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Bicycle Books – Reviews

I read this book in one day because it was damn good. I wanted to covet every word written; it’s about hope, it’s about survival and it helps to know a little about the most grueling athletic event in the world – the Tour de France. How this man survived a major illness with a 2% chance of survival and got on his bike the very next year and won is a force of determination beyond human comprehension.

DaveClarkVibe

For those not inclined to reading anything, this is a quick read, not because it is simplistic (which it is not), but rather because the story is engrossing and ultimately, uplifting. For those not knowledgable about the world of competitive cycling, after reading this book you may find yourself tuning into this summer’s Tour de France just to watch Lance do what he does best – living life.From the opening sentence, Lance Armstrong makes it clear to his audience that this is not a book about the Tour de France (even though it is the subject of the longest chapter in the book), nor about cycling (though it serves as the constant backgrop of his story). Lance takes you with him, day by day, into his personal struggle with cancer, chemo, and near death. But he also shares the romance of finding true love and the personal gratification of winning the ultimate cycling challenge, the Tour de France. The book is filled with personal lessons found previously in other writings such
Mateo Dante

Wow! I just now finished the last page of Lance Armstrong’s incredible story, and I had to share my thoughts and feelings. At several times throughout reading this book, I found tears welling up in my eyes (a bit self-consciously, as I did most of the reading in public places). I was touched and moved by the honesty of Lance’s telling of all the aspects of his experience, as a champion bike-racer and as the conqueror of an almost-surely fatal disease, but mostly of his growth and unfolding as a person, his expanded awareness of the difference he has made and continues to make in peoples’ lives.In the last chapter, Lance says "The one thing the illness has convinced me of beyond all doubt–more than any experience I’ve had as an athlete–is that we are much better than we know. We have unrealized capacities that sometimes only emerge in crisis."This statement sums up the sense he gives throughout the book, that it is not in fame or unparalled achievement that we can expe
C. Schilling


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These and more in eight stories of gears, pedals, and the need to RIDE.

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NY VELOCITY says:

“The theme of “bike” is an obvious thread that runs throughout these nine short stories, but more importantly, identity is at the heart of many of these…perhaps most obviously in the chilling “I’m Bob Deerman.” I found the contribution by the editor of the book, Keith Snyder, to be especially poignant and his story, as well as the shop talk in Christopher Ryan’s, are the most seamless examples of bicycles serving the story effortlessly. There is a nice bit of cathartic revenge fantasizing done by Simon Wood. Kent Peterson’s contribution is an unabashed love letter to biking…and Taliah Lampert’s illustrations are wonderful…”
—William Carey, NY VELOCITY

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BICYCLING MAGAZINE says:

“This is one of those books that was put together for love, outside of the mainstream publishing scene…original illustrations by Taliah Lempert appear on the cover and with each story. My favorite, I think: Red Dot, by Barbara Jaye Wilson.”
—Bill Strickland, BICYCLING

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
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Have you ever felt the cold barrel of a semi automatic gun against your forehead?

When Danny Bent cycled 15,000 kilometres from the UK to India to raise money for ActionAid, it was a decision that took twenty years and one minute. For twenty years he had wanted to do something to raise money for charity. The one minute was when as their teacher he was put on the spot by his pupils and declared that the means was by bike, and he was going to India.

What he had signed up for was slogging along roads with trucks bearing down on him, unable to see and choking in the smog; shooting down treacherous descents with 100 foot drops, shaking with cold and too numb to brake; muscle burn and saddle sores; delirium and food poisoning; thirst and malnutrition; foul and insanitary conditions; life-threatening crises; obstructive border guards, crazed dogs and inquisitive passers-by.

‘You’ve Gone Too Far This Time, Sir!’ is a real and compelling blow-by-blow account of Danny’s trip across Europe, the former Soviet Republics, Russia, China, Pakistan and India.

And what people he met! They are the true delight of this book, mostly charming, sometimes reckless, occasionally threatening, always unpredictable, and forever inviting Danny to be up for the challenge of entertaining them, in one instance by dancing in front of a packed stadium, in another by eating sheep’s brains in a local night market.

Danny turns the wheels, you turn the pages. The pace is relentless. The story is both heart-stopping and heart-warming. The arrival is breakdown-and-cry emotional. And there’s loads of fun and wonderment along the way too.

What a book! What a ride! Live your dream.

Go for it, Danny.

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
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A race of that magnitude demands a daunting training plan, which Jill aspires to until she literally breaks the ice on a frozen lake in the Alaska wilderness. Serious frostbite proves to only be the beginning in a series of setbacks that threaten to change her dream from outlandish to impossible. But, as Jill explains to a skeptical friend, “The fact that something’s impossible has never been a good reason not to try.”

“Be Brave, Be Strong,” is the true story of an adventure driven relentlessly forward as foundations crumble. This is a brutally honest account of one woman’s incredible journey and simple discovery — to take on the world’s toughest mountain bike race, one doesn’t have to be the world’s toughest woman. Not even close.

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
no reviews available

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In 1980, there were exactly four professional bike racers in America. Six years later, an American cycling team would wear the coveted yellow jersey of the Tour de France. And that same team would go on to win Italy’s greatest race—the Giro d’Italia—only two years later. Team 7-Eleven is the extraordinary story of how two Olympic speed skaters, Jim Ochowicz and Eric Heiden, pulled together a small group of amateur cyclists and turned them into one of the greatest cycling teams the sport has known. From humble beginnings in a barn in Pennsylvania to soaring victories in the French Alps, Team 7-Eleven is the complete history that has never been fully told—until now.

