Confessions of an Ageing Cyclist

A novel about cycling, childhood memory, and the stories we tell when life refuses to follow the route map.

NOP is pleased to announce the publication of Confessions of an Ageing Cyclist, a reflective and emotionally resonant novel that explores the impact of a father’s cancer on family life, told through the diary of a young boy. 

Set in 1992, when  Chris Boardman had won cycling gold at the Olympics, Miguel Induráin had won the Tour de France and Chris Hoy was making some impressive early moves in BMX biking, the story unfolds at a time when conversations around illness were far less open than they are today.  The story follows a child narrator, Goodboy,  attempting to make sense of subtle but significant changes within his family. As adult conversations become more guarded and routines begin to shift, his young voice at the centre of the story captures the confusion, humour, and emotional undercurrents of living alongside a serious diagnosis.

Written by Nick Owen and illustrated by Paul Warren,  the novel is structured around the rhythms and stages of cycling.  It uses  cycling to provide a framework through which the story explores endurance: not in athletic terms, but in the quieter, more uncertain sense required when families face illness. The book’s nine-part structure loosely reflects the phases of the 1992 Tour de France, where progress is uneven, outcomes are unclear and resilience becomes essential.

At its core, Confessions of an Ageing Cyclist offers a distinctive perspective on prostate cancer, by focusing on how such experiences are perceived by children. Through the immediacy of diary entries, the novel highlights what is said, what is overheard, and what remains unspoken,  revealing the emotional landscape that surrounds serious illness within a family.

‘Cyclist‘ is part of the wider Confessions series, which uses sport as a lens to explore broader human experiences, including identity, loneliness and the challenges of growing up. In this latest work, the focus turns to the body itself: how it changes, how it can fail, and how individuals and families respond when confronted with that reality.

Confessions of an Ageing Cyclist is borne of the author’s recent experiences of learning he had prostate cancer in January 2026 and may be particularly relevant to organisations and communities engaged in supporting individuals and families affected by cancer. It offers a narrative resource that can support discussion, reflection and a deeper understanding of the lived experience of illness beyond clinical frameworks.

Confessions of an Ageing Cyclist was officially launched on 4 July 2026, marking the launch of this year’s Tour de France.

Further information, review copies, and opportunities for collaboration, including discussions, readings, and focus groups are available. Just leave us your contact details here.