New Zealand Cycling Legends Bundle

Buy all our cycling legends series books for the price of just one.

You get:

• Phil O’Shea: Wizard on Wheels
• Harry Watson: The Mile Easter
• Tino Tabak: Dreams and Demons of a New Zealand Cycling Legend
• Warwick Dalton: The Lone Eagle
• The Swart Brothers, Jack and Stephen, and
• The Cycling Pioneers

These six books span a hundred years of New Zealand cycling royalty.

An extensive account of Phil O’Shea‘s life and racing career, with an impressive raft of achievements set against the backdrop of a golden era for cycling – the early 1900s. O’Shea was a champion of champions with victories ranging from 1/4-mile sprints to 265-kilometre road races and spanning 20 years. His legendary achievements earned him superstar status and the moniker of “wizard on wheels”.

In 1928, New Zealand’s professional road cycling champion, Harry Watson, joined the first English speaking team to take part in the Tour de France. He was only 24 years old, and despite his team being unfairly handicapped by bizarre race rules, Watson managed to finish 28th in general classification.

Tino Tabak “If you really want to know what the business of pro cycling was like in the 1970s, I can tell you. Because I’ve been through it all – from being a star of the road at the top to a pile of broken dreams at the bottom. Europe’s greatest sport can do that to you.”

Warwick Dalton won 11 New Zealand track titles as well as the North Island Dulux Six-Day Tour, the Taranaki Round-the-Mountain and the Tour of Southland (three times). Dalton took greatest pride in overseas events such as victory in the 4-up kilo pursuit at the World Revenge Series, claiming the green jersey throughout the Tour of Britain and winning the final stage in the Tour of Sweden.

Jack Swart shaped racing domestically for over a decade, while
younger brother Stephen Swart raced at the highest level on the roads
of America and Europe during cycling’s most controversial era.
From digging house foundations to smashing the New Zealand
hour record, milking in Morrinsville to competing in the Tour de
France, this is an inspiring story about two legendary Kiwi cyclists.

In The Cycling Pioneers Dr Michael Toohey uncovers the pioneers of New Zealand’s cycling history. Blacksmiths become bikers and circus hijinks ensue as the humble bicycle trundles from laufmaschine to the pedal-pushers we know today. From the first cycling competitions to tight-rope circus performances, bicycle mania captured the imagination of everyday New Zealanders from the 1860s and beyond.