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The Cycling Books Thread - Discussion, Reviews, Recommendations Etc.

  • 14-04-2014 5:15pm
    #1
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭


    Thought I'd kick off a cycling books thread.
    Just hope I won't be the only one posting here!

    I've just finished Cycle Of Lies by Juliet Macur.
    Very good read, possibly the definitive account of the Armstrong affair.
    There's quite a bit of info here that hasn't been widely circulated before.
    Armstrong is even worse than you imagined (and still completely unrepentant) and Landis comes across as being insane.

    CycleOfLies_UK_medium.jpg

    CPL 593H



«134

Comments

  • #2
    RobertFoster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,224 ✭✭✭RobertFoster


    I read Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy last year, and found it very interesting. It's her journal from the early sixties when she made the trip, and she talks about the travelling conditions as well as the hospitality of the locals. I don't know if you could make the same trip today through Iran and Afghanistan, but the book would make you want to try.

    large_fulltilt.jpg


  • #3
    brownian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,741 ✭✭✭brownian


    By Tim Moore. A truly funny book about cycling the TdF route; lots of good TdF history too. Sorry, no pic. But well worth a read.


  • #4
    Doc07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭Doc07


    The Death of Marco Pantani : Matt Rendell

    Racing through the Dark : David Millar

    Put me back on my bike : ? Authors name, biography of Tom Simpson


  • #5
    Mr. Grieves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 781 ✭✭✭Mr. Grieves


    The Rider by Tim Krabbé.

    Amazing novel which covers the duration of a single race. A must read.


  • #6
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,009 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Doc07 wrote: »
    .....Put me back on my bike : ? Authors name..
    William Fotheringham ;)


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  • #7
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    Michael Barry's book out on April 29th.

    6.jpeg

    CPL 593H



  • #8
    Konkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 364 ✭✭Konkers


    "The secret race' (I think....) by Tyler Hamilton.

    First hand account of doping during the Armstrong years. I don't think he ever apologised for his doping but I detected shame.


  • #9
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,009 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Doc07 wrote: »
    ...Racing through the Dark : David Millar....
    Reading it at the moment while on holiday. Got through half of it on the flight this morning!

    (Looks like I'll be moving on to "Pigs might fly-The inside story of Pink Floyd" quicker than I thought!)


  • #10
    Doc07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭Doc07


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    Reading it at the moment while on holiday. Got through half of it on the flight this morning!

    (Looks like I'll be moving on to "Pigs might fly-The inside story of Pink Floyd" quicker than I thought!)

    Love him or hate him, it's a great read. Think I read it in 2 days on holiday. Going to re-read it. Bjarne Riis ( stages of light and dark) is also worth a read as it details some interesting tours late 80's to late 90's but I don't think he comes anywhere close to Millar's honesty.

    Slaying the Badger ( Lemond v Hinault 1986 TdF) also a great book for a poolside read.


  • #11
    laraghrider
    Closed Accounts Posts: 663 ✭✭✭laraghrider


    Racing through the dark I rank as ok-ish. It was alright but a little too much of I didn't want to dope, I'm a good clean guy but aw crap I did!

    Two books stand out for me:

    TSR-cover1.jpg
    The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton (a lot better than expected)

    bad-blood-jeremy-whittle-paperback-cover-art.jpg
    Bad Blood - Jeremy Whittle


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  • #12
    Konkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 364 ✭✭Konkers


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »

    (Looks like I'll be moving on to "Pigs might fly-The inside story of Pink Floyd" quicker than I thought!)

    Now that's a good read.


  • #13
    dastardly00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,457 ✭✭✭✭dastardly00


    Kelly: A Biography of Sean Kelly by David Walsh (published in 1986/87)

    7986545.jpg


  • #14
    dastardly00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,457 ✭✭✭✭dastardly00


    Nice thread idea btw Furiousox! :)


  • #15
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,009 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Doc07 wrote: »
    Slaying the Badger ( Lemond v Hinault 1986 TdF) also a great book for a poolside read.
    My favourite cycling book. It's in tatters as I usually bring it on holidays and re-read it,


  • #16
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    Check out the cover of Bassons' book! :D
    Out on July 3rd.

    51Eof3oezPL.jpg

    CPL 593H



  • #17
    Scrappy600
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 660 ✭✭✭Scrappy600


    Finished the secret race a while back, surprised no one has mentioned Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride yet, enjoyed that. Working on wheelmen at the moment but its a bit harder to get into. I am, as I type this, watching the Armstrong Lie on the tv though and finding it quite good.


