocket. Simpson is issued quarterly, and costs $10, £6. Simpsonmagazine.cc

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