Cycling book to read!

[MARKE020272]

All,

Going on holiday next week, can anyone recommend a decent cycling related book to read while I'm away. Not necessarily an autobiography type book.

Thanks

 

[mikehenfron]

Have you tried any of Edward Enfield's travel books, very light and enchanting. Currently reading "Greece on my Wheels"

 

[simon_brooke]

If you haven't read The Rider, read it. It's one of the best books you will ever read.

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

I just know im going to get slated for this one (If things in here are anything like they are over in 'Racing' forum!)

but I still think like him or loathe him, Lance Armstrong's 'Its not about the Bike' is an inspiring read.

cue controversy... .

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Oh no, another 27+ page thread

 

[2wheelsgood]

This is probably a bit too off the wall but Phil Rickman's 'The Remains of an Altar' must be one of the few novels in which a ghostly bike and its rider play a central role. It's not giving too much away to say it turns out to be Edward Elgar and his beloved bike, Mr Phoebus.

It's one of Rickman's 'Merrily Watkins' series, a crime-supernatural hybrid about a C of E exorcist in a rural, crime-ridden diocese - sort of Dennis Wheatley meets The Archers at Agatha Christie's house.

 

[Arch]

Tim Moore's French Revolutions. Hilarious.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Revolutions-Cycling-Tour-France/dp/0099433826

 

[Dayvo]

+1 for The Rider.

I've just started Riding High and it looks like a good read, too.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Two Wheels by Matt Seaton, a collection of his columns from the Guardian, and +1 for The Rider

 

[JamesM]

I've just started on It's not about the bike. It's been a good read so far. I've just finished In Search of Robert Millar too which I would highly recommend. (Both average 5 stars on the amazon reviews as you can see from the links)

 

[Hont]

I've read quite a few cycling books recently - mainly biographies. Ranked in order of my opinion...

1) "The Death of Marco Pantani" which I read on holiday in Italy. But it's probably not your average holiday read and you need to start it with an open mind.
2) "Sex, Lies and Handlebar tape" about Jacques Anquetil is fascinating because he was just so interesting.
3) "It's not about the Bike" is great but is rather obviously ghost written. Not for Lance haters, though. The sequel is uninteresting and not half as good.
4) "In Search of Robert Millar". Solid and well researched. The subject matter is maybe too guarded to make it a classic.
5) "Put me back on my bike" about Tom Simpson is good in parts but obviously quite sad.

 

[swee'pea99]

The Rider's quite good, but 'one of the best books you will ever read'? Hmmm. Maybe one of the best (cycling-related) books you will ever read.

 

[DaveM]

Tim Moore's French Revolutions. Hilarious.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Revolutions-Cycling-Tour-France/dp/0099433826

Just finishing reading that myself, very funny

 

[Dayvo]

I think it's a kind of Jonathan Livingston Seagull-type book, which is intrinsically about seagulls, but goes somewhat deeper. As does this book, but with cyclists!

Move over, Richard and Judy: Dayvo the book critic is here!

 

[xpc316e]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/190520325X/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

If you like books about cycle travel you'll love the book in the link above. 'Why Don't You Fly? Back Door To Beijing - By Bicycle' is about a guy who gets made redundant and decides to ride to China. It is very well-written, funny at times, and above all inspirational.