Building A Cycling Bookshelf

[Reformed]

Books

No one has mentioned The Story of the Tour de France Volume 1: 1903 - 1964.

Is this not a good read? I ask because it is $3.99 for Kindle and seems to be a good read. The other suggestions are noted.

Dan

 

[Boeing]

Perhaps i'll post a how to build a bicycle table soon. but in the mountain bike section. maybe leave it for bc hills

 

[ksmith]

The Dancing Chain by Frank J Berto - To quote the cover " History and development of the derailleur bicycle"
Adventure Cycle Touring Handbook by Stephen Lord
French Revolutions by Tim Moore


French Revolutions has been mentioned several times on this link. Has anyone read his other books "Frost on my Moustache" and "Grand tour"? If so, Are they a good read. Thanks.

To all you Canadians out there "Happy Canada Day"

 

[Avoriaz]

"When We Were Young and Carefree" by Laurent Fignon is a wonderful read, and an interesting spin on the 1989 Tour for those who have read up lots on LeMond previously.

I've just finished reading "Wide Eyed And Legless" (re-released), which is about the farcical attempt of the British ANC professional team to ride and win the 1987 Tour de France (after training on criteriums). Entertaining and a bit of an eye opener. ("Team On The Run" about the Linda McCartney team is in a similar vein)

But I think my all time favourite is "Kings of the Mountains". Exhilarating, tragic and uplifting all at the same time.

 

[The Gnome]

I will second the Fignon book...really good read...the Robert Millar book is fantastic...I just got the life and death of Pantani book by Rendall...it's pretty d #amn good I think...very well written actually for a sports book...about half way thru...

 

[benny_profane]

I'm enjoying Ned Boulting's How I Won the Yellow Jumper at the moment. Nice anecdotes about covering the Tour de France, maybe more relevant if you've watched ITV4's coverage of the Tour in the past. Nothing too deep but it's brilliant to read in anticipation of Stage 1 tomorrow.

Also, I'd second the recommendation for Kings of the Mountains by Matt Rendell, possibly my favourite cycling book.

 

[The Gnome]

No one has mentioned The Story of the Tour de France Volume 1: 1903 - 1964.

Is this not a good read? I ask because it is $3.99 for Kindle and seems to be a good read. The other suggestions are noted.

Dan

there is an incredible read on kindle i would bet...it's "not about the bike" by one mr lance armstrong...must be going for about 9 cents by now I would think...he tells this great story about the king of sweden...give it a go...

 

[fmk_RoI]

Wide-Eyed And Legless

Jeff Connor's Wide-Eyed and Legless is kinda enoyable. You can win a copy here.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Two posts which may be of interest: 2011's cycling books; 2012's cycling books.

 

[greenedge]

Most of the Velonews books are good that Wilcockson have wrote. The McEwan book is also good.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Amazing that a bland book could produce so much polemica: http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/1/4/2681322/inside-the-peloton-by-nicolas-roche

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne. Very enjoyable book about his experiences of cycling and performing in different parts of the world.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne. Very enjoyable book about his experiences of cycling and performing in different parts of the world.

Do you have to be a Byrne/Talking Heads fan to get that one?

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Do you have to be a Byrne/Talking Heads fan to get that one?

I don't think its essential as long as you know he's a musician. Its quite a philosophical book though and includes lots of anecdotes about the people and places he has riden and opinions on urban life in general. Certainly not just a cycling book.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Daniel Friebe talks about climbing and his Mountain High book http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/2/23/2819717/interview-daniel-friebe

 

[CobbleStoner]

The Belgian Hammer by Daniel Lee and forward by George Hincapie. published by Breakaway Books.
good book about Americans going to Belgium to race. (I'm mentioned on a couple pages in chapter 2...)

 

[ruamruam]

'Against the Wind'
Pedalling for a Pint from Japan to Ireland
by Yasuyuki Ozeki

is the story of a Japanese man who cycled from Japan to Ireland and the people and adventures he had on the way.

It's a good read

 

[DominicDecoco]

Get ready for this one. It's been released for more than a year here and is finally translated to english. It's really a great read.

http://www.visionsp.co.uk/viewitem.aspx?id=194

 

[jamiephillips]

"The Sweat of the Gods" by Benjo Masso. If anyone is interested in cultural theory and cycling then this is for you!"

 

[harryquinn]

A few oldies from my collection: Cycling is my Life - Tommy Simpson (1966); Watching the Wheels Go Round - Barry Hoban (1981); The Tour de France - Peter Clifford (1965).

And some newer: Boy Racer - Mark Cavendish; Lance Armstrong tour de force - Daniel Coyle; Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oui, Oui, Oui - Rupert Guinness; The Beautiful Machine - Graeme Fife; French Revolutions - Tim Moore.

On my 'want' list are Laurent Fignon's autibiography and Cadel Evans The Long Road to Paris.

 

[The Falcon]

No mention of M. Paul Fournel's "Need for the bike" ?

 

[AngusW]

Hi fmk - I really love your reviews in the bookshelf on podium cafe. Looking forward to the next one!

A couple of oldies from the library in my hometown and two of the first cycling books I ever read:

The Big Bike Race, Geoffrey Nicholson. An account of the 1976 Tour de France won by Lucien Van Impe, but also some background stories on Maertens, the de Vlaeminck-de Muynck feud and Eddy Merckx.

Tour de France the 75th anniversary edition, Robin MacGowan. An account of the 1978 Tour, won by Bernard Hinault and featuring his battle with Michel Pollentier until the latter was expelled from the Tour for trying to cheat drug control.

Also:

In High Gear, Sam Abt. Mostly an account of the 1988 cycling year, but has a few flashbacks to earlier years. A collection of features or essays on various races and racers during that year and a longer account of the '88 Tour de France.

Kelly, by David Walsh. Sean Kelly's biography until end of the 1985 season.

The Penguin Book of the Bicycle. Published in the 1970s, sometime, probably long out of print. Contains all manner of cycling stories plus a chapter on racing which includes 5-6 pages on Merckx's defeat by Thevenet in the 1975 Tour.

And I know you had some issues with Dan Coyle's Tour de Force, but I loved it despite not being an LA fan. Funniest chapter IMO is "The book of Floyd".

Cheers
Angus

 

[nvpacchi]

June 9th can't come fast enough for this release!!

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Lion_of_Tuscany.html?id=DrBzPgAACAAJ

 

[nvpacchi]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/extract-eddy-merckx-the-cannibal

I also believe that Fotheringham is coming out with a Merckx bio too. Anxiously anticipating both

 

[greenedge]

That Eddy Merckx book sounds good, should i order it ( i have none of his other books ).