Building A Cycling Bookshelf

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williamp78

Nov 14, 2011
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I read Matt Seaton's book "The Escape Artist" recently and its a brilliant book. Matt is a journalist for the guardian but was a keen amateur racer when in his 20s. The book is about how cycling culture and family life mix together or not as the case may be. It's a great read for those who enjoy cycling but quite frankly it stands on its own as a brilliant insight into personal grief.

I would also recommend "The Hour" by Michael Hutchinson. Oddly the author is also a journalist for the guardian and a keen amateur time trialist (he has competed at the commonwealths and recently won the British 25mile TT champs beating alex dowsett into second). The book is about his failed attempt at the hour record.

Both book really benefit from being written by the author himself. Gives a real insight to bike fans and are both very open to general readers.
 
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The Gnome

Oct 25, 2010
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elapid said:
OK, so how did people on this thread get their hands on "Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal" by Daniel Friebe?

Amazon (US) have just cancelled my order because they are unable to obtain the book, and Chapters (Canada) do not have the book until the release date on 25th September 2012.

Any help would be much appreciated!
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hit ebay...punch in "merckx" and some bookseller in england sent me mine...like 28 bucks including postage I think and got here quickly...
 
gregod

gregod

Apr 20, 2009
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fmk_RoI said:
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?
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I don't know if this would fit on your bookshelf, but I have about seven years of Cycle Sport magazines collecting dust (~2000 to ~2007). If you pay for postage they are yours. If anybody else is interested, the offer stands.
 
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nickel999

Aug 17, 2009
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Is anyone reading the RIIS book? Stages of Light and Dark

Any reviews? TY

Currenty reading on my Kindle:

Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World-just finished

We Were Young and Carefree
One Way Road: The Autobiography of Robbie McEwen
Belgian Hammer

Nickel
 
irongrl

irongrl

Sep 7, 2009
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nickel999 said:
Is anyone reading the RIIS book? Stages of Light and Dark

Any reviews? TY

Currenty reading on my Kindle:

Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World-just finished

We Were Young and Carefree
One Way Road: The Autobiography of Robbie McEwen
Belgian Hammer

Nickel
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I just read the Riis book on my Kindle. I wasn't yet a fan of cycling during the time that Riis rode, so I didn't have any strong feelings one way or the other about him. I enjoyed the book. It was well written and seemed honest. He came across as a more likable person than I would have thought from reading recent articles about him. I know Riis is not the most popular person in the cycling world, but the book is worth reading.
 
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my username is flish

Nov 17, 2009
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no poems to recommend, i'm afraid, but read Richard Moore's "The Dirtiest Race in History" last week. Ok, it's athletics, not cycling, but very good read all the same.

Also read Joe Parkin's "Dog in a Hat" and "Come and Gone". Dog in a Hat was great, Come and Gone not as good but worth a read.
 
hiero2

hiero2

Jul 10, 2010
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fmk_RoI said:
So, Poetry. Cycling and. Anyone got any recs for (good) poems that are specifically about the sporting side of cycling? http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/9/3/3288676/ten-poems-about-bicycles-edited-by-jenny-swann
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I see this thread has come back alive. At first, I had forgotten the thread, and I thought "Wonderful! I love cycling and I love books!". But, I had forgotten that I had already replied to this thread. Now, I will apologize for using the word "idiot" in my first reply to this thread, and to you. But the rest of what I said is still valid, and worth repeating. Forester is a must read for any serious cyclist, but I will qualify this to add, who grew up in a non-cycling country. In other words, probably every single person on this earth outside of the Netherlands, and maybe Belgium. I don't know about Belgium, never been there. But I know what Forester wrote is applicable in China - where bicycles were THE main mechanical transportation just a few years ago, and may still be.

But, maybe what you really want is books about bicycle racing. Not about bicycling? If that is that case, then say so. Don't beat around the bush. And change the title of the thread.

It's not just Forester, not at all. What about Kurmanskie? What about "Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?" - I had to laugh at the person who said the would rather undergo torture before reading another Josie Dew book, but what about Josie Dew? She added significantly to the BICYCLING bookshelf. But she didn't add a jot to the BICYCLE RACING bookshelf.

You want to talk about cycling? Why not Jobst Brandt's book? For that matter, why not Sheldon Brown's html pages? They aren't a book, but they ARE reading material. Brings me back to this - are you asking for a bicycling bookshelf, or a bicycle racing bookshelf. A ton of difference.
 
