[SideBurn]

I have just been reading a few cycling books, most recently ‘Slaying the Badger’ but I have also read Tyler Hamilton’s book, David Miller’s book and one of the Jacques Anquetil books ‘Sex, lies and handlebar tape’. All good stuff….. I do like autobiographies 🙂
Sunday; ran a marathon, well 20 miles of one before I had to stop with a problem with my foot. A visit to A&E (the shame) and some Dihydrocodeine later I am now sitting with my foot in the air…. and in need of some more good books. Any suggestions?
I will forgive any suggestions that I should get the new book ‘The Rules’ (Rule 42) ’cause if I had stuck to it/them I would not be sitting here :”(

Topic

[Anonymous]

Farky wrote:Domestique –

Farky wrote:

Domestique – Charly Wegelius

Alongside Dave Millars story for realism in cycling – eye opening for many UK cyclists who arent actually aware of life in european pelotons.

Really well ghost-written too, by another rider turned writer, Tom Southam.

I was hoping for a good review of ‘Domestique’ – it sounded good from the few bits Id read on web.
I’ll give it a try now

[Joselito]

South Manchester people,
The
South Manchester people,
The Works in Stockport has Will Foth’s Roule Brittania and Matt Rendell’s ‘A Significant Other’ going for a couple of quid each.

Anyone read ‘A siginificant other’?
For some reason, I bought ‘Roule…’ but not the Rendell book.

[Ghedebrav]

ragtimecyclist wrote:You must

ragtimecyclist wrote:

You must read ‘We were young and carefree’ by Laurent Fignon. The pleasure he takes in being a free spirited Frenchman jumps off the pages – and he deserves to be remembered for more than just losing to LeMond by 8 seconds – cracking read.

Seconded with gusto! Great book.

Ned Boulting’s ‘How I Won the Yellow Jumper’ is an engaging and funny account of how he had to (quickly) get up to speed on pro-cycling, and how it became an obsession.

On a different tack, I also enjoyed Matt Seaton’s ‘The Escape Artist’, a reflective (and occasionally moving) memoir about how club cycling shaped his life.

If you can find it, Tim Hilton’s ‘One More Kilometre and We’re in the Showers’ about the post-war club scene is fab, but I think out of print now.

As mentioned above, anything by Matt Rendell is generally excellent.

Finally I’m in the middle of Daniel Friebe’s Merckx bio, ‘The Cannibal’ and very much enjoying it. I chose this over the Fotheringham one as Friebe’s seemed a bit more about the character of the man, and a bit less obsessed with listing every single result in the guy’s life. I do generally like William Fotheringham’s work though.

[Farky]

Domestique – Charly
Domestique – Charly Wegelius

Alongside Dave Millars story for realism in cycling – eye opening for many UK cyclists who arent actually aware of life in european pelotons.

Really well ghost-written too, by another rider turned writer, Tom Southam.

[SideBurn]

‘The Rider’ by Tim Crabbe is
‘The Rider’ by Tim Crabbe is on the way…. The Fignon book is coming up a lot 😕
+ I go away for a few days and all these smileys pop up? <:P
Willy Voet’s book has gone down well :H “Willy Voet is completely full of shit”, said Lance A. =))
But the foot is nearly there :X No more drugs 8} No more trying to work out what is wrong :B But the upside is I have been racking up a few more miles on the bike =P~ The sights and smells of early Autumn 8} and :& ‘Emergency’ physio in 23 days =)) or 8> maybe :W :W Cheers :H :H

[SideBurn]

I would second your opinion
I would second your opinion on William Fotheringham’s book about Merkx, Merkx does come across as a bit bonkers though. 100k in sleet and snow as a, presumably, self imposed punishment for not winning the Fleche? Just before the Liege? I will put ‘The Cannibal’ on the list 8> I like these smileys! :H :H

[ragtimecyclist]

You must read ‘We were young
You must read ‘We were young and carefree’ by Laurent Fignon. The pleasure he takes in being a free spirited Frenchman jumps off the pages – and he deserves to be remembered for more than just losing to LeMond by 8 seconds – cracking read.

[Anonymous]

As mentioned by others I
As mentioned by others I would recommend The Death of Marco Pantani highly. Mind you he was my favourite while he was riding and remains so now, despite his faults!
Daniel Friebe’s biography of Eddy Merckx is also excellent.
I wasn’t so keen on the David Millar one but I haven’t read it for a while so it probably deserves another try.

[Kapelmuur]

pants wrote:Laurent Fignon’s

pants wrote:

Laurent Fignon’s we were young and carefree is the best cycling autobiography I’ve read.

Includes a description of how the Colombians imported the white powder B-)

[pants]

Laurent Fignon’s we were
Laurent Fignon’s we were young and carefree is the best cycling autobiography I’ve read.

[Pondo]

+1 for the Richard Moore and
+1 for the Richard Moore and William Fortheringham ones mentioned above. Didn’t really enjoy the Reg Harris one – but one cycling book I haven’t seen mentioned above that I rate as essential, required reading is The Hour, by Dr Hutch. Fantastic book – my favourite on cycling, and one of my all-time favourites of any genre.

[charliepalooza]

Another vote for Ned
Another vote for Ned Boulting’s book. Excellent journey through the characters and history of cycling along with some laugh out loud moments. The final chapter commentary on MAMILs is spot on.

BTW Boulting reads the audiobook version himself – thoroughly recommended.

[SideBurn]

Have just enjoyed ‘Part Man
Have just enjoyed ‘Part Man Part Bike’garnished with viewing ‘A Sunday in Hell’ (YouTube) Cheers lc1981 🙂 Have just got to the ‘maths’ chapter…in ‘Obsessive compulsive cycling disorder’ I am glad I am not the only one who does this, Cheers andylul 🙂

[SideBurn]

I have just enjoyed ‘In
I have just enjoyed ‘In search of Robert Millar’ certainly an interesting character who did a lot to raise the profile of UK cycling, in terms of results not PR! It seems a shame that someone with his knowledge and ability was cold shouldered by the establishment, but you can see why the BCF did not want him 🙁
I have moved on to Naproxen now; an anti-inflammatory… but I still cannot walk :”(

[slh40]

Yes, The Rider is
Yes, The Rider is excellent.

I also have a real soft spot for Jean Bobet’s Tomorrow We Ride. Wonderful book. Probably my favourite cycling read.

The escape artist by Matt Seaton is also very good, as is the excellent Flying Scotsman by Obree.

[Author]

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