Bike books

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  • Just reading the Tour de France thread I realised that I have never read a non-technical (by which I mean maintance type) cycling book. I don't read books for pleasure very often but quite fancy getting one for the summer (well the monesoon season).

    So recomend me some good cycling books, ones about racing or ones about epic round the world tours I don't mind, please post them up idealy with and amzon link so I can read the synopsis, or give your own if you are that way inclined.

  • Just reading "The Rider" by Tim Krabbe which is quite good. Also read "The Hour" by Michael Hutchinson which was pretty interesting (and very funny at times).

  • Is there a way I can share my amazon history/recommendations?

  • If you like Lance, you'll love those!

    IMO, if you are into cycle sport at all, you have to read:

    Paul Kimmage's book, A Rough Ride.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Ride-Paul-Kimmage/dp/0224061704

    William Fotheringham's book on Tommy Simpson
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Put-Me-Back-My-Bike/dp/0224061879/ref=pd_bowtega_1/026-5746349-9317239?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183641480&sr=1-1

    And Matt Seaton's book Escape Artist
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Artist-Life-Saddle/dp/1841151041/ref=pd_bowtega_1/026-5746349-9317239?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183641530&sr=1-1

    Those three are the best I have read on the sport.

  • Oh, and the Rider by Krabbe, like what he said...

  • The Hour looks relly good from it's synopsis

    Synopsis
    "The Hour". It's the only cycling record that matters: one man and his bike against the clock in a quest for pure speed. No teammates, no rivals, no tactics, no gears, no brakes. Just one simple question - in sixty minutes, how far can you go? Michael Hutchinson had a plan. He was going to add his name to the list of record-holders - riders like Coppi, Merckx, Anquetil, Boardman, the supermen who've made the Hour the domain of cycling's greatest stars. It didn't sound too hard. All he needed was a couple of hand-tooled bike frames, the most expensive wheels money could buy, a support team of crack professionals, a small pot of glue, and a credit card wired to someone else's bank account. Still, getting the glue wasn't a problem. "The Hour" is the story of how a man who became a professional athlete by accident embarked on a quest for sporting immortality. But it's also the story of an extraordinary record, and the riders who have made it so - from Graham Obree, the genius who built his own bike using parts from a washing machine, to Jacques Anquetil, great champion, great drug-taker and great family man (having had a child by his step-daughter, he married his step-son's ex-wife). Gripping, packed with fascinating stories and very, very funny, "The Hour" is what happens when a man from the secret, early-morning world of British bike racing takes a shot at stardom.

  • The biography of Tommy Simpson looks great as well. cheerse Bill.

  • Hippy's Library:

    One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers by Tim Hilton

    • just ordered

    In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour De France Cyclist by Richard Moore

    • just ordered

    The Unknown Tour De France: The Curious Story of the World's Biggest Bicycle Race (Cycling Resources Book.) by Les Woodland

    • just ordered

    The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography by Matt Rendell

    • just ordered

    A Significant Other: Riding the Centenary Tour De France with Lance Armstrong by Matt Rendell

    • not so good

    Boomerang Road: A Pedalling Pom's Australian Odyssey by Quentin van Marle

    • i was interested in a cycling pom's view of Oz, okay

    French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour De France by Tim Moore

    • very funny and good for people who've toured in france

    The Wind in My Wheels: Travel Tales from the Saddle by Josie Dew

    • this girl is mental, good touring type read

    Pedal by Peter Sutherland

    • dvd, okay

    The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle by Matt Seaton

    • very, very, very good book about amatuer cycle racing

    Smart Cycling: Successful Training and Racing for Riders of All Levels by Arnie Baker

    • not got around to reading yet

    Serious Cycling by Chris Carmichael

    • very good reference for training/sports science

    Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills: Your Guide to Riding Faster, Stronger, Longer and Safer (Bicyling Magazine) by "Bicycling" Magazine

