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

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?

lizzylad84 · 14-08-2015 8:26pm

furiousox wrote: »

Just started this one...

next on my list, as i plan on doing PR sportive next year

neris · 14-08-2015 8:39pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

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

Read it a few months back. Heavy n intense but good book.

lizzylad84 · 14-08-2015 8:51pm

neris wrote: »

Read it a few months back. Heavy n intense but good book.

i flew through it. but each to there own

ckeego · 14-08-2015 9:52pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

next on my list, as i plan on doing PR sportive next year

You will love it..

Brilliant read.

tigerboon · 14-08-2015 11:07pm

brownian wrote: »

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.

I think he also wrote GIROnimo in which he rebuilds an vintage bike and cycles one of the early Giro routes. Good light hearted read.
I like the Tyler Hamilton book. It is a bit like the Senna film in that you don't need to be into the sport to enjoy it. It's a good story.

furiousox · 01-10-2015 7:38pm

New book by David Millar documenting his last season as a pro cyclist.

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Review here

http://www.wheelsuckers.co.uk/profiles/blogs/book-review-the-racer-by-david-millar

Rambling Man · 01-10-2015 10:06pm

Looks interesting, by writing so extensively about PED's in his last book he has perhaps earned the right to write about the rest of the pro cycling experience in this publication.

manafana · 02-10-2015 8:02am

finished Phil Gaimons book recently, pro cycling on 10$ a day. Its a real good insight on the road from the bottom rung to a World Tour team althou it ends just as he joins Garmin, but very enjoyable book

Macy0161 · 02-10-2015 8:30am

Just finished "Bernard Hinault and the Fall and Rise of French Cycling" by William Fotheringham. I thought it was a decent read, although I'm not convinced by the need to tie it in with new French stars which he tries to do at the end.

Hunger next up, which I've had for ages but just haven't got around to.

G1032 · 10-02-2016 8:07am

Currently reading 'Lanterne Rouge - The Last Man in the Tour de France' by Max Leonard.
Very entertaining. Some great stories in it.

CheGuedara · 10-02-2016 9:23am

G1032 wrote: »

Currently reading 'Lanterne Rouge - The Last Man in the Tour de France' by Max Leonard.
Very entertaining. Some great stories in it.

Just started reading it myself - happy to give it a +1

Macy0161 · 10-02-2016 9:55am

Pretty much going from one cycling book to another in my (sporadic) reading.

Finished Hunger - thought it was good, but regretted getting the paler back, assuming there were more photos in the hard back.

Really enjoyed Eddy Merckx - The Cannibal by Daniel Friebe. Going to go for half man half bike soon I think.

Currently reading Reckless - The Life and Times of Luis Ocana. Also recommend it.

Have The Monuments already purchased on Google Books, and picked up an actual book copy of 101 Damnations by ned boulting which was going cheap at a discount book shop I was passing the other week.

There really is some quality cycling books out there at the moment. Really want to get hold of Race Against The Stasi (not convinced it would suit an eBook) and really looking forward to Daniel Friebe's Jan Ullrich book that he's working on (which maybe next year I guess as that will be the anniversary of his tour win)

ckeego · 10-02-2016 11:20am

Macy0161 wrote: »

Pretty much going from one cycling book to another in my (sporadic) reading.

Finished Hunger - thought it was good, but regretted getting the paler back, assuming there were more photos in the hard back.

Really enjoyed Eddy Merckx - The Cannibal by Daniel Friebe. Going to go for half man half bike soon I think.

Currently reading Reckless - The Life and Times of Luis Ocana. Also recommend it.

Have The Monuments already purchased on Google Books, and picked up an actual book copy of 101 Damnations by ned boulting which was going cheap at a discount book shop I was passing the other week.

There really is some quality cycling books out there at the moment. Really want to get hold of Race Against The Stasi (not convinced it would suit an eBook) and really looking forward to Daniel Friebe's Jan Ullrich book that he's working on (which maybe next year I guess as that will be the anniversary of his tour win)

Just wondering where you saw 101 Damnations on discount please, being a fellow Wicklownian...

Macy0161 · 10-02-2016 12:44pm

ckeego wrote: »

Just wondering where you saw 101 Damnations on discount please, being a fellow Wicklownian...

Killarney whilst on a business trip killing time before the train back! I think it was one of the book station shops though.

Weepsie · 10-02-2016 1:10pm

G1032 wrote: »

Currently reading 'Lanterne Rouge - The Last Man in the Tour de France' by Max Leonard.
Very entertaining. Some great stories in it.

just finished it last month myself. enjoyed it very much. Also just finished Fignon's autobiography. A good read too, very frank and I'd say mostly honest

furiousox · 06-05-2016 7:47pm

Plenty of holiday reading coming up!

