Building A Cycling Bookshelf

[fmk_RoI]

Looking for suggestions for a cycling bookshelf. I write book reviews and related rubbish for Podium Cafe but actually have the oddest bikes' book shelf, missing lots of stuff it should have. So what do you think are the must read books every cyclist should have on their bookshelf, and are there any should read books most people aren't aware of?

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

The Cafe is the non-cycling section, so I am moving this.

Susan

 

[fatandfast]

Annie Londonberry's Extraordinary Ride, Around The World On Two Wheels by Peter Zheutlin. Book is really good. Fallen Angel:The Passion Of Fausto Coppi by William Fortheringham..all his books are good. The Social History Of The Bicycle by Robert Smith.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Tend to avoid the travel books - I know, there's a bit more than travel to Londonderry's story - though did do French Revolutions. Fallen Angel did last year - don't much like Fothers' journalism, but like his books. What's the Robert Smith book?

 

[El Oso]

My personal favorites are:
The Rider, by Tim Krabbé
Put me back on my bike - In search of Tom Simpson by William Fotheringham
Lance Armstrong's War by Daniel Coyle (yes it's a Lance book, but it gives a good perspective of how he actually works)

Has anyone read The Death Of Marco Pantani, by Matt Rendell or an English translation of We Were Young And Carefree: The Autobiography Of Laurent Fignon? Looking for some summer reading myself.

 

[Caledon]

I've enjoyed these titles in the last couple of years.

In Search of Robert Millar by Richard Moore

Push Yourself Just a Little Bit More by Johhny Green (used to be the road manager for the Clash!)

One More Kilometre and we're in the Showers - memoirs of a cyclist by Tim Hilton

The Hungry Cyclist - pedalling the Americas in search of the perfect meal

and required but depressing reading - Bad Blood - The secret life of the Tour de France and of course Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage.

Oh, and Fallen Angel was excellent.

 

[fmk_RoI]

My personal favorites are:
The Rider, by Tim Krabbé
Put me back on my bike - In search of Tom Simpson by William Fotheringham
Lance Armstrong's War by Daniel Coyle (yes it's a Lance book, but it gives a good perspective of how he actually works)

Has anyone read The Death Of Marco Pantani, by Matt Rendell or an English translation of We Were Young And Carefree: The Autobiography Of Laurent Fignon? Looking for some summer reading myself.

Read all of them, the Fothers Simpson one is the only one not done for the Cafe yet. Will do it one day.

The Marco Pantani book is worth reading - v solid, lots of doping info. The Fignon book is, for me, a must read. Wonderfully written. Good Summer read. Save Pantani for Winter.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I've enjoyed these titles in the last couple of years.

In Search of Robert Millar by Richard Moore

Push Yourself Just a Little Bit More by Johhny Green (used to be the road manager for the Clash!)

One More Kilometre and we're in the Showers - memoirs of a cyclist by Tim Hilton

The Hungry Cyclist - pedalling the Americas in search of the perfect meal

and required but depressing reading - Bad Blood - The secret life of the Tour de France and of course Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage.

Oh, and Fallen Angel was excellent.

Oh God, I actually hated that Johnny Green one, sorry. Think that is v much a divider, one some will like, others will hate. I just thought the guy was an ****.

The Hilton one I kept meaning to by and then it was gone ... is it much good?

Bad Blood made me laugh, poor Jez, torn between the Force and the Dark Side and ending up with St David. Still, it got him Racing Through The Dark.

 

[ElChingon]

Don't forget to reserve some space for David Millar's book and Tyler Hamilton's up coming book!

 

[LugHugger]

Tomorrow, We Ride by Jean Bobet is my favourite book that hasn't already been mentioned, along with The Rider by Tim Krabbe.

A Dog In A Hat by Joe Parkin is a close third. Parkins' Come and Gone will be in the suitcase for my pre-cross season training camp in Tenerife at the start of September!

For technical reads, Andy Pruitts Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists and, of course, Cyclocross by Simon Burney

Edit: How did I forget this? Great Road Climbs of The Pyrenees by Graham Fife. I've lost count of the hours spent with my nose in this book dreaming up epics

The Rapha Photography Annuals

And finally, Paris Roubaix A Journey Through Hell - a coffee table book but a fantastic history of my favourite race.

 

[SirLes]

I enjoyed Laurent Fignon's book and am looking forward to reading "Slaying the Badger".

In search of Robert Millar is also good.

I'm not a huge fan of Rough Ride to be honest. Interesting but somehow not engaging.

My favourite is French Revolutions which still makes me laugh out loud. (Tim Moore's other books are also very funny.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Don't forget to reserve some space for David Millar's book and Tyler Hamilton's up coming book!

Finished reading St David's bk last night. Oh me, on my.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Tomorrow, We Ride by Jean Bobet is my favourite book that hasn't already been mentioned, along with The Rider by Tim Krabbe.

A Dog In A Hat by Joe Parkin is a close third. Parkins' Come and Gone will be in the suitcase for my pre-cross season training camp in Tenerife at the start of September!

For technical reads, Andy Pruitts Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists and, of course, Cyclocross by Simon Burney

Edit: How did I forget this? Great Road Climbs of The Pyrenees by Graham Fife. I've lost count of the hours spent with my nose in this book dreaming up epics

The Rapha Photography Annuals

And finally, Paris Roubaix A Journey Through Hell - a coffee table book but a fantastic history of my favourite race.

Krabbe and the PR book have read. Not really excited by photo albums or tech books. Parkin ... tastes, I think. Will read that Bobet book one day.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I enjoyed Laurent Fignon's book and am looking forward to reading "Slaying the Badger".

