Cycling book recommendations for Xmas

[dd74]

Hi all,

I'd like some recommendations for cycling books for Xmas presents. I don't want maintenance or how-to books, but more autobiographical-type books, particularly any that are about famous races or racers.

Thanks.

[CNY rider]

The book about Pantani from a few years ago (can't remember the name, I'm at work) is powerful reading.
I found it very disturbing but I am glad that I read it.

[tiretrax]

Look on the Competitive Cyclist and Rouleur websites.

[katematt]

I am almost through with it. Released this year, great book, not printed in the US, but I got it from an Amazon seller and it only took a week. It is about the '86 tour, and I have not been able to put it down.

I would send it along but a riding buddy has dibs.

The Rider is another classic.

Cheers.

[zetroc]

Michael Barry's Le Metier is good.

I haven't read it yet, but Laurent Fignon's We Were Young and Carefree is on my short list.

[tiretrax]

Michael Barry's Le Metier is good.
It's from Rouleur Press - also, Maglia Rosa is about the Giro D'Italia.


Tomorrow, We Ride by Bobet is considered a classic.

[dd74]

Great stuff. Thanks guys.

[Idris Icabod]

Just finished "Hell on Two Wheels", interesting look in to RAAM which left me scratching my head on why anyone would sign up for that.

Also recently read "Boy Racer" by Mark Cavendish. Didn't find it that interesting, maybe he should have waited a few years before writing an autobiography.

I'm getting David Millar's book for Christmas, I know I am as my sister sent it to me and it wasn't wrapped so I wrapped and it is under the tree. I'm really looking forward to reading that one. I've met Millar and he came across as a very intelligent guy and I've got high hopes that the book will be a sincere story including his ban for doping.

Not cycling related but I'm reading Keith Richard's book at the moment, about 1/3 of the way through and it has been a grind.

[the bottle ride]

All worthwhile-
Slaying the badger- great book with so many details I had never heard before.
Joe Parkins books.
Anything by Sam Abt.
Pantani book.

If you have not read it- Lance to Landis. Great stories. Kimmage is a good author.

[45K10]

Try " The Lost Cyclist" It is a good read and has some interesting insight into cycling & society in general during the late 19th century.

[Ti_on_Steel]

Check out Bicycle by David Herlihy. Nice history with lots of good pictures.

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-History-David-V-Herlihy/dp/0300120478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323121402&sr=8-1

[northbend]

by Jean Bobet. My all time favorite cycling book.

[Hawker]

Davis Phinney's book, the Happiness of Pursuit is great! Met him this summer in CO, got it autographed and couldn't put it down. I'm from the 7-11 era but even if you're not, the cycling history is fascinating as is Phinney's relationship with his Dad, his wife Connie Carpenter and of course his wunderkind son Taylor. not to mention the real reason for the book; his honest and tough battle with Parkinson's. I pray we find a cure.

http://www.davisphinney.com/

No relationship with anyone involved...but it was an excellent read.

[sg8357]

by Jean Bobet. My all time favorite cycling book.

+1 on Bobet, lovely book.

Herlihy's History of the Bicycle is very good, lots of interesting insight
into how social conditions influenced cycling in different countries.
Kind of Jared Diamond for bikies.


http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-History-David-V-Herlihy/dp/0300104189

[merlincustom1]

The David Millar book was pretty good.

[SuperColnago]

This thread is great, many thanks! Lots of good suggestions.
Cheers

[pavel]

bikesnob's book is a fun read.

[harlond]

I really enjoyed Tony Hewson's In Pursuit Of Stardom, good if you're interested in the history of bike racing. And in the travelogue genre, Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy and Miles From Nowhere by Barbara Savage.

[wc1934]

The Flying Scotsman - bio of Graeme Obree (think they also made it into a movie).

