Holiday Reading

[Gizmoish]

Coming to that time of year when we'll be lying on beaches thinking of riding. For me, closer than most because I'm off next week. I'll be doing a gym session every morning (ok... Some mornings) to keep in shape...

So: please suggest cycling related books I can read. Biographies, comedy stuff, etc. TIA

[HurryUpAndWait]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Telegraph-Book-Tour-...

Read it on the beach in Dubai - excerpts from the Telegraph for most of the history of the Tour. A good read.

[itsnotarace]

All of these are good reads

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Put-Me-Back-On-Bike/dp/022...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fallen-Angel-Passion-Faust...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merckx-Half-Man-Bike/dp/02...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inside-The-Peloton-Profess...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Racing-Through-Dark-David-...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-Home-Siberia-Rob-L...

[anonymous-user]

some good recommendations in here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=119...

Mark Beaumont's book about his ride around the world is quite good and if you dont mind a lot of history, I've just finished Anne Mustoe's book about her round the world trip in the late 80s too. As the headteacher of an all girls school, her story is somewhat different to todays round-the-world cyclists... as i said lots of historical references, she decides to follow ancient routes so uses lots of roman roads in Europe, the silk route in Asia and so on. I liked it more when she just stops in nice hotels for a week and lounges by the pool!

As auto/biographies go, Fignon, Millar and Nicholas Roches's are excellent, the recent one about Robert Millar is quite interesting too dealing with his "disappearance" well.

"Heroes, Villans and Velodromes" is very good too, its Hoy's biography but will be popular at the moment!

Michael Hutchinson's "The Hour" is great too

Try the charity shops, there are always loads of cycling books in the ones on my High Street.

[itsnotarace]

I found Mark Beaumonts book (The Man Who Cycled the World) ok but it did seem that he relied a lot on his mum to sort things out for him, I bought in on Kindle and read it, but don't think I would read it again

[Gizmoish]

Charity shops, good idea. And David Millar's... I've been meaning to read that.

[anonymous-user]

itsnotarace said:

I found Mark Beaumonts book (The Man Who Cycled the World) ok but it did seem that he relied a lot on his mum to sort things out for him, I bought in on Kindle and read it, but don't think I would read it again

I agree but then a lot of the round the world-ers these days are too interested in times and distance rather than enjoying the ride. Have to get to x in twelve days, cant stop at y because of the schedule...

Forgot to say, that one about the guy with the tandem is pretty good too.

[louiebaby]

I've got Mark Beaumont's round the world one and the "Cycle Snob" one, which is a light-hearted read. You can borrow them if you like, I seem to remember you're central-ish London.

[jfdi]

Gizmoish said:

Coming to that time of year when we'll be lying on beaches thinking of riding.

No bike hire at holiday destination, that's just bad holiday planning

[itsnotarace]

pablo said:

I agree but then a lot of the round the world-ers these days are too interested in times and distance rather than enjoying the ride. Have to get to x in twelve days, cant stop at y because of the schedule...

Forgot to say, that one about the guy with the tandem is pretty good too.

I was tempted to buy Mark Beaumonts Cycling the Americas but some of the reviews on Amazon put me off, in that he skipped most of the countries that I would have enjoyed reading about, due to security issues

In that respect, Rob Lilwall's Cycling Home from Siberia is a much better read

[TSCfree]

Something different? Free country - LEJOG on the blag starting off with nothing but a pair of boxers. Easy to read, not to serious, amusing stories/anecdotes along the way.

[richardxjr]

TSCfree said:

Something different? Free country - LEJOG on the blag starting off with nothing but a pair of boxers. Easy to read, not to serious, amusing stories/anecdotes along the way.

I downloaded and read this yesterday after seeing it mentioned on neilski's blog. Funny and well worth the £2 amazon download

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Country-Penniless-Adv...

[louiebaby]

richardxjr said:

TSCfree said:

Something different? Free country - LEJOG on the blag starting off with nothing but a pair of boxers. Easy to read, not to serious, amusing stories/anecdotes along the way.

I downloaded and read this yesterday after seeing it mentioned on neilski's blog. Funny and well worth the £2 amazon download

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Country-Penniless-Adv...

Just bought the print version as a present for my Dad, who support drove us on our LEJOG last year. I'll nick it next time I'm home!

[AyBee]

Gizmoish said:

Charity shops, good idea. And David Millar's... I've been meaning to read that.

Heard good stuff about David Millar's book - that's what I'll be reading as of Sunday

[TKF]

I haven't read the OP but The Oracle is OK for shops if you get bored of sunbathing

[TonyHetherington]

pablo said:

some good recommendations in here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=119...

Thanks, you saved me finding the link

Off the back of that thread I got David Millar's book and enjoyed it, also Ned Boulting's one too which was very good.

[Gizmoish]

TKF said:

I haven't read the OP but The Oracle is OK for shops if you get bored of sunbathing

Ho ho ho.

(Yes, it's good for hos also).

[Rocksteadyeddie]

itsnotarace said:

All of these are good reads

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fallen-Angel-Passion-Faust...

All good books but the Coppi one is fantastic.

I'd also add "In search of Robert Millar" by Richard Moore.

[Highway Star]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

All good books but the Coppi one is fantastic.

I'd also add "In search of Robert Millar" by Richard Moore.

These two plus the David Millar book are very good.

In the spirit of the upcoming Giro, 'Pedalare Pedalare' is an interesting read around Italy's relationship with cycling.