Cycling books that are worth a read recomendations

2»

Comments

  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    Damien_KW wrote:
    One of my favourite books recently is 'Need for the Bike' by Paul Fournel. You can hear him reading extracts at the end of some of the recent Bike Show podcasts: thebikeshow.net (They also did a cycling books round-up recently, so worth downloading that episode too)

    Also another thumbs up for 'The Rider' by Tim Krabbé. Fantastic read.

    + 1 for each of these. the Fournel book, in particular, is a really fine piece of writing.

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    Oh, and don't forget The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. Fabulous!

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • LittleLance
    LittleLance Posts: 89
    For factual books any of the work by Fotheringham and also Sex lies and handlebar tape - the storey of Jacques Anquetil is fascinating - he packed a hell of a lot into his life (not all of it commmendable though!)

    The rider though stands head and shoulders above all the other cycling books I've read though.
  • markwalker
    markwalker Posts: 953
    i got that hoy book for christmas is it worth opening? didnt grab me on a quick flick through.
  • SteppenHerring
    SteppenHerring Posts: 720
    The Fotheringham Simpson book (Put me back on my bike - In search of Tom Simpson) is very good.

    Also read the Wiggins book (OK), the Cav book (well written, what you'd expect) and In Search of Robert Millar - which is very interesting.

    Haven't read French Revolutions for ages.
  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    These three have just arrived at my local library. All three were donated to the library according to the librarian.

    Just finished the first,

    We might as well win, by Johan Bruyneel.

    Thought it provided a new slant on the LA story.

    Now on

    In pursuit of glory by Bradley Wiggins

    The last will be

    Boy Racer by Mark Cavendish
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • genki
    genki Posts: 305
    Another +1 for "Tomorrow We Ride". It's in a league of its own.
  • MarjMJ
    MarjMJ Posts: 35
    have read the lance ones, which are interesting in themselves
    just finished Wiggins book and really enjoyed it - I always thought he was a bit aloof, but this book has really changed my mind about him. True grit.
    Gave up on the Pantani book, largely for the 'doomed star' tone set by the author.
    Rough Ride was interesting in that although folks tend to slag off Kimmadge for being a little bitter also ran [harsh methinks] he WAS there.
    Tim Moores book is utterly hilarious - god, the section about Troyes railway station...sooo true.
    Have also read the Willy Voet book [whose name now escapes me] and again was interesting on the soigneurs side of the story.
    The Fotheringham books are great - never quite shamefully finished the Tom Simpson one, but enjoyed the Roule Brittania one - Read that then recognise just how much British cycling has come on.

    Will have to look out for the others guys.

    edit: have read other books where lesser mortals take on cycle challenges of course, and one very nice one, which I enjoyed for its simplicity and lack of obsession with kit and bikes, and was just about the niceness of being on a bike on holiday enjoying yourself was Edward Enfield's book Downhill all the Way.

    Have also read a couple of doozers, which I have now forgotten the titles of, but I can honestly say if you pick up a book about a female riding round New Zealand, take caution. I gave up on it because she constantly had to make funnies about EVERY flipping place name. I was starting to wish she would get knocked off into the rainforest. Sorry if she's your best friend but it was sooooo annoying.

Categories