Recommended reading

[John the Monkey]

John, any chance I could borrow the Robert Millar book?

Sure - a bit selfish of me, but I don't really want it going into the general forum book exchange after you've finished though, as I've not read it yet myself (I wasn't expecting to get to it for a bit though, as I want to read the last Gormenghast book first).

PM me your details and we'll sort it out.

 

[Tetedelacourse]

YHPM

Who does Gormenghast ride for?

 

[Baggy]

Chuffy, do you ever get over to Teignmouth?

Think that you've just given us a destination for our ride today!
<frantically tries not to think about the hill out of Dawlish>

 

[Dayvo]

Worst cycling book is the Pantani book my his ex-manager.

Bloody 'ell! Must be bad!

I thought Paul Kimmage's 'Rough Ride' was the worst one (that I've read)!

 

[Noodley]

Bloody 'ell! Must be bad!

I thought Paul Kimmage's 'Rough Ride' was the worst one (that I've read)!

I thought Kimmage's book was good. Oh well. He's one bitter bugger, but I reckon with some justification...

 

[fossyant]

Hinault's book about Riding and Technique was how I set my bikes up with....

Cracking book, technical, but I've lost it......FFS...... and it even covered Look pedals...as they'd just been introduced.....

The set up is excellent, offers great advice !

Hence I'm still on my old bikes !!!!

 

[Chuffy]

Chuffy, do you ever get over to Teignmouth?

Teignmouth books (station road) has a fantastic cycling section, and the chap who runs it is a keen cyclist himself, and very friendly[1] - I'm sure his shop would be worth a visit, and that he might be able to look out for some stuff for you.

BTW, I'd be interested in what you think of your purchases, once you've had chance to read them.

[1] I tend to spend half an hour browsing the books, and then an hour chatting on my visits

Made it over there this afternoon but, in our usual fashion, with too little time to look around properly. We were greeted with the words 'I'm just closing'...
Having said that we did have a quick look. Mostly various books on Lance but a few others which looked like they might be worth further investigation. Top tip, cheers.

Noodley - Kimmage gets a real pasting from some people but I reckon his book is probably the most honest I've read, as well as being a real eye opener. He certainly doesn't flatter himself at all.

 

[Ludwig]

In addition the the excellent responses, you might want to check Pedro Delgados excellent website and their is also a fascinating fansite of the Dutch King of the Mountains Gert Jan Theunisse.
I bought Steven Roches biog and found it very difficult to read. Regarding Hinault did you hear Sean Kelly's recollections of him boxing his way through a group of striking protesters blocking the road and being a very difficult and awkward person to deal with.

 

[Noodley]

In addition the the excellent responses, you might want to check Pedro Delgados excellent website and their is also a fascinating fansite of the Dutch King of the Mountains Gert Jan Theunisse.
I bought Steven Roches biog and found it very difficult to read. Regarding Hinault did you hear Sean Kelly's recollections of him boxing his way through a group of striking protesters blocking the road and being a very difficult and awkward person to deal with.

IIRC the story re the strikers was that they were blocking the road and rather than slowing down Hinault decided to sprint at them at full pelt and hit them at over 40mph, then despite being injured he picked himself up and laid in about a few of them. He ain't called the Badger for nothing! I never really liked him much TBH...

 

[John the Monkey]

Having said that we did have a quick look. Mostly various books on Lance but a few others which looked like they might be worth further investigation. Top tip, cheers.

I have to admit, I bought a bunch of things last tiime I was in, he might not have got stock levels back up yet (if the missus ever finds out how much that Freddy Maertens book cost, I'll be moving out). If you do go over again, remember that he's closed on Mondays.

Noodley - Kimmage gets a real pasting from some people but I reckon his book is probably the most honest I've read, as well as being a real eye opener. He certainly doesn't flatter himself at all.

I read it recently - I thought it read ok, his tour diaries are a bit terse and hardly the best prose, but that's understandable, I think.

 

[mondobongo]

I thought Kimmage came across as honest but also unhappy, to put all that work in to become a Pro only to find that its not what you thought has to be soul destroying.

Currently reading Breaking the Chain by Willy Voet. Finding it totally unbelievable as well as very sad and find myself hoping that he has sensationalised a lot of what went on.