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rizzodun · 06-05-2016 8:06pm

Any good mountain biking book recommendations?

ptr_84 · 07-05-2016 9:47pm

Looking forward to "the end of the road". I find both Alistair and William Fotheringham's books to be excellent....plus I'm a massive pantani fan

neris · 08-05-2016 11:15am

hope that jan ullrich book will be a good read, friebe was saying very little about it or its contents on the cycling podcasts, but may have contributions from lance armstrong in it. Its not out till June 2017 though according to the amazon pre order

furiousox · 08-05-2016 12:21pm

Kindle edition is released 16th June this year.
Hardback edition next year I think.

manafana · 08-05-2016 2:22pm

neris wrote: »

hope that jan ullrich book will be a good read, friebe was saying very little about it or its contents on the cycling podcasts, but may have contributions from lance armstrong in it. Its not out till June 2017 though according to the amazon pre order

he spent time in germany to work on it so sounds like the work is going in. He has been loving the di luca book which is only in italian right now but is by all accounts a crazy story of cycling for italians.

Doc07 · 08-05-2016 5:15pm

CheGuedara wrote: »

Just started reading it myself - happy to give it a +1

It's not bad. Few good chapters, a few boring ones. Liked the Jacky Durand chapter.

pedro_colnago · 09-05-2016 1:41am

The rider by Tim krabbe. A Dutch Novel translated into English based on the thoughts of a racing cyclist during a race. Well well well worth a read.

Macy0161 · 09-05-2016 8:33am

furiousox wrote: »

Kindle edition is released 16th June this year.
Hardback edition next year I think.

It was available on Google Play Books for pre-order for the 16th too (I ordered it after seeing the post).

neris · 09-05-2016 8:41am

furiousox wrote: »

Kindle edition is released 16th June this year.
Hardback edition next year I think.

I,ll wait for the paperback cant get into reading books off a device. Did order the Fotherington book though yesterday

Doc07 · 26-07-2016 8:51am

Recent reads:
Very good:' the Invisible Mile' inspired by first English speaking team of 5 in a pre-war Tour de France.

Not bad: 'Lantern Rouge'

Barely average: Cavendish 'at Speed'

Worst book I have ever read and only cycling book I refused to finish:
'Chris Boardman's Autobiography'
It's a pity because I am a big CB fan. It's worse than some of the really bad footballer/celebrity autobiographies.

1bryan · 26-07-2016 10:13am

I found this to be a very good read.

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Anyone familiar with London would, I'm sure, get more from it, being familiar with the routes mentioned.

I'm not familiar with London, but being someone who cycles in the city every day, I found plenty to relate to.

Heres the guardian's review;

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/11/what-goes-around-london-cycle-couriers-story-emily-chappell-review

neris · 26-07-2016 10:34am

Im reading the end of the road at the moment. Been reading it for weeks now and its a book i just cant get into. Ive put it down for days and nearly forget about it. Still got a hundred odd pages to go

Macy0161 · 26-07-2016 10:50am

Doc07 wrote: »

Worst book I have ever read and only cycling book I refused to finish:
'Chris Boardman's Autobiography'
It's a pity because I am a big CB fan. It's worse than some of the really bad footballer/celebrity autobiographies.

Disappointed to see that, as it was next on the list! Also, I pre-ordered Friebes Jan Ullrich biography, but the order was cancelled.

Most recent acquisition is "A Man for All Seasons" which turned up in the Parish Hall book sale. Haven't actually read it yet, but it filled in the picture blanks from my paperback version of Hunger!

G1032 · 26-07-2016 5:01pm

I haven't seen this mentioned here......

The Rás - The Story of Ireland's Unique Bike Race by Tom Daly

It was lent to me by a fellow boardsie. It's a really super read.

http://www.collinspress.ie/the-ras.html

Doc07 · 26-07-2016 6:11pm

Macy0161 wrote: »

Disappointed to see that, as it was next on the list! Also, I pre-ordered Friebes Jan Ullrich biography, but the order was cancelled.

Most recent acquisition is "A Man for All Seasons" which turned up in the Parish Hall book sale. Haven't actually read it yet, but it filled in the picture blanks from my paperback version of Hunger!

Sorry, it's just rubbish. I'm not cynical just for the sake of it or to be cool and I will give most things an honest try but the CB book was crap on a new level.

I will also try and get Ulrichs when available. Would also line to read Danilo Di Luca's if it was translated to English.