  • #18
    Fr D Maugire
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭Fr D Maugire


    Probably hard to track down nowadays but probably my favourite cycling book is Wide Eyed and Legless. The story of the British ANC-Halfords team who took part in the 87 Tour. Great story about a team of complete outsiders making the Tour de France and then finding out that they are completely out of their depth.

    A more recent sequel looking at what happened to those ridere was released in the last few years but nowhere near the original, though it does give some backgroud info and shows how amateurish things were in the 80s compared to nowadays.


  • #19
    nolinejudge
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭nolinejudge


    Loved wide eyed and legless, also enjoyed How I won the yellow Jumper by Ned Boulting. as well as most of the above. Currently Reading Inside team sky. Enjoying it but get the feeling its a PR piece.


  • #20
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    'Domestique' by Charly Wegelius is a fantastic read.
    Gives a great insight to a pro's life and career.

    CPL 593H



  • #21
    Inquitus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,762 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    Bad Blood - Jeremy Whittle
    The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton
    Rough Ride - Paul Kimmage
    Racing through the dark - David Millar

    All excellent books

    Currently reading Cycle of Lies, and I can't help but get the feeling she has an agenda to paint Armstrong in the worst light possible. We all know he's an unpleasant human being, but I am 1/3 of the way through the book now and he doesn't seem to have done one good thing in his life, or have one redeeming feature. It paints all his charitable activities as being completely motivated by self agrandisement, which may well be true.

    The only good deed he has done to date is arrange for his own cancer doctor to meet a guy who called in to a radio show he was on, this yielded a good outcome for the cancer victim and helped perpetrate his "Cancer Jesus" reputation. Anyways I will revisit this thread when I finish the book, but I am surprised Armstrong is even more repugnant than I thought, at least according to this book, and my opinion of him has always been bottom of the barrel.


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  • #22
    Fr D Maugire
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭Fr D Maugire


    Inquitus wrote: »
    Bad Blood - Jeremy Whittle
    The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton
    Rough Ride - Paul Kimmage
    Racing through the dark - David Millar

    All excellent books

    Currently reading Cycle of Lies, and I can't help but get the feeling she has an agenda to paint Armstrong in the worst light possible. We all know he's an unpleasant human being, but I am 1/3 of the way through the book now and he doesn't seem to have done one good thing in his life, or have one redeeming feature. It paints all his charitable activities as being completely motivated by self agrandisement, which may well be true.

    The only good deed he has done to date is arrange for his own cancer doctor to meet a guy who called in to a radio show he was on, this yielded a good outcome for the cancer victim and helped perpetrate his "Cancer Jesus" reputation. Anyways I will revisit this thread when I finish the book, but I am surprised Armstrong is even more repugnant than I thought, at least according to this book, and my opinion of him has always been bottom of the barrel.

    I have to admit, even I was surprised at how he was potrayed as such a lowlife in Cycle of Lies and I would have been termed an Armstrong hater; I never disliked him becasue he doped, it was more the whole cancer shield thing and the bullying.

    I do remember when he first turned pro, Armstrong was often described as brash and arrogant. That was usually be his own team-mates and people who were backing him so imagine what most other people thought of him?? He must have been a proper Grade A- A**hole. I thought he gained a bit of gravitas after the cancer scare but maybe not and instead maybe got worse.

    Anyway, another book I really liked was A dog in a hat by Joe Parkin, the story of a US rider trying the Belgian scene in the late 80s/90s. I admit I really enjoy books from that period as it was when I got into cycling. I also like the grittier, more realistic books like this rather than the this is how we won books.


  • #23
    thebouldwhacker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,565 ✭✭✭thebouldwhacker


    I find 'rough ride' a rough read, in my unqualified view I found the negativity of the book was just too much for me. I see it as a very important book but for example when he gives out about the Irish jersey he first got to wear not being washed right and how it made him feel I nearly put down the book.


  • #24
    ROK ON
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    furiousox wrote: »
    'Domestique' by Charly Wegelius is a fantastic read.
    Gives a great insight to a pro's life and career.

    I bought Domestique yesterday and finished just five minutes ago.
    An excellent read that any teenager aspiring to be a professional athlete should be forces to read, just so that understand what it is that they are getting into.
    Pro cycling is such a pathetic excuse for an existent that I can only assume that the aspirants are very very damaged individuals.


