Been really getting into following cycling this year, after paying attention to races beyond TDF for the first time last year, and am absolutely intrigued by the sheer amount of history behind both racing, and the bike and culture itself. Have searched for “best of” type lists, but way too many of the books cover stuff more modern than what I’m interested in. I’ve got money in my Paypal account, and am looking to go on a Half.com/eBay buying spree.
The Rider by Tim Krabbe
.
“Fallen Angel” by William Fotheringham about Coppi and cycling in the 40s & 50s.
Also “Put me back on my bike” about Tom Simpson again by WF. (60s)
“In Search of Robert Millar” by Richard Moore. (80s)
All the above are still in print and, although principally biographies, include quite a lot of background on their respective eras.
“French Revolutions” - fun to read and lots of history of the Tour De France
“The Rider” - it’s fiction, but it’s got a lot of cycling history
-it’s more modern, but “Le Metier” is great
“Spring Classics”
“A Day at the Races”
And films like “A Sunday in Hell” / “Stars and Watercarriers” etc.
Anything by Samuel Abt.
He writes about the sport with a respect and reverence that is contagious. He’s a beautiful wordsmith, romantic and descriptive- especially in his development of characters. I love his writing.
Anything by Maynard Hershon, a former columnist in multiple magazines and another man with a reverence for the sport. He often wrote about the community of sport.
Two classics that lend perspective to the technical side of the sport are Greg LeMond and Kent Gordis’ “Greg LeMond’s Complete Book of Cycling”, one of the very first books in the English language with comprehensive insights on bike fit and position. The ideas are dated and somewhat obsolete, but it’s a valuable perspective to develop an understanding of where much of the remaining bike fit “lore” comes from.
And finally, there is the Eddie Boryscewicz book, “Bicycle Road Racing”. The book is old, perhaps even out of print. Much of the information seems dated (“carry a flask of cold coffee during a time trial”) but it’s interesting to see where the ideas came from and how many of them have endured. There are also interesting insights on equipment such as alloy rail saddles that lends perspective to current technology.
“Rough Ride”
“From Lance to Landis”
.
Freddy Maertens, L’album d’une carriere phenomenale by Patrick Cornillie.
Very interesting photo-biography of the two time world champ. Not a whole lot of content, but 100’s of beautiful photos. Hard to find, and only available in Dutch or French
There are some great movies out there too…
Hell on Wheels
A Sunday in Hell
Overcoming
Road to Roubaix
Rad
etc…
Great answers; thanks everybody!
These guys always have a good selection of books and videos:
Too many to mention, but here are a few.
-
Maglia Rosa -Herbie Sykes. The focus recently has been very TdF centered, this is a beautiful book that will provide the Italian persective.
-
Tour de France by Graeme Fife
-
Anything by Samuel Abt
-
A Dog in a Hat, by Joe Parkin