The 7-Eleven Cycling Team—Team 7-Eleven for short—launched the careers of American cycling superstars Andy Hampsten, Davis Phinney, Bob Roll, Ron Kiefel, and many more. It also changed the cycling world, creating a new team structure based on multiple stars, unified goals, and personal sacrifice for the greater good. And yet at the time it was formed, the number of American cyclists with world-class experience could be counted—literally—on one hand. And the number of American teams that competed in Europe’s biggest races was exactly zero.

Team 7-Eleven is the amazing story of how two cycling fans found one exceptional sponsor and created the greatest American cycling team of its era.

Written with the enthusiastic cooperation of the team members, Team 7-Eleven will impress cycling fans with behind-the-scenes stories of the team’s founding, its growing pains, and its lasting success as the team that established America as a powerhouse in the world of professional cycling.

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
no reviews available

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So take that, Dr. Lämmler.

Taken from the first two-ish years of the FatCyclist.com blog, but peppered with new insights, introductions, and an absurd number of footnotes describing what Fatty was thinking as he wrote, this book contains valuable information every cyclist absolutely must know. Marvel at Fatty’s penetrating analysis of cycling company ads, his completely scientific method for rating the value of each cyclist you pass during recreational rides, his keen insight regarding how to pee while riding your bike, a whole bunch of epic ride stories, and quite a few pretty decent swipes at Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France.
And more. Much more. No, even more than that.

Comedian Mastermind is like the FatCyclist blog, but with Fatty standing behind you, reading over your shoulder, and telling you what he was thinking while he wrote and why he wrote it, all while eating a sizable sandwich. And it’s only the good parts – none of the stuff where Fatty just phoned it in.

It makes excellent bathroom reading material.

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
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Bicycle Books – Reviews

I got back into road biking about 3 years ago to lower my blood pressure and get some stress relief. The last two years I ventured into longer rides (50, 65, 100 miles). I could complete the rides, but was feeling … well slow, compared with the other riders. This book has taught me more about my bike and some fundamental skills. The best sections in my mind are those on exercise physiology, training, and nutrition. They quickly gave me some clue how to train, and why certain things were needed. Especially good is that the book is quite small and concise. I could read and get a lot of value from it in the first week.

Kenneth Jordan

If your looking for a book that not only coverers all aspects of road cycling (buying, maintenance, training, riding skills), but also does it in a clear concise method, then this is the book.
As a mountain biker, who just bought my first road bike, I was looking for any and all the information I could find on road cycling. I have read a few magazines and bought one other book, but it did not give me the all the information that I was looking for. After buying this book, I immediately knew that this was the book I was looking for. I not only read it in a few days, but also have been referring back to it, as I have become a more experienced rider.
Everything is covered: from getting “fitted” riding in the rain, the importance of riding to a 90 cadence, group riding, racing tactics, training, to maintaining your bike. It is all here. Highly recommended.

Betty P. Pullings

I am new to road cycling, and this was the perfect book to get me going. It answers many of the questions I was embarrassed to ask others, and is something I keep referring to as I gain more experience. I recommend it to all new cyclists.

DOUBLE BOGEY GUY


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Mastering Mountain Bike Skills is your guide for riding better, faster and more confidently on all terrain. World champion racer Brian Lopes and renowned coach Lee McCormack provide you with all of the key techniques and skills you’ll need to take your ride to the next level.

This new and improved edition of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills provides detailed, technical instruction for every mountain biking discipline:

·      Trail

·      Gravity

·      Aggro

·      Racing

·      and more

The high-quality photo sequences and demonstrations combined with race stories from Brian Lopes will give you the tools you need, whether you’re a recreational rider looking to rock the trails with friends or a rider looking to beat the competition. Let Mastering Mountain Bike Skills help you ride with more confidence and have more fun.

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Bicycle Books – Reviews
no reviews available

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Bicycle Books – Reviews

Ride Your Way Lean does more than just advocate cycling as a weight loss program: it tells exactly how to use the bicycle to optimize loss, from understanding connections between speed and duration and calorie-burning to selecting the proper bicycle, choosing the gear that will make the most of calorie burning, and eating before and after the ride. A fine survey for any interested in optimizing bicycle use for weight loss!

California Duet

Read through the book and doing some of the plans currently. Thought the book was great for beginning rider to get you a good foundation of riding miles. This is my 1st year riding and while I come from a running background some of the training does differ slightly. I wouldn’t recommend it for an experienced cyclist. Probably too basic for that group.

My only drawback is that some of the weekend workouts may be unrealistic for some unless you have an indoor trainer (I just got one since I love to ride). I would think most with a family could get out on Saturday OR Sunday for a 2+ hour ride but most likely not another 1.5 hour ride on the other day.

You will also want to make sure you get a heart rate monitor too. Since most of us can’t afford a power meter (preferred way of cyclist training) heart rate monitor is the next best thing that you can get for under $100. It will make sure you stay in the proper zone so you get enough rest on your easy rides and work out hard eno
Andrea

With wonderful clarity Selene Yeager tells you how to lose weight while having fun on a bike (okay, the hills are not necessarily fun all the time), fun being important because, if you’re like me, and you choose a form of exercise that’s a drudge or just unpleasant, your resolve will soften along with your waist. This book makes it clear that biking is a highly effective exercise for fitness and weight loss. It’s full of training schedules and nutrition info to take you from tubby to buff. And it’s inspiring. I have highly technical books like “The Cyclist’s Training Manual,” which are informative but charmless. Selene makes you feel like your being coached by a friendly expert who has the goods to get you to whatever level of svelte fitness you’re looking for.

Ilene Hobson


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