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nztayls

Sep 19, 2012
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I really enjoyed "Slaying the Badger" by Richard Moore. Great insights into the LeMond / Hinault rivalry, and unlike alot of other books on great cyclists, the author has had direct access to both riders for this book.
 
fmk_RoI

fmk_RoI

Sep 16, 2010
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nztayls said:
I really enjoyed "Slaying the Badger" by Richard Moore. Great insights into the LeMond / Hinault rivalry, and unlike alot of other books on great cyclists, the author has had direct access to both riders for this book.
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Moore did a top job with that one, really is a class read.

Have you paired it with Fignon's biog yet? If not, you should.
 
fmk_RoI

fmk_RoI

Sep 16, 2010
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my username is flish said:
no poems to recommend, i'm afraid, but read Richard Moore's "The Dirtiest Race in History" last week. Ok, it's athletics, not cycling, but very good read all the same.

Also read Joe Parkin's "Dog in a Hat" and "Come and Gone". Dog in a Hat was great, Come and Gone not as good but worth a read.
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Dirtiest Race is on the schedule, once I get through some more of the big pile of unread new cycling books on my desk (who knew cycling had suddenly got popular again?). Looking forward to reading it, generally enjoy Moore (with one exception).

Can't say as I got Parkin. I mean, I read the first one but it did nothing for me. Do you have to be American to get it?
 
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The Gnome

Oct 25, 2010
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irongrl said:
I just read the Riis book on my Kindle. I wasn't yet a fan of cycling during the time that Riis rode, so I didn't have any strong feelings one way or the other about him. I enjoyed the book. It was well written and seemed honest. He came across as a more likable person than I would have thought from reading recent articles about him. I know Riis is not the most popular person in the cycling world, but the book is worth reading.
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I am in the middle of it and it is very good...I am not a big Riis fan...but the book is pretty interesting and worth reading...the Bartali book likewise is pretty good...Roches book as well I found a good read...
 
Cycle Chic

Cycle Chic

Sep 26, 2009
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Book

Is.... 'From Lance to Landis: Inside the American Doping Controversy' by David Walsh

the same as

'Seven Deadly Sins My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong' ???

I,ve read the Lance to Landis and wanted to know if its one and the same book.

thanks
 
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Psyclepath

May 22, 2013
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Any cycling bookshelf must include "Richard's Bicycle Book" by Richard Ballantine. Preferably one published before 1979 that includes the unabridged section on how to handle unruly dogs that one might encounter. I have rarely laughed so much at anything in a book. His advice is out there to say the least and must be read to be believed.
 
hiero2

hiero2

Jul 10, 2010
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fmk_RoI said:
. . .
Can't say as I got Parkin. I mean, I read the first one but it did nothing for me. Do you have to be American to get it?
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I wouldn't think so, but his follow-up books were not as good as Dog in a Hat - which is not a great book, imo, but is interesting as a window into a particular place and time. Imo, Dog in a Hat is a recommendable read - perhaps a B- effort? But I could see how the writing style might not scan for lots of readers.
 
El Oso

El Oso

Apr 17, 2009
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Just finished Road to Valour (the Bartoli book). Good easy read that I, even as a person who doesn't keep to a book for too long, couldn't put down.

I felt that with the exception of the 1948 Tour it doesn't go into too much depth on his cycling career, but instead goes into more detail on his early life, World War II and then the 1948 Tour in light of Italy's political climate at the time.
 
fmk_RoI

fmk_RoI

Sep 16, 2010
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El Oso said:
Just finished Road to Valour (the Bartoli book). Good easy read that I, even as a person who doesn't keep to a book for too long, couldn't put down.

I felt that with the exception of the 1948 Tour it doesn't go into too much depth on his cycling career, but instead goes into more detail on his early life, World War II and then the 1948 Tour in light of Italy's political climate at the time.
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Gino wins the Tour, Gino saves the Jews, Gino saves Italy from Civil War.
 
fmk_RoI

fmk_RoI

Sep 16, 2010
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Question

What's the general view of route guides - eg this - do you buy them? If so, what are you looking for in them? Is it mostly the mountain guide books or do you also do general ones? Have reviewed three in recent months and curious to know what people are looking for (me, give me a map and I'll work things out for myself). TIA.
 
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