[nm87710]

+1 for Kimmage. Rough Ride opens the door into the pro road world

[Hawker]

Just finished It's All About the Bike by Robert Penn. Well written and fun to read about him traveling all over the world visiting the factories that were making the parts for his "ultimate bike". However, there was a lot of bike history that I found somewhat boring...probably because I had already read most of it elsewhere.

A good book, but just as good...is the BBC series that is based on the book. All parts are on YouTube if you search.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URQ6y3U9v-4

[metalheart]

+1 on Slaying the Badger ... one of the best books of any type I have read this year

[GuyGadois]

I've read a lot of the books mentioned. Here are some not mentioned but should have been:

In Search of Robert Millar
http://www.amazon.com/Search-Robert-Millar-Unravelling-Surrounding/dp/000723502X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323792648&sr=1-1

The Flying Scotsman (ok this one was mentioned but it is amazing. Better than the movie by far but very, very dark)
http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Scotsman-Cycling-Triumph-Through/dp/1931382727

We Were Carefree and Young - Lauren Fignon
http://www.amazon.com/Were-Young-Carefree-Laurent-Fignon/dp/0224083198/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323792672&sr=1-1


... and if you haven't read it, my favorite cycling book of all time..

The Rider, Tim Krabbe
http://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tim-Krabbe/dp/1582342903/ref=pd_sim_b_8

[retrofit]

Slaying The Badger
I am almost through with it. Released this year, great book, not printed in the US, but I got it from an Amazon seller and it only took a week. It is about the '86 tour, and I have not been able to put it down.

I would send it along but a riding buddy has dibs.

The Rider is another classic.

Cheers.

Good to hear as I was considering getting this for my son.

[oldguy00]

+1 for Kimmage. Rough Ride opens the door into the pro road world

My favorite as well.

On my short list is the Davis P book, and the Laurent F. book.

Cheers

[MadRocketSci]

anyone have an opinion on this one?

Italian Racing Bicycles (http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Racing-Bicycles-Products-Passion/dp/193403066X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323804784&sr=1-1)

[johnnymossville]

This book is inspiring, beautifully written, and beautiful to look at.

http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Roubaix-Journey-Through-Philippe-Bouvet/dp/1934030090

[pdmtong]

If you have some cash...the ultimate eddie book complete with monuments

http://veerle.duoh.com/design/article/eddy_merckx_art_box_and_merckxissimo_book

Only set 525 and 150 include a series of 12 relics (in total there are 24 relics, two different series of 12) from the places where Eddy Merckx made history as a racing cyclist. Only a single edition will ever be printed of the three sets! Below some more info about the sets.

525 IS THE NUMBER OF VICTORIES FOR EDDY MERCKX AS RACING CYCLIST
Number 007/525 has been reserved for seven-times Tour winner Lance Armstrong. This set includes a series of 12 relics (in total there are 24 relics, two different series of 12) from the places where Eddy Merckx made history as a racing cyclist: water from the fountain of the Via Roma, earth from Mexico, pieces of rock from the Puy de Dôme, stone from the Mont-Ventoux, cobble stone from Paris-Roubaix,... These relics are supplied with a certificate of authenticity. Price 995.00 Euro (excluding postage)
445 IS THE NUMBER OF VICTORIES FOR EDDY MERCKX WITH THE PROFS.
This set does not contain relics. Price 795.00 Euro (excluding postage)
Eddy Merckx - set 150
Number 001/150 has been reserved for His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium. This set includes a series of 12 relics (in total there are 24 relics, two different series of 12) from the places where Eddy Merckx made history as a racing cyclist: water from the fountain of the Via Roma, earth from Mexico, pieces of rock from the Puy de Dôme, stone from the Mont-Ventoux, cobble stone from Paris-Roubaix,... These relics are supplied with a certificate of authenticity. Price 995.00 Euro (excluding postage)

[OperaLover]

Try " The Lost Cyclist" It is a good read and has some interesting insight into cycling & society in general during the late 19th century.

Yes, excellent book!

