Recommend me a Cycling book for Christmas

tonysj

HI All,

I'm struggling to find a present for myself for Christmas, which a relative will buy me, and thought a good cycling book to read while the weathers cold would be ideal.
I think one on training or similar would be best unless you can recommend a better one.

What should I buy.

Regards.

Tony.

sloppyschleckonds

It's Not About The Biek

ayjaycee

The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton.

redvision

ayjaycee wrote:

The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton.

This.

Depressing reading really but a real eye opener and a must read!

Beatmaker

The Escape Artist

bianchi_dave

redvision wrote:

ayjaycee wrote:

The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton.

This.

Depressing reading really but a real eye opener and a must read!

This again! One of the best books (on any subject) I've ever read. A laid bare account of elite sport and the need (or necessity in the culture at the time) to get 'an edge.'

supermurph09

The secret race, Draft Animals or Thomas Dekker The Descent

mrb123

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12867821

Fill ya boots!

joe2008

Draft Animals without doubt...

Pro Cycling on $10 a day, not so much.

lakesluddite

Not read it yet (or even bought it!), but this won the William Hill sports book of the year just a couple of days ago.

https://rouleur.cc/tom-simpson-bird-on-the-wire.html

I usually wait for these things to come out in paperback, but this seems as much a book for the photography as for the writing.

Otherwise of the ones I have read this year, these stand out:

https://wordery.com/the-cyclist-who-wen ... N2ZiYWM%3D

https://wordery.com/the-cyclist-who-wen ... N2ZiYWM%3D

https://wordery.com/the-cyclist-who-wen ... N2ZiYWM%3D

https://wordery.com/triumphs-and-turbul ... YmU5NWI%3D

homers_double

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gironimo-Ridin ... 0224100157

If you like a lighter hearted read.

But yes, the secret race is good and for a deeper read, The Death of Marco Pantani.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Marco-Pa ... 0297850962

svetty

Beatmaker wrote:

The Escape Artist

+1

Bianchi Dave wrote:

redvision wrote:

ayjaycee wrote:

The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton.

This.

Depressing reading really but a real eye opener and a must read!

This again! One of the best books (on any subject) I've ever read. A laid bare account of elite sport and the need (or necessity in the culture at the time) to get 'an edge.'

Funny I just thought this was your typical ghost-written, self justifying pap....

andyrac

Rainbows in The Mud by Paul Maunder....

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rainbows- ... 472925954/

alex222

Another vote for the Death of Marco Pantani. Nicole Cooke's biography is also enjoyable if you want something outside of male cycling.

laurentian

As mentioned above, The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton is excellent. I would also recommend Domestique by Charly Wegelius for the story of a great cyclist who wasn't quite great enough to dine a the very top table.

Both are books that will perhaps give a different insight into elite cycling in two different ways.

timothyw

I loved Etape by Richard Moore - like a collection of short stories, very entertaining read.

Slaying the Badger by Richard Moore also great. We were young and carefree by Laurent Fignon provides an interesting compliment, and is a great book in it's own right.

But yeah, to echo the above, the Secret Race is great.

apv1

Draft animals by Phil Gaimon?

trivial_poursuivant

Avoid getting anything that documents racing or particular races itself . They are usually boring as hell. Death of Pantani is good since its more about his character than anything about racing.

burnthesheep

I'm in the middle of Draft Animals and can recommend. It reads pretty well, for a cycling book by a rider.

I'd say the media has made a circus of nothing from the book. Taking stuff too far. But, it was free publicity for anyone whose name appeared in the book. So why not make it a big deal and soak up a few minutes of free internet and tv time. And I've already read much of the "controversial" statements, in full context.

timothyw

On a somewhat related note, anyone read the Indurain book by Alastair Fotheringham?

I've read a couple of his brother's (William Fotheringham - The Badger, Put Me Back on my Bike, Half Man Half Bike) and they're OK but a bit dry - more informative than entertaining - I'm guessing 'Indurain' might be similar (not least because he's hardly the most interesting subject....)

slowmart

100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills

Simon Warren

bonk_king

The tyler hamilton book, the secret race, is brilliant. Someone mentioned the charlie wegelius book too, which is also very good. Other favourites of mine are the chris bassons and paul kimmage books.

tonysj

I've gone for the Secret Race but have a few ideas for others.
Thanks
Tony.

Coach H

TonySJ wrote:

I've gone for the Secret Race but have a few ideas for others.
Thanks
Tony.

When this first came out the US version was a fair bit different due to UK libel laws. I dont know if this is still the case since it all turned out to be true but if you can get the US version either through a relative/friend or a postal forwarding service you used to get a far jucier read.

Also The Cyclist who Went Out in the Cold - Richard Moore, to proves you can do a substantial tour on an East German shopping bike. Cracking stuff if you think you need a £10k superbike for your commute