Good Cycling Book/Autobiographies?

[TonyHetherington]

Hi all

I'm sure there was a thread ont his previously, but I can't find it for some reason.

I'm going on holiday next week (cycling in South West Portugal) - so it will be 4-5 hours of cycling in the morning, by the pool in the afternoon. I'm quite looking forward to it

Anyway, I thought I'd hunt out some good books for inbetween afternoon snoozes; any recommendations? Be they an autobiogrpahy, a skills book, or something else?!
Thanks!

[Rouleur]

Sounds like a nice holiday!

I'm currently a quarter of the way through David Millar's book and really enjoying it http://www.amazon.co.uk/Racing-Through-Dark-David-...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slaying-Badger-LeMond-Hina... is brilliant although I'm biased as I watched these 1985/86 Tours at the time

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roule-Britannia-History-Br... is a good read too

[NitroNick]

Boy Racer by Cav is worth a read.
The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton (i've only started this one, was just published last week)

[TonyHetherington]

Interesting - I saw someone reading David Millar's book on the train the other day, which made me think to get a cycling specific book for holiday. I'm not a quick reader so 2 books max is probably my limit

[ngdragon]

Put me back on my bike about tommy Simpson....brilliant read

[MadDad]

ngdragon said:

Put me back on my bike about tommy Simpson....brilliant read

+1 - I read it while in South West Portugal a couple of weeks ago. If I had known you were going to visit I would have left it by the pool for you!

I also recommend Merckx; Half man, half bike - I am in the middle of it now, another book that is difficult to put down.

[Rico]

Ironman/Triathlon rather than pure cycling but these two are ace

Chrissie Wellington's autobiography - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Without-Limits-Autobi...

Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Swim-Ride-Run-ebook/d...

[Justin S]

I read Bradley Wiggins book, last week by the pool. Onlys goes up the the Bejing Olympics, but was quite interesting.

[okgo]

I liked The Hour by Hutch. Great insight into how anal you can get about cycling

[TonyHetherington]

okgo said:

I liked The Hour by Hutch. Great insight into how anal you can get about cycling

Oooo. I'm an OCD sufferer. I like the sound of this

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - exactly what I was looking for. I'll have a quick google/amazon check and get buying!

[Hackney]

+1s for:

Put Me Back On My Bike
Racing Through The Dark

And I'll add:
Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi (also by Fotheringham)
We Were Young And Carefree - Laurent Fignon

"aren't you the guy who lost the tour by 8 seconds?"
"No Sir, I'm the guy who won it twice"

[Stack]

Just read the David Millar book & it was terrific.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Hackney said:

+1s for:

Put Me Back On My Bike
Racing Through The Dark

And I'll add:
Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi (also by Fotheringham)
We Were Young And Carefree - Laurent Fignon

"aren't you the guy who lost the tour by 8 seconds?"
"No Sir, I'm the guy who won it twice"

Agree with all of this. I would add "In search of Robert Millar" which is a great book.

[scubadude]

Just reading "Why don't you Fly" (http://cycleuktochina.com/) about a chap who cycled to China solo and unsupported, including a lap of India on the way!

[Nigel H]

I enjoyed Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage, and especially David Millar's ato-biog

[IroningMan]

This year's summer holiday got me through David Millar's book, Ned Boulting's 'How I Won the Yellow Jumper' and John Bruyneel's 'We Might as Well Win', along with a collection of Guardian pieces that was thrown in with my 'Maillot Brittanique' t-shirt.

'The Hour' is good, too, but Ned Boulting writes very well.

[neilski]

Moods of Future Joys - Alastair Humphreys
Thunder & Sunshine - Alastair Humphreys
Cycling Home from Siberia - Rob Lilwall
Long Ride for a Pie - Tim Mulliner

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks everyone - I've got David Millar and the Ned Boulting books on their way to me, as well as my current Jeremy Clarkson and the new EVO mag.

Perfect

I'll be sure to share and annoy with tales of wonderful hot sunny cycling roads. Only thing is, apparently we're entered into a race on the final day of our trip. Uh oh.

[gazza285]

Reg Harris "Two Wheels To The Top".