The RB Official Road Cycling Book Review Thread

[john]

Hope we can turn this into a useful resource. Original idea thanks to DA-EVO. Corresponding MTB Book Review Thread is here.

Will try to keep the first post updated with links to individual reviews. If users can just reply to this thread with their reviews we'll see how it goes.

Book - Author - Review Link - Reviewer / Recommender - Buy

23 Days in July - John Wilcockson - Link - NeilM - http://www.amazon.co.uk/23-Days-July-Ar ... 0719567173
A Dog in a Hat - Joe Parkin - - John / CTK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Hat-America ... 1934030260
A Bike Ride: 12,000 Miles Around the World - Anne Mustoe - - Retro Cat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Ride-Miles ... B000HWYS3Q
A Race For Madmen - Chris Sidwells - Link - NeilM / Tazio - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Madmen-His ... 007433247/
Bad Blood - Jeremey Whittle - - - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Blood-Secre ... 224080237/
The Bicycle Book - Bella Barthurst - - Firedfromthecircus - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Book-Be ... 007305893/
Bicycling Science - David Gordon Wilson - - bm0p700f - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycling-Scien ... 0262731541
Bike Snob - Eben Weiss - - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Snob-Syste ... 1742700020
Blazing Saddles: The Cruel and Unusual History of the Tour De France - Matt Rendell - Link Koupe - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blazing-Saddles ... 057&sr=1-1
Born To Ride - Stephen Roche - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Ride-Autob ... 224091905/
Campagnolo: 75 Years of Cycling Passion - Paolo Facchinetti - Link - Rich Aitch - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Campagnolo-75-Y ... 1934030376
Cinelli: the Art and Design of the Bicycle - Lodovico Pignatti-Morano & Antonio Colombo - - DA-EVO - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0847838676/
Cycling In Europe - Nick Crane - - Rich34 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-Europe- ... 0902280775
De Flandriens - - Johnsqual - -
The Death of Marco Pantani -Matt Rendell - Link - NeilM / Firedfromthecircus - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Marco-Pan ... 0753822032
The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle - Matt Seaton - - vivelesalpes - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Artist-L ... 1841151041
Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi - William Fotheringham - - Rich34 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fallen-Angel-Pa ... 0224074504
From Lance to Landis - David Walsh - Link - xerxes - http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Lance-Land ... 034549962X
The Full Cycle - Vincent Denson - - roadking - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Full-Cycle-Vinc ... 1874739528
How I Won The Yellow Jumper - Ned Boulting - Link - Daj - http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Won-Yellow- ... 224083368/
In Pursuit of Stardom: Los Nomades du Velo Anglais - Tony Hewson - Link - chriscl - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pursuit-Stardom ... 1874739412
In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour De France Cyclist - Richard Moore - - Retro Cat / John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Search-Robert-M ... 000723502X
It's All About The Bike - Rob Penn - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-All-About-B ... 0141043792
It's Not About The Bike - Lance Armstrong - - Neil - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Not-About-B ... 0224060872
Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Richard Crane and Nick Crane - - omegastrada - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Journey-Centre- ... 552132128/
The Lance Armstrong Performance Program - Lance Armstrong - Link - - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lance-Armst ... 1405099917
LA Confidential - - Link - claret73
Metal Cowboy - Joe Kurmaskie - - TheGreenRabbit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metal-Cowboy-Jo ... 619&sr=1-1
Mountain High: Europe's 50 Greatest Cycle Climbs - Daniel Friebe - - DA-EVO - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mountain-High-E ... 0857386247
Need for the bike - Paul Fournell - Link - DA-EVO - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Need-Bike-Paul- ... 0803269099
The Obree Way - Graeme Obree - Link - DA-EVO - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Obree-Way-e ... B0094382WC
Olympic Gangster: The Legend of José Beyaert - Cycling Champion, Fortune Hunter and Outlaw - Matt Rendell - - monty dog - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympic-Gangste ... 1845965930
One More Kilometre and we're in the Showers - Tim Hilton - Link - CTK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-More-Kilome ... 0006532284
Pedalare! Pedalare! - John Foot - Link - Johnsqual - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pedalare-John-F ... 1408822199
Put Me Back On My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson - William Fotheringham - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Put-Me-Back-My- ... 0224080180
Racing Through The Dark - David Millar- Link - NeilM - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Racing-Through- ... 409120384/
The Rider - Tim Krabbe and Sam Garrett - - jCymbal - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bloomsbury-the- ... im-krabbe/
Rough Ride - Paul Kimmage - Link - xerxes - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Ride-Paul ... 224080172/
Roule Brittania - William Fotheringham - - roadking - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roule-Britannia ... 854&sr=1-1
Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape: The Remarkable Life of Jacques Anquetil, the First Five-Times Winner of the Tour de France - Paul Howard - - Old Ned - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sex-Lies-Handle ... 1845964616
Slaying The Badger - Richard Moore - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slaying-Badger- ... 224082906/
Slow Coast Home: A 5,000-Mile Cycle Journey Around the Shores of England and Wales - Josie Dew - - Retro Cat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slow-Coast-Home ... 0751531642
Smart Cycling - Annie Barker - Link - NeilM - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Cycling-S ... 0684822431
Thunder and Sunshine - Alastair Humphreys and Dan Hiscocks - - Retro Cat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thunder-Sunshin ... 775&sr=1-1
Tomorrow, We Ride - Jean Bobet - Link - DA-EVO - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomorrow-We-Rid ... 187473951X
We Were Young And Carefree - Laurent Fignon (with Fotherington) - - John - http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Were-Young-C ... 0224083198
Why Don't You Fly? Back Door to Beijing by Bicycle - Christopher J.A. Smith - - Retro Cat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Dont-Back-D ... 190520325X
Wide-Eyed and Legless: Inside the Tour de France - Jeff Connor - Link - claret73 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wide-Eyed-Legle ... 1845961714

