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

drogdub · 27-03-2015 10:58pm

neris wrote: »

Finished a book on Italian cycling a few weeks back called Pedalere. Unless your mad into the history of Italian cycling and a bit of Italian politics it doesnt come highly recommended.

I want to get the biography of Eddy Mercx to add to my gathering collection of unread cycling books/dust pile. Anyone a recommendation on which author to get? Friebe or Fotherington? I believe Daniel Friebe is working on a biography of Jan Ulrich, wonder will it be the same bland nonsense that most of the top sports biographies tend to be

Pedalere is heavy stuff alright, but we'll written have read first part and will go back to it again. But agree, you'd need to have an interest in history, which I do.

Will be very disappointed if Ulrichs biography was bland. I like Friebe as a writer and podcaster. His mercx book is very good. Cycling biographies tend not to be bland, incomplete or just fiction maybe, but rarely bland. It's too hard a sport for bland people to survive in, you have to be a bit mad to be able to do it professionally.

furiousox · 27-03-2015 11:51pm

From the publishers...

The Best There Never Was, Daniel Friebe’s definitive biography of Jan Ullrich, who, along with Lance Armstrong, is one of the most celebrated and vilified cyclists of the modern era, will be published ahead of the 2016 Tour de France.

Non-fiction publisher Robin Harvie said: ‘Jan Ullrich is one of the most contradictory cyclists of our times, and the unpicking of his story has been a life-long fascination for Daniel. Ullrich, the man, myth, hero and villain, breathes more deeply on these pages that he ever did in his astonishing rise and fall.

Wishbone Ash · 28-03-2015 12:12am

neris wrote: »

Finished a book on Italian cycling a few weeks back called Pedalere. Unless your mad into the history of Italian cycling and a bit of Italian politics it doesnt come highly recommended....

drogdub wrote: »

Pedalere is heavy stuff alright, but we'll written have read first part and will go back to it again. But agree, you'd need to have an interest in history, which I do....

It's sitting on one of the bookshelves looking at me right now. I've started it several times but found it tough going and just got spat out the back each time.

neris · 21-04-2015 4:04pm

Took Domestique by Charly Wegelius away with my on a break over Easter. Quickest ive read a book in ages. Brilliant read and should be something any kid wanting to be a pro sports person should read as he cuts out the bull about how fantastic and glamours a lifestyle it is aswell as how financially crap it really is at the ****ty end.

Just started sex, lies and handlebar tape today and already confused by whos he meant to have been sleeping with and had kids with :rolleyes:

Jim Stynes · 21-04-2015 8:28pm

neris wrote: »

Took Domestique by Charly Wegelius away with my on a break over Easter. Quickest ive read a book in ages. Brilliant read and should be something any kid wanting to be a pro sports person should read as he cuts out the bull about how fantastic and glamours a lifestyle it is aswell as how financially crap it really is at the ****ty end.

Just started sex, lies and handlebar tape today and already confused by whos he meant to have been sleeping with and had kids with :rolleyes:

Read domestique as well. Very good read indeed! I am not sure I believe him about the doping. Seemed to be protesting too much that he wasn't! A pro cyclist would be a **** job IMO, unless you are a top star there are definitely better and easier ways to earn money.

dastardly00 · 21-04-2015 9:03pm

I'm reading Domestique as well at the moment. Very interesting, it's different to any other cycling book I've read.

MPFG · 25-04-2015 2:37pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

I'm reading Domestique as well at the moment. Very interesting, it's different to any other cycling book I've read.

I must buy it then

furiousox · 25-04-2015 8:12pm

Just started this one...

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ckeego · 25-04-2015 8:57pm

furiousox wrote: »

Just started this one...

