Inspirational cycling books

Kildafornia · 18-02-2014 12:39pm #1

I'd like to read about the origins of the tour, the heroes of the great races and the story behind them. Anyone recommend a truly inspirational book?

buffalo · 18-02-2014 12:55pm

Kildafornia · 18-02-2014 1:08pm

buffalo wrote: »

.

Very funny. I wouldn't read his signature if he wrote me a cheque.

buffalo · 18-02-2014 1:20pm

Slaying the Badger about the 1985/86 Tours is very good. Not sure if it's classed as inspirational though.

I'd wander down to your local bookshop, find the cycling section, and pick out a random 'History of the Tour' to get you started. Once you have an idea of who's who, find more specialist titles depending on what's interesting.

martin.mcevoy · 18-02-2014 1:36pm

Just adding my 10 cents worth, try Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi or Put me back on my bike; The story of Tom Simpson. A real insight into old school cycling. I would agree on Slaying the Badger, which is a great read.
If you want a real eye opener you should give The Secret Race a read, written by Tyler Hamilton.

The Marco Pantani biography is also a great read, if somewhat overly scientific at times.

ROK ON · 18-02-2014 1:41pm

The Rider by Tim Krabbe

RobFowl · 18-02-2014 1:48pm

This one is in ebook form only but is quite fascinating and an individual take on 100 years of the TDF..

http://velocast.cc/100-tours-100-tales

Kildafornia · 18-02-2014 2:06pm

Deadly thanks lads.

Seaswimmer · 18-02-2014 2:41pm

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3-Kings-of-the-Road.jpg

My personal favourite. Its finishes about 1985 or 86 but gives a good insight into the riders and races of the day with some great photographs..

Apologies. just noticed you were only interested in the Tour. This is a broader read..

Diggabot · 18-02-2014 2:49pm

martin.mcevoy wrote: »

Just adding my 10 cents worth, try Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi or Put me back on my bike; The story of Tom Simpson. A real insight into old school cycling. I would agree on Slaying the Badger, which is a great read.
If you want a real eye opener you should give The Secret Race a read, written by Tyler Hamilton.

The Marco Pantani biography is also a great read, if somewhat overly scientific at times.

Would agree with the above choices... I'm just starting Fallen Angel. Pedalare! Pedalare! is a great history of Italian cycling too. The Cannibal by Daniel Friebe is enjoyable as well. One of the bonuses of having a love for cycling is that there are so many great books about the exploits of the legends of our sport.

StaggerLee · 18-02-2014 2:58pm

+1 for The Rider by Tim Krabbe

thebouldwhacker · 18-02-2014 3:15pm

There is a great YouTube video, if I remember correctly it is available in 3 one hour sections. It's called the history of the tour. It is a great documentary tracing the history, politics, riders, scandals etc over the last 100 years plus. Some great great footage of all the greats.
It's great

Wishbone Ash · 18-02-2014 3:58pm

+1 on Slaying the Badger - I've read it several times.

Currently reading "Le Tour - A history of the Tour de France" by Geoffrey Wheatcroft (2007).

Some fascinating snippets of obscure information particularly on the early tours and little bits of other sports history which occurred simultaneously.

rckfld · 18-02-2014 4:19pm

I am going to get some stick for this but I just finished "Inside Team Sky" and loved it.

QueensGael · 18-02-2014 6:26pm

Charly Welegius: The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro

Amazon link, velomanti review

Gives a great account of life as a domestique in the pro peloton, as well as discussing the state of British cycling in the pre-Sky years. Very entertaining, you'll fly through it.

XtotheZ · 18-02-2014 6:54pm

In search of Robert Millar, is a brilliant book. Very interesting character

Inquitus · 18-02-2014 6:58pm

Domestique: The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro - Charly Welegius
We Were Young and Carefree - Laurent Fignon
The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton
Hunger - Sean Kelly
A Rough Ride - Paul Kimmage
The Death of Marco Pantani - Matt Rendall

Not necessarily all inspirational but the best cycling books I have read that spring to mind.

Diggabot · 18-02-2014 7:18pm

Inquitus wrote: »

Domestique: The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro - Charly Welegius
We Were Young and Carefree - Laurent Fignon
The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton
Hunger - Sean Kelly
A Rough Ride - Paul Kimmage
The Death of Marco Pantani - Matt Rendall

Not necessarily all inspirational but the best cycling books I have read that spring to mind.

I enjoyed every one of those. Fignon's was particularly enjoyable.

happytramp · 18-02-2014 7:41pm

The Rider - is the most beautiful piece of writing on the subject of cycling that
i've ever encountered.

Slaying the Badger - Probably the most gripping cycling book i've read. Reads more like a thriller than the other bio's.

Bad Blood - The most informative guide to understanding the reason for the drug problems in cycling

We were young and care free - really well written, insightful and most honest bio i've read.

The Fausto Coppi book seemed a little far removed from the man to gain much insight into his private life or thoughts.

I'd imagine Gino Bartali's book 'The Road to Valor' is extremely inspirational given his pulling off the greatest ever comeback in Tour history and his work with the Italian resistance during WW2.

Also I'm looking forward to reading 'Tomorrow we ride' a book about the French cycling legend 'Louison Bobet', written by his brother.

And 'A dog in a hat' is supposed to be a very entertaining account of a young American pro's life on the European circut.

dragratchet · 18-02-2014 7:54pm

yeah 'a dog in a hat' is a quality read. warts 'n all story about the european scene

07Lapierre · 18-02-2014 8:15pm

A Race for Madmen... All you want to know about the first 100 Tour de France races...

sawdoubters · 18-02-2014 8:17pm

lance Armstrong

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

mirrormatrix · 18-02-2014 8:51pm

Racing through the dark - David Millar

Nedkelly24 · 18-02-2014 8:58pm

sawdoubters wrote: »

lance Armstrong

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

Was given this book as a joke...read it and really enjoyed it... More than surprised..not a huge LA fan ..but a little more respect fir him now.....just a little ........