We are delighted to welcome Michael Hutchinson, multiple time-trial champion, acclaimed author, Cycling Weekly columnist and general man-about-cycling to Gloucester.

Michael will be discussing how he conquered a sport he only took up seriously in his early 20s, his time inside the Team GB set-up with stars including Mark Cavendish and Chris Boardman and his many-sided career in an illuminating and entertaining evening for all cycling fans.

Michael's books have been described as “congenial, funny and insightful” and "as if Bill Bryson had taken to two wheels". No man has won more national time trial titles than his tally of 56 and his British 50-mile record (1 hour 35 mins 27) stood for six years, from 2008 to 2014.

Michael's attempt on the world hour record in 2003 inspired him to write 'The Hour: Sporting Immortality the Hard Way', telling the full, colourful history of the record as well as reflecting on his own part in it. The book won him the Best New Writer title at the British Sports Book Awards.

Michael is also the author of 'Faster - the Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World's Fastest Cyclists' and 'Re: Cyclists - 200 Years on Two Wheels. A History of Cyclists and cycling'.

Michael Hutchinson coached Alex Dowsett for his own attempt on the world hour record in Mexico in November 2021 - and also had the many-sided role of being the Ireland team's technical director for the Tokyo Olympics.

Not just a commentator but also a former stand-up comedian, Michael is a highly entertaining speaker with a gift for presenting his vast knowledge and experience in a very approachable way. The story of his life in cycling is sure to make for an congenial and revealing evening. Early Bird tickets are £12 (Concessions: £10). The first 20 tickets will sell for £10. Copies of Michael's books will be available for sale and there will be a chance to ask your own questions. 

Seats at the Kings are unallocated - you can sit anywhere - but it is a small theatre and there are no bad seats.

The evening will be hosted by Duncan Steer, former Procycling writer and regular host of cycling chat events, with previous guests including Carlton Kirby, Emily Chappell and Matt Rendell. 

You can hear previous cycling author events and podcasts at The Cycling Book Club: https://radiodaysevents.com/the-cycling-book-club/

Praise for Michael Hutchinson's books

The Hour: "Hutchinson proves as good a writer as he is rider (praise indeed) - congenial, funny and insightful... A very fine way indeed to spend an hour, any hour." Matt Seaton, The Guardian

"Has the rare quality in any sports-writing of propelling the reader into the intensity of the sporting moment itself." David Horspool, Times Literary Supplement

Faster: "Takes an inhuman sport and makes it deliciously, wonderfully, wickedly human." Ned Boulting

"If you want to turn yourself into a Merckx or a Froome, read Faster." The Guardian

Re: Cyclists: "As if Bill Bryson had taken to two wheels." The Financial Times.