Finished it last week-a great read-very very enjoyable

neris · 04-06-2015 4:57pm

neris wrote: »

Just started sex, lies and handlebar tape today and already confused by whos he meant to have been sleeping with and had kids with :rolleyes:

finished the book a while back. good read but bizzare lifestyle outside of cycling. jeremy kyle kinda stuff that no pro sports person/celeb could get away with these days

On a non cycling book at the moment but have either, 7 deadly sins or in search of robert miller as my next read

Wishbone Ash · 04-06-2015 5:11pm

The postman brought this today:

furiousox · 06-07-2015 9:56pm

Just picked this up for £3.79 on amazon.
RRP is £20.

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diomed · 06-07-2015 10:06pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The postman brought this today:

I'm on page 264 of the paperback version. Anything about badgers is interesting, even if it doesn't always make sense.
Some interesting info on the La Vie Claire jersey.
It is a good read, not my best cycling read, but worth buying.

neris · 06-07-2015 11:08pm

Finished "in search of robert miller" by richard moore last week. Not a rider i knew alot about but very interesting reading and a personality that wouldnt be suited to todays social media era.

however i have a problem now that my supply of cycling books is down to 1 left so some purchases will have to be made

buffalo · 06-07-2015 11:18pm

Alternative to the usual biographies...

...a book set on Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula, following the cyclists of the Rás Tailteann as they sprint around Ireland in the 1950s

The “night stages” refers to the drinking sessions indulged in by the fearless (or foolhardy) cyclists. This ambitious book embraces some very large themes, among them emigration, the nationalism of young countries, the role of memory in the concept of home, and the nature of the family. As always with Urquhart, the work is also drenched in landscape – here the fields and hedgerows of the Iveragh.

Haven't read it, but very tempted!

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/a-canadian-novel-about-kerry-s-mythic-r%C3%A1s-tailteann-in-the-1950s-1.2272338

neris · 14-08-2015 3:57pm

neris wrote: »

however i have a problem now that my supply of cycling books is down to 1 left so some purchases will have to be made

Got my cycling library restocked with some amzaon cheapys (cheap that is till they slap the postage on). Just finished Lantern Rouge. Some interesting stories from guys whod ridden in the last 30-40 years and talked to the author. Like the austrian guy who the race organisers were trying to eliminate but kept making it just hed be 2nd last on each stage.

Not sure what to read next have a choice of - Narco Pantani, 2 Eddy Merxx autobiogs, The Monuments, 7 Deadly sins or the Eagle of Toledo

Wishbone Ash · 14-08-2015 4:47pm

neris wrote: »

Got my cycling library restocked with some amzaon cheapys (cheap that is till they slap the postage on). Just finished Lantern Rouge. Some interesting stories from guys whod ridden in the last 30-40 years and talked to the author. Like the austrian guy who the race organisers were trying to eliminate but kept making it just hed be 2nd last on each stage.

Not sure what to read next have a choice of - Narco Pantani, 2 Eddy Merxx autobiogs, The Monuments, 7 Deadly sins or the Eagle of Toledo

The Eagle of Toledo is heavy going and Bahamontes comes ccross as quite an unappealing character - choose one of the others.

lizzylad84 · 14-08-2015 8:20pm

neris wrote: »

Got my cycling library restocked with some amzaon cheapys (cheap that is till they slap the postage on). Just finished Lantern Rouge. Some interesting stories from guys whod ridden in the last 30-40 years and talked to the author. Like the austrian guy who the race organisers were trying to eliminate but kept making it just hed be 2nd last on each stage.

Not sure what to read next have a choice of - Narco Pantani, 2 Eddy Merxx autobiogs, The Monuments, 7 Deadly sins or the Eagle of Toledo

i Presume the Marco PAntani one is by matt Rendell? excellent book!! if you get a chance, read pedalare pedalare. fantastic read

lizzylad84 · 14-08-2015 8:23pm

drogdub wrote: »

Pedalere is heavy stuff alright, but we'll written have read first part and will go back to it again. But agree, you'd need to have an interest in history, which I do.

i thought it was fantastic, but then again i LOVE italian cycling. have you read man on the run by manuela ronchi? about pantani?