  • #25
    dastardly00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,457 ✭✭✭✭dastardly00


    thebouldwhacker wrote: »
    I find 'rough ride' a rough read, in my unqualified view I found the negativity of the book was just too much for me. I see it as a very important book but for example when he gives out about the Irish jersey he first got to wear not being washed right and how it made him feel I nearly put down the book.

    Yeah they are my thoughts exactly.
    I know it is one of the most significant cycling books ever written, but the whole negativity from start to finish really got to me.


  • #26
    Konkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 364 ✭✭Konkers


    thebouldwhacker wrote: »
    I find 'rough ride' a rough read, in my unqualified view I found the negativity of the book was just too much for me. I see it as a very important book but for example when he gives out about the Irish jersey he first got to wear not being washed right and how it made him feel I nearly put down the book.
    dastardly00 wrote: »
    Yeah they are my thoughts exactly.
    I know it is one of the most significant cycling books ever written, but the whole negativity from start to finish really got to me.

    Agreed also. But I have come to understand him (Kimmage) more and why the book came accross that way more since he wrote it.


  • #27
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    George Hincapie's book out on July 27th.
    The "Loyal" Lieutenant.

    George+HIncapie+book+cover.jpg

    CPL 593H



  • #28
    drogdub
    Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭drogdub


    Reading Peter Cossins The Monuments. Only about 50 pages in really enjoying it.

    Domestique is one of the best sports books I have ever read.

    Slaying the Badger also excellent


  • #29
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,483 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    Another vote for Slaying The Badger. Also another Richard Moore book - In Search of Robert Millar. The Death of Marco Pantani by Matt Rendell is a great book for those that grew up with that era. Put Me Back on the Bike by William Fotheringham is another good read. Racing Through The Dark was very good too. I thought David Millars was bit meh, tbh, as was Roche's (Born To Ride). I really enjoyed Domestique, but didn't really like the total ignoring of doping that must have been going on around him in the peleton at that time. Some great accounts in it though.

    Next on my list is Hunger, and I've been putting off one of the recent merckx ones (mainly because I'm indecisive about which one to go for!).


  • #30
    Green&Red
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,432 ✭✭✭✭Green&Red


    The flying scotsman is a terribly written book but a great story about Greame Obree


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  • #31
    Inquitus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,762 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    Green&Red wrote: »
    The flying scotsman is a terribly written book but a great story about Greame Obree

    I found it really hard work, his depression impacts almost every facet of his life from a young lad through to today, and personally I found it hard to read because of that.


  • #32
    rckfld
    Registered Users Posts: 74 ✭✭rckfld


    ROK ON wrote: »
    I bought Domestique yesterday and finished just five minutes ago.

    Also bought this for €9.99 at the weekend loving it.

    Anybody have Hunger by Sean Kelly?


  • #33
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,009 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    Next on my list is Hunger..
    I thought it was a fairly disappointing read given the hype about it coming out.

    (Perhaps it was intentional but there appears to be little attempt at editing the basic grammar and syntax errors.)


  • #34
    Green&Red
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,432 ✭✭✭✭Green&Red


    Hunger is a terrible book


  • #35
    drogdub
    Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭drogdub


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    I really enjoyed Domestique, but didn't really like the total ignoring of doping that must have been going on around him in the peleton at that time. Some great accounts in it though.

    I was a bit conflicted about this. It was, in light of the recent spate of, refreshing to read a book thats major selling point is not doping. By ignoring doping it allows wegelius to portray the lifestyle and life of an ordinary pro, the suffering, the actual job itself, the lack of job security to which doping is pretty much irrelevant. It also made one of the sections I found most interesting possible, when he talked about Di Luca as an excellent team leader both on and off the road and how he compares him to Evans. If I want to read about Di Lucas doping I'll make a contribution to his pension fund and buy the book.

    On the other hand, by ignoring it he ignores a huge part of the period.

    Also "Does the Queen have to eat beans in tomato sauce for breakfast?"


  • #36
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,483 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    drogdub wrote: »
    I was a bit conflicted about this.
    I am myself. It doesn't take away from the book, just seems something overlooked, especially given it effected him as someone with a naturally high hematocrit level more on the face of it.


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  • #37
    Fr D Maugire
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭Fr D Maugire


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    I am myself. It doesn't take away from the book, just seems something overlooked, especially given it effected him as someone with a naturally high hematocrit level more on the face of it.