Weepsie · 02-05-2019 11:11pm

Old thread resurrection, but it's in the sticky so how and ever.

Just finished the new book about Greg LeMond, The Comeback.

Laurent Fignon features heavily. Has stuff about his cycling, feud with Lance, and his and Laurent's intertwined story.

I knew lots of it already, but well worth a read.

Weepsie · 18-06-2019 12:00pm

More to add here. Finally Read the Tom Simpson and Shea Elliot books. Both enjoyable. Read Tim Krabbé's The Rider. Strange, but enjoyable read and also read Ventoux, which is not so much about cycling as it is about the group of friends in the book. To be honest, it was an easy read, a bit saccharin at times, and just downright silly at others.

However, I have just finished Sex, Lies and Handlebar tape too about Jacques Anquetil. Twas an eye opener. Very interesting person, on and off the bike.

About to pick this up from the local library too which I'm looking forward to

https://rouleur.cc/editorial/riding-in-the-zone-rouge/

Raymzor · 23-05-2020 12:08am

Weepsie wrote: »

More to add here. Finally Read the Tom Simpson and Shea Elliot books. Both enjoyable. Read Tim Krabbé's The Rider. Strange, but enjoyable read and also read Ventoux, which is not so much about cycling as it is about the group of friends in the book. To be honest, it was an easy read, a bit saccharin at times, and just downright silly at others.

However, I have just finished Sex, Lies and Handlebar tape too about Jacques Anquetil. Twas an eye opener. Very interesting person, on and off the bike.

About to pick this up from the local library too which I'm looking forward to

https://rouleur.cc/editorial/riding-in-the-zone-rouge/

How was the Elliot book?

Weepsie · 23-05-2020 6:38pm

Raymzor wrote: »

How was the Elliot book?

It was good, and pretty detailed about his actual cycling career as a lot of these books are. A while since I read it, so don't think it dug too far into his non cycling life, but it didn't have much to go on.

His life in France post cycling kind of unravelled a bit, and don't think he ever quite recovered.

Favourite cycling bios that I've read are the Anquiteil book, the Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali ones and We were young and care free (Fignon's autobiography)

Loved Lantern Rouge too.

23-05-2020 8:04pm

On the hunt for a new book and never occurred to me to look for a cycling one. So I'll have a look and see if any of the ones mentioned here are on Audible, I've gotten back into audio books over the lockdown while out walking myself or the dog. Tried them on the bike but found I was getting distracted and missing too much detail.

Raymzor · 23-05-2020 11:41pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

On the hunt for a new book and never occurred to me to look for a cycling one. So I'll have a look and see if any of the ones mentioned here are on Audible, I've gotten back into audio books over the lockdown while out walking myself or the dog. Tried them on the bike but found I was getting distracted and missing too much detail.

I agree with you. I’m not a fan of music/ buds when cycling due to safety concerns. There’s enough distractions.

cletus · 23-05-2020 11:43pm

Raymzor wrote: »

I agree with you. I’m not a fan of music/ buds when cycling due to safety concerns. There’s enough distractions.

I thought he meant detail in the book he was listening to...

23-05-2020 11:59pm

cletus wrote: »

I thought he meant detail in the book he was listening to...

Yeah thats what I meant, it's no different to listening to someone talking to you I can still hear quite ok but my attention is taken away shoulder checking and reading the junction ahead or what not that I'm not actually hearing the book ....ah we have a thread on this somewhere already I think.

Anyway, the rider is on Audible so I'm going to start that one, I previewed magic spanner and it's Carlton himself reading it ffs so no thinks.

Daroxtar · 24-05-2020 12:13am

The Rider is a great book, read it all in one go. I loved his stream of consciousness, his randomness, all the thoughts going through his head pretty much in real time during the race.

Mountain High is pure indulgence. The history and significance of so many amazing climbs, full of stunning photographs.

Draft Animals by Phil Gaimon. Follow up book to his "How to be a pro on $10a day ". He's a cocky smart ass, sometimes a little bit juvenile and he's definitely not afraid to call out dopers and dodgy characters. Might not be everyone's cup of tea but I found myself laughing out loud several times reading it.

Slaying The Badger and Rough Ride, I read them back to back and there's a good bit of overlap but from the complete opposite ends of the peleton. Enjoyed them both immensely regardless of PKs negativity.

G1032 · 24-05-2020 12:46pm

Daroxtar wrote: »

The Rider is a great book, read it all in one go. I loved his stream of consciousness, his randomness, all the thoughts going through his head pretty much in real time during the race.

+1. Great book.
Also The Escape Artist by Matt Seaton.

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

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