I’m looking for a book for a friend who is planning to buy his first road bike soon. He’s always been athletic but now wants to get into a bit of road riding. He’s not likely to race but I’m looking for a book to get him excited about riding. He’s read both of Armstrong’s books and I don’t think he’d want a technical training manual. Any ideas?
I know you said he’s read both of Lance’s books, but has he read Daniel Coyle’s book “Lance Armstrong’s War”? I’m reading it now and it gets me pumped whenever I put it down, and the only time I put it down is when I’m getting up to go for a ride. It gives a look into pro cycling that makes you realize how awesome of a sport it is. You should tell him to check out some of the videos on youtube also. There’s some great video montages on there. Best of luck.
“Racing Tactics for Cyclists” by Thomas Prehn. Sounds like more than he is looking for but it is a good read for a beginner who has more than a basic interest in road riding. Also it is a good read if he plans to group rides.
“Paris Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell” (Coffee table book that is a great historical view of the race)
“Dancing on the Pedals: the found poetry of Phil Liggett” (good one-liners from the man himself)
“The Quotable Cyclist” (I think I liked Dancing on the Pedals more, but this is pretty good)
“Bobke II” (“s’up Bernie”)
If he’s new to cycling, the Roubaix book is the best as it’s an historical view, and I would give him the 2001, 2002, 2006 or 2007 Roubaix DVD to watch afterwards. They are on sale at world cycling productions now and probably elsewhere also. He’ll be hooked.
A couple more. “The Race” (I think) is a short book, quick read. Chasing Lance. Inside the Postal bus is funny. I also think that Raising the Bar (story of Clif Bar) has lots of cycling stories. Hope that helps.
Also, Hell on Wheels is fun DVD to watch with cool footage.
I recommend the book,
Drugs in Sport, Fourth Edition (Kindle Edition)
by David R. Mottram
http://www.amazon.com/Drugs-in-Sport-Fourth-Edition/dp/B000OI0IA0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_title_1
Pretty much what every aspiring cyclist needs to know.
“I met a guy up on that mountain who I grew to like, and do you know who that guy was? That’s right, it was me.”___Tim Moore, from the book “French Revolutions…Cycling the Tour de France”.
GREAT BOOK!!! Laugh out loud funny, and very much in the style of Bill Bryson, if you’ve read any of his stuff. Moore was what I’d call a couch-potato and decides one day to ride the route of the Tour (2000). He didn’t even own a working bike at the time, had never ridden a road bike, used clip-in pedals or owned a proper kit. (And, putting the bike together? No way.) In addition to the story of his ride, he includes some good history of the Tour and makes some of the places come alive. I am now even MORE psyched to go in a few weeks, if that’s possible. I very highly recommend this book.
Another one, harder to find though, is “The Rider” by Tim Krabbe’
Or, “De Renner”, in Dutch. Translated from Dutch by Sam Garrett
This book was originally published in Holland back in the late 1970s and is a cult classic. It’s the story of one day, one race and what happens during the race and what goes through the rider’s mind during the race. The words rush by at breakneck pace when there is an attack, and then slow down and the rider remembers other days and other races at times when he is sitting in.
There are some great lines in this book and below are some of my favorites. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially as I am going to be doing some bike racing for the first time this year. Some great quotes from the book:
“The champions have better bikes, more expensive shoes, many more pairs of cycling shorts than we do, but they have the same roads.”
“I ease up a little and shift back to the nineteen. Up on the pedals one more time, back in the saddle. ‘OoOo!! OoOo!!’ There’s something struggling in my head, trying to punch my eyeballs out from the inside.”
“In interviews with riders that I’ve read and in conversation I’ve had with them, the same thing always comes up: the best part was the suffering.”
“I think Gaul suffered the same way others did, but he enjoyed it more.” “Gaul couldn’t do without pain: pain was his motor.”
Cathy’s suggestions are both good. Moore’s book is hilarious at times because he’s so unprepared. There’s also a book on a late 1940s Giro by Dino Buzzati (I think) that used to be available from Velonews that’s a great read (he compares Bartoli and Coppi to Hector and Achilles from the Iliad). It looks like Velonews doesn’t have it any more but Amazon shows it. If you want novels, there was a series written by Greg Moody about 10 years ago and sold by Velonews (some still available). If you want coffee table books, you could consider An Intimate Portrait of the Tour de France with pictures going back a long way.
If a DVD would work, you could consider A Sunday in Hell, on a mid 1970s Paris-Roubaix, one of the best ever.
Thanks for the suggestion - I had a look at Lance Armstrong’s War on Amazon and it looked great so I went with it. Thanks also to everyone else who made suggestions.
I’d recommend one of the MANY historical photos books on cycling at Barnes/Border’s/Amazon. Amazing history in this sport…much of which can be told via photos.
Of course, the stories are great too…but the books at great of the coffee table.
Lance Armstrong’s War, as previously mentioned, is outstanding. I’ve turned quite a few friends on to it, and all have raved. But for a sleeper, try this:
http://www.amazon.com/Masked-Rider-Cycling-West-Africa/dp/1895900026
Neil Peart (yes, that Neil Peart) rides a bicycle across West Africa as part of a small “tour group”. Amazing read.
Ben