    Domestique     is actually like the Boards Cycling forum, how can you have a discussion about Professional cycling without discussing something that has proven to be a huge part of the sport and possibly still is:confused: Will probably get a warning now:rolleyes:.

    I think that the book show's that once you turn Pro, it becomes much like any other job. It is not like these guys are footballers and getting paid huge sums of money to be a pro cyclist.


  • #38
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Fr D Maugire wrote: »

    Domestique     is actually like the Boards Cycling forum, how can you have a discussion about Professional cycling without discussing something that has proven to be a huge part of the sport and possibly still is:confused: Will probably get a warning now:rolleyes:.

    Have a read of this thread if you haven't already, it's a feedback thread about exactly what you're saying. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=85526383


    Now back on topic.

    Hunger was fairly disappointing for me too. Dull enough read, nothing revealing at all really. A lot like some soccer biographies I've read, Pele's in particular. Don't think I could bring myself to read Rough Ride, a whole book of Paul Kimmage isn't my idea of fun.


  • #39
    Dura Ace
    Registered Users Posts: 188 ✭✭Dura Ace


    I have a new book out shortly which may be of interest.

    http://thejerseypocket.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/the-shattered-peloton-book-review-graham-healy/


  • #40
    lizzylad84
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,422 ✭✭✭lizzylad84


    Green&Red wrote: »
    Hunger is a terrible book

    i wouldn't call it terrible, disappointing perhaps. i thought Stephen roches book was better than hunger. well worth a read.


  • #41
    lizzylad84
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,422 ✭✭✭lizzylad84


    Dura Ace wrote: »
    I have a new book out shortly which may be of interest.

    http://thejerseypocket.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/the-shattered-peloton-book-review-graham-healy/

    id be interested in giving that a read.


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  • #42
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    I'm about one third of the way through Michael Barry's book.
    It's ok so far, the first couple of chapters are about Sky, then he jumps back to his teenage years, then moves on to the start of the Postal era.
    The language is a bit flowery at times, he sometimes uses 50 words when 15 would do.
    There's an irritating theme of "I'd heard stories about doping in the peloton but wasn't sure what to believe" running through it so far.
    Trying to portray himself as a wide eyed innocent etc.
    Only read about a third of the book though so we'll see how it progresses.

    CPL 593H



  • #43
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    Finished the Michael Barry book last night and it didn't improve at all, in fact it got worse.
    He goes into great detail about his training, injuries, crashes and recovery.
    His time with Postal, Sky and Columbia?
    Less so, hardly a decent anecdote or story in the entire book.
    If you're thinking of buying, don't bother.

    CPL 593H



  • #44
    inc21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 512 ✭✭✭inc21


    Any good books on racing tactics newbie racer should check out?


  • #45
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    Just published a week or two ago I think.

    9781408846001.jpg

    CPL 593H



  • #46
    ckeego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭ckeego


    furiousox wrote: »
    Finished the Michael Barry book last night and it didn't improve at all, in fact it got worse.
    He goes into great detail about his training, injuries, crashes and recovery.
    His time with Postal, Sky and Columbia?
    Less so, hardly a decent anecdote or story in the entire book.
    If you're thinking of buying, don't bother.

    Any interest in selling on your copy?


  • #47
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    It's on kindle, sorry.

    CPL 593H



  • #48
    Diggabot
    Registered Users Posts: 283 ✭✭Diggabot


    Read Fallen Angel and Sex Lies & Handlebar Tape on hols last week... two great reads about two legends. Downloaded the Ocaña book as well but haven't gotten around to starting it yet.


  • #49
    ckeego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭ckeego


    furiousox wrote: »
    It's on kindle, sorry.

    No problem..Maybe not one for the library, so!

    Is it even worth the download?


  • #50
    ckeego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭ckeego


    51E9dly8U%2BL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg
    Reading this one at the moment on Kindle-Very well written and riveting so far-the history of the genocide at the outset is chilling.

    The book is unputdownable so far.

    Just finished the Juliet Macur book on LA, "Cycle of Lies" and is one of the better books on the affair-far superior to Wheelmen.


  • #51
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,012 ✭✭✭furiousox


    ckeego wrote: »
    No problem..Maybe not one for the library, so!
    Is it even worth the download?

    I wouldn't bother, lots of very general stories and anecdotes but no real specifics.
    Very disappointing.

    CPL 593H



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