[kohlboto]

My Holiday read will be Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne (he of Talking Heads fame) who takes his bike with him on his travels around the world. The book chronicles his observations and insights from riding his bike around Istanbul, London, Buenos Aires, New York, Berlin, Manila, and Detroit to name a few...
Should be interesting.
cheers
Jay

[nighthawk]

... and if you haven't read it, my favorite cycling book of all time..

The Rider, Tim Krabbe
http://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tim-Krabbe/dp/1582342903/ref=pd_sim_b_8


+1

Also my favorite of all-time.

[don compton]

Paul Fournel's " The Need For a Bike". You will read and reread over and over.
Don C,

[tiretrax]

I read the RAAM book this summer. Check it out from the library and read it. It was good, but I doubt I'd reread it.

[Brian Cdn]

I recommend OLD ROADS AND NEW by J.B. Wadley

It may be hard to find but well worth it. Great writing about the "Tour de Nouvelle France" and Paris - Brest - Paris

Jock Wadley was a British journalist covered 18 Tours de France from 1956. He also started and edited the bike mag "Coureur" which later became the "Sporting Cyclist" and finally "International Cycle Sport".

B

[gaucho753]

If you can find a copy, I'd recommend Kelly by David Walsh (currently out of print). A biography of the renowned Irishman, Sean Kelly, of course. It ends before Kelly's career is over, but there's great stuff about fighting during sprints, getting banned from the Olympics for competing in pro races abroad under an alias while still am amateur, and other stuff I won't spoil.

[tv_vt]

Do a search for this topic, too, as it's been covered before. A couple not mentioned so far include: "Need for the Bike," a little tome originally in French. Very enjoyable.

For a bit on the bizarre side, this period piece "The Yellow Jersey," from the 70's is a hoot. Some good racing stuff in there, but it's as much about this guy's love life (which is the hoot part of the story) as the Tour. The Tour in the story, also, is about as crazy as it gets, with yellow jersey wearer's being kicked out for doping, a fatal crash, huge time gains in breakaways, collusion among teams, you name it. Fun read.

Myself, I'm curious to read the 7-11 book, along with Slaying the Badger.

[Hawker]

Do a search for this topic, too, as it's been covered before. A couple not mentioned so far include: "Need for the Bike," a little tome originally in French. Very enjoyable.

For a bit on the bizarre side, this period piece "The Yellow Jersey," from the 70's is a hoot. Some good racing stuff in there, but it's as much about this guy's love life (which is the hoot part of the story) as the Tour. The Tour in the story, also, is about as crazy as it gets, with yellow jersey wearer's being kicked out for doping, a fatal crash, huge time gains in breakaways, collusion among teams, you name it. Fun read.

Myself, I'm curious to read the 7-11 book, along with Slaying the Badger.

I thought "Need for the bike" was very good and time for a re-read. I thought "The Yellow Jersey" was great. This was the book that was being discussed as a movie. Initially Dustin Hoffman was supposed to play the lead and then Tom Cruise. Never happened.

[pdmtong]

Och and Davis are signing the 7-11 book at my LBS next week. Guess I'll be buying it...

[fiamme red]

The Sweat of the Gods: Myths and Legends of Bicycle Racing by Benjo Maso.

The Jersey Project: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=1038016&postcount=1

[lavi]

Another vote for The Rider. Check it out.

[fiamme red]

"Tomorrow, we ride" by Jean Bobet. My all time favorite cycling book.I found an excellent review of this book, along with reviews for other books about racing history, here:

http://bicyclebookreview.wordpress.com/

[twangston73]

The Bicycle Book by Bella Bathurst is an interesting series of essays on cycling, ranging from frame building, evolution of the diamond frame, early women riders, early racing, and then with segments on modern bike messenging, bikes in society, etc. Bella is or has been an Economist contributor, I think. Very well written but note it has a decided UK slant. It was not available in the US when I bought mine but it was easy to find on-line.