    • okay but if you're experienced rider not so useful, also US bias

    Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage

    • very good tour/racing insight, drug use insight

    The Flying Scotsman: The Graeme Obree Story by Graeme Obree

    • awesome! this guy is truly a champion, i'm a sucker for the hour record and stories behind it too

    Breaking the Chain: Drugs and Cycling - The True Story by Willy Voet

    • not the best being translated but tells the story of the team trainer who was busted transporting the drugs, festina affair

    Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong

    • nowhere near as good as his first book

    The Hour by Michael Hutchinson

    • cool, again, i'm fascinated by the hour so this was a good insight into what's involved in attempting the record

    It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong

    • awesome motivational story of lance's comeback from cancer, lots of cycling stories too not all medical stuff

    The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power by Travis Hugh Culley

    • ok, bit wanky tale of some guy working as a courier

    Put Me Back on My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson by William Fotheringham

    • very interesting and detailed account of tom, 60's TdFs,

    Nerves of Steel : Bike Messengers in the United States (Paperback) by Rebecca Lambchop Reilly (Author), Jo Yudess (Editor)

    • detailed recount of female messenger travelling around USA, not the best story telling but interesting anyway, rare
  • The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography by Matt Rendell

    That is another Biography I think will go on the list.

  • It's in there - one of the ones I just ordered. Can review when I've finished it.. which means some time in the next 10yrs coz I only get to read on trains/planes.

  • And "Kings Of The Mountains" by Matt Rendell - Colombia's cycling heroes.

  • As above really, although both Tom Simpson books are good ('Put Me Back On My Bike' and 'Mr Tom: The True Story Of Tom Simpson').

    Currently reading the Matt Rendell Marco Pantani book.

    Which leads me on to something else, I've got a copy of the Ray Pascoe Tom Simpson DVD if anyone would like to borrow it. Or indeed, both Tommy Simpson books, or The Graeme Obree Story, or even French Revolutions (if Brett gets off his arse and actually reads it).

  • TheBrick(Tommy) The Hour looks relly good from it's synopsis

    It is good Tommy, you can borrow my copy if you like?

  • Yeah that would be good. I'll buy you a pint, I prob owe you one any way.

  • Just finished reading The Rider by Tim Krabbe and thought the central character (Krabbe himself) was a bit of a cock. Can't put my finger on exactly what it was that got on my tits, perhaps the supreme arrogance or self-indulgence. Any thoughts? I was, for the record, really up for it, but it was disappointing for me.

    Am I about to get lynched by a mob of literary roadies?

  • Where's my pitchfork and flaming torch? :P

    I liked the book an awful lot and didn't come away with your interpretation of the character. To each his own. Subjectivity is good.

  • Just finished reading The Rider by Tim Krabbe and thought the central character (Krabbe himself) was a bit of a cock. Can't put my finger on exactly what it was that got on my tits, perhaps the supreme arrogance or self-indulgence. Any thoughts? I was, for the record, really up for it, but it was disappointing for me.
    Am I about to get lynched by a mob of literary roadies?

    Yes.

    My attendance at west drinks was just so I could follow you home.
    Now it's just a matter of time..

  • I did enjoy it too but didn't feel much for said rider.

  • I only get to read on trains/planes.

    Literati FAIL
    ;-D

  • Yes.

    My attendance at west drinks was just so I could follow you home.
    Now it's just a matter of time..

    there's no way you were on that last train out of marylebone, unless...

  • 'The Hour' by Michael Hutchinson is a really good read. My favourite line is "Real men shave their legs and wear lycra".

    I'm reading 'The Rider' by Tim Krabbe at the moment and it is also excellent.

  • I'm reading 'The Rider' by Tim Krabbe at the moment and it is also excellent.

    Do you not find its protagonist to be something of an unsympathetic character though?

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Bike books

Posted by Avatar for TheBrick(Tommy) @TheBrick(Tommy)

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