Getting back on the bike: A journey of grit, grace and getting up again

When life knocks you down, how do you find the strength to rise – again and again?. 
In Getting Back on the Bike, former South African cycling champion and two-times world masters gold medallist Cathy Carstens shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey through triumph, tragedy and transformation. What begins as a childhood love of sport evolves into a powerful life metaphor – a story about perseverance, healing and rediscovering one’s true purpose. Her remarkable career reflects a lifelong dedication to excellence, endurance, resilience and the true spirit of the sport. 

From the thrill of competition and the heartbreak of career-threatening injury, to the long and painful road of rehabilitation and the aftermath of a painful and complicated divorce, Cathy’s journey mirrors the emotional terrain of anyone who has faced loss, disappointment, or the collapse of long-held dreams. But through it all, she learns that the real victories are not measured in medals or records, but in resilience, gratitude, and the will to rise each time we fall. 

With candour and humour, she takes readers behind the scenes of elite sport – the discipline, dedication and sacrifice – but also into the quiet moments of doubt, faith and self-discovery that shape a champion’s heart. Along the way, she explores universal themes: identity, purpose, courage, and the power of perspective. More than a sports memoir, Getting Back on the Bike is a book about life – about finding balance, meaning and joy even when the road ahead seems uncertain. It’s about the grace to accept what you can’t control, the strength to keep going, and the wisdom to know that sometimes falling is part of the journey to becoming whole.