In search of Robert Millar is also good.

I'm not a huge fan of Rough Ride to be honest. Interesting but somehow not engaging.

My favourite is French Revolutions which still makes me laugh out loud. (Tim Moore's other books are also very funny.

Will be doing Badger next week, and have an interview with Moore that I enjoyed (always helps). Rough Ride, like Breaking The Chain, is more important than enjoyable.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Looking for suggestions for a cycling bookshelf. I write book reviews and related rubbish for Podium Cafe but actually have the oddest bikes' book shelf, missing lots of stuff it should have. So what do you think are the must read books every cyclist should have on their bookshelf, and are there any should read books most people aren't aware of?

Must read books every cyclist should have on their bookshelf?

* Cyclecraft by John Franklin (get the N. American edition if in N. America)
* Effective Cycling by John Foresteer

These are must read because they are likely to help even the most experienced cyclist learn to read traffic and ride in it more safely and comfortably. They could save your life, seriously. Read the reviews on Amazon.

 

[Granville57]

Be sure to check out these two threads as well:

Favorite Cycling Books

Recommend me some books

 

[fmk_RoI]

Must read books every cyclist should have on their bookshelf?

* Cyclecraft by John Franklin (get the N. American edition if in N. America)
* Effective Cycling by John Foresteer

These are must read because they are likely to help even the most experienced cyclist learn to read traffic and ride in it more safely and comfortably. They could save your life, seriously. Read the reviews on Amazon.

Exactly the types of books I wll *never* ever *ever* read.

 

[Stingray34]

Anything by Samuel Abt is also good, such as 'Tour de France: Three Weeks to Glory' about the 1990 Tour. The collected jounalism pieces in 'Off to the Races' is first class. 'LeMond: The Incredible Comeback' is okay, but LeMond isn't really a juicy personality, although he is straightforward and honest.

Best cycling fiction ever is Tim Krabbe's 'The Rider'

Fignon's auto is very lyrical, wonderful turn of phrase had the professor; excellent translation by Fotheringham.

Matt Rendell's 'Death of Marco Pantani' very good but quite sad.

I like Rough Ride, the details of everyday pro life by a non-star very interesting.

Agree, Tim Moore very readable.

Got Fallen Angel and in search of Tom Simpson, but yet to read them.

Want to get 'Tomorrow, we ride'...heard only good things. Inspiring title, no?

 

[readie]

If you're looking for something a little unusual, might I recommend Inside the Tour de France? It's my favourite cycling book, in my opinion comes closer than anything else to explaining the wonder of the Tour, and – added bonus – it's written by David Walsh. Yup, the David Walsh. It's interesting to see where he started and where he eventually wound up... Particularly interesting in light of the past few years is the chapter of then Tour rookie Lance Armstrong...

 

[L'arriviste]

I received ...

David V Herlihy - The Lost Cyclist

... for Christmas. The writing's fine but to be honest even an idiot would fascinate readers with a story like this.

The book describes the early years of cycling in the United States and two attempts - one successful the other ending tragically - at circumnavigating the globe by riders who were already accomplished Penny Farthing road racers.

It's not really so long ago, yet Herlihy evokes a time that seems completely alien to most of who now take for granted high-speed, long distance transportation and communications. And of course lightweight bikes.

For me it's had a big personal effect in a strange sort of way. I've become intensely interested in that period of world history that now seems completely cut off from our own times by two world wars.

 

[Jagers]

Ip am looking forward to reading "Slaying the Badger".

I am reading this right now, excellent so far.

 

[Archibald]

And finally, Paris Roubaix A Journey Through Hell - a coffee table book but a fantastic history of my favourite race.

A great book!

Throw in "Maglia Rosa" by Herbie Sykes as well as "Pedalare! Pedalare!" by John Foot.

 

[Chuffy]

I received ...

David V Herlihy - The Lost Cyclist

You might like Round the World On A Wheel, by John Foster Fraser. A true tale (if somewhat exaggerated) of a round the world trip in 1888. It's a proper ripping yarn from the high days of the British Empire. Very entertaining and jaw droppingly offensive, as Brits abroad tended to be back them. Well worth a look.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Exactly the types of books I wll *never* ever *ever* read.

If I may ask... why?

 

[hiero2]

Exactly the types of books I wll *never* ever *ever* read.

Forrester? Never ever read? And you tell us you are trying to build a bicycling bookshelf?

Then you are an idiot, or you are not building a bicyling bookshelf. I do not care if YOU will never read it - it is a must for a bicycling bookshelf.

Nothing personal, mind you. But you told us you are trying to do something that should cover many aspects of bicycling, and that book was, is, a seminal bicycling publication. Notice that I specifically, and with reason, use the word seminal to describe this book. It is an accurate description. Forrester is so significant to the history of the bicycle as transportation that you can not ignore him and be taken seriously.

While we are at it, how about Sutherland's? You need a few years worth of that. Also, for the general layman, before Zinn and the Art of Maintenance, there was only one book worth any salt - unfortunately I do not remember the name. Too long ago, sorry, and my copy is buried "who knows where".

You want 1st person narratives? Here is a good one: "Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country". Or any of the Josie Dew series. Better than Josie Dew, in my mind, was Kurmaskie - Metal Cowboy, etc.

You want adventure fiction? Spike. Not a book, but you gotta have him on a bicycling bookshelf.

As others have said - the Sam Abt coffee table books are superb. I'll just reaffirm that.

I could go on, but I have other things to do. So, last, but very far from least - Brandt's "The Bicycle Wheel". Another ultra classic that can not be ignored.