 

[john]

Tried to collate a few threads worth of reviews here. Be good to turn it into a useful resource

If people have recommendations or reviews please post as a reply to this thread. Will try and keep the first post updated accordingly.

 

[grahame]

The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle.

 

[torqueless]

Another one which could do with a mention is: 'The Great Bike Race' by Geoffrey Nicholson 1977.

I believe subtitled: 'The story of the 1976 Tour de France.' Many years since I read it... Uses that particular edition of the race to explore many of the controversial aspects of pro cycling... doping, the star rider/domestique hierarchy, the bikes, etc. Good read.

 

[NeilM]

I have just finished Road to Valour by Aili and Andres McConnon.

This is a book about Gino Bartali, but is quite a bit more than just his racing history, as it covers his entire life; his racing, his political position and his exploits during WW2. It also covers the general political situation in Italy during certain key periods.

This is a fascinating subject and an interesting read, although as the book is written by and American and a Canadian, you will have to translate certain words or phrases into British

Just started Put Me Back On My Bike, so I'll be consulting the list for a couple of decent books to read over Christmas.... unless the weather is dry and I can ride.... yeah, best get looking at the list.

 

[NeilM]

Oh, nearly forgot to write up about Put Me Back On My Bike, which I finished last week.

A really interesting read; the author manages to get very close to friends, family and colleges of Tom Simpson, but at the same time is able to keep a degree of perspective and distance.

I think there is a lot of Tom Simpson in many of our current crop of International riders, and I believe they know that too, which goes a long way to explaining why he is given such respect, as there is a little 'there for the grace of God go I'.

A good read that puts you right there in the 60's in Europe, well worth some time over Christmas.

 

[NeilM]

My son surprised me the other day by handing me a book. That was not the surprise, the surprise was that he said he had read the book. I thought the last time had read a book was when he was at school, but apparently not.

The book he handed me was The Rider by Tim Krabe.

This is an enthralling book that takes you metre by metre, minute by minute through a fictional race. It is the most amazing combination of focussed and random thoughts, flights of fancy, historical facts and observations that must run though the heads of many racers during their endeavours.

What is more remarkable is that the book is translated, as Tim Krabbe is Dutch. The translator is Sam Garrett, and his grasp of both languages must be perfect.

Anyway, excellent book.

 

[NeilM]

I have just finished the most excellent 'In Pursuit of Stardom' By Tony Hewson.

This covers a period in the late 50's when the only way to become a professional road racer was to live in France and race there.

Following in the footsteps of Brian Robinson, but without the backing of a manufacturers team, three lads gave up their lives in the UK to pursue a dream of becoming professional racer, and this book covers their story.

It is a great read and well worth the money.

I bought my copy (new) from the bay, but if you google Tony Hewson, you can buy the book direct, signed by the author, for the same price I paid.

Next book; In Search of Robert Millar.

 

[NeilM]

The latest in my growing library of cycling books; In Search of Robert Millar by Richard Moore.

The books not a bad read and does give a fascinating insight into the politics and (dis)organisation of some professional teams, it also gives an extremely well researched and detailed look at the cyclist and person that is Robert Millar. However, after the first few chapters, it does start to get pretty repetitive and in the end I had to persevere to finish.

Not a bad book, but it could have been a couple of chapters shorter.

 

[vivelesalpes]

Just finished reading Cinelli - The Art and Design of the Bicycle. A definite coffee table book that would not translate well to Kindle.

Here's the video: http://vimeo.com/57947597