Book Recommendations

[Trekhawk]

I have read a few good cycling books lately and wondered if anyone had any others they would like to recommend.

Here are the ones I have read and enjoyed so far:

Lance Armstrong's War - Daniel Coyle

A Significant Other - Matt Rendell

Heft On Wheels - Mike Magnuson

The Race - Dave Shields
The Tour - Dave Shields (Thanks for recommending these SK they were a great read and Dave Shields signed them both when we were at LRRH)

Bicycle Love - (these stories were all submitted to a writing contest Breakaway Books sponsored)

Metal Cowboy - Joe Kurmaskie

Chasing Lance - Martin Dugard.

[Nanci]

I did NOT like Inside the Postal Bus by, I think, Dave Barry.

I'm reading a book right now called 23 Days in July, about Lance's 6th TDF. Like a lot. Also about other riders.

I just finished "The Rider" by Tim Krabbe, which was very short, and I liked it a lot.

Travels With Lucy, by Chris Buerki. About a guy who rides from Florida to California with his dog in a trailer.

[Veronica]

Bob Roll's book Bobke was a good read.
Outside the Lines is quite similar to Metal Cowboy, but enjoyable.

V.

[Lifesgreat]

Need for the Bike by Paul Fournel

I really like this collection of VERY short essays about his observations of cycling and cyclists.

I also liked 23 Days in July and Heft on Wheels.

[SouthernBelle]

I did NOT like Inside the Postal Bus by, I think, Dave Barry.



Michael Barry. Dave Barry is a humor columnist formerly with the Miami paper. :D

[Nanci]

I think I have a _real_ Dave Barry book sitting at home, that I can't get into either!!

[Deanna]

A while ago I read a book, "Two Wheels: A Cycling Murder Mystery" by Greg Moody. I believe the author went on to write a whole series if you like mystery fiction.

[Cassandra_Cain]

I really enjoyed the Lance Armstrong's Wars book.

Good way to see the many faces of an individual....

[AllezGirl]

Miles From Nowhere by Barbara Savage

I could not put this down...for anyone who dreams of cycling around the world, this is a must read!

[mlove]

Tour de France, 1903-2003 : a century of sporting structures, meanings, and values, editors Hugh Dauncey, Geoff Hare

This is a really interesting set of essays about the Tour de France, its meaning in French history, its effect on the media, and its commercialism. There is an interview with Jean-Marie Le Blanc at the beginning and there are essays about doping problems at the end, but I haven't gotten that far yet. It was produced for the centenary. Some illustrations but not a big coffee-table book. :o

[Quillfred]

I am finishing a non-fiction that is great for those of us that are new to building distance:

"The Complete Book (usually this sends me running) of Long-Distance Cycling" by Edmund Burke and Ed Pavelka

There is much covered here and not the filler I have seen in other similar books.

[Cassandra_Cain]

I am finishing a non-fiction that is great for those of us that are new to building distance:

"The Complete Book (usually this sends me running) of Long-Distance Cycling" by Edmund Burke and Ed Pavelka

There is much covered here and not the filler I have seen in other similar books.

Hey! I've read that book, the one by Burke & Pavelka. Definitely, a different perspective than most other books.

[Eden]

If you've ever wondered about the messenger lifestyle you might try The Immortal Class - Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power by Travis Culley

[margo49]

Chasing the Chimney Sweep - a joyride around the first Tour de France by Selwyn Parker, Penguin 2006

Really nice light yarn about a trip thru rural France sort of on the route of the 1903 TdeF.

[limewave]

Fiction book with cycling that I enjoyed: The Memory of Running by Ron McClarty (I think). Synopsis: Man find salvation riding his road bike across country.

[baskingshark]

If you like Bill Bryson-type humor, a book I read recently was "French Revolutions" by Tim Moore. The book is his account of riding the same route as that year's tour de france, despite being completely unfit, totally inexperienced and woefully unprepared. It's very funny.

[Veronica]

I also read French Revolutions. Very funny.

V.

[Nanci]

I have French Revolutions, but it's next on the list.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm reading "The Art of Urban Cycling" right now and am enjoying it. A lot of the stuff applies to cycling anywhere, not just in cities.

[Lifesgreat]

I have already posted, but I had to again. I thought of another book or two.

I, too, have read French Revolutions and thought it was funny. I really like Bill Bryson too-he doesn't do cycling, but is a fun read.

Cold Beer and Crocodiles by Roff Martin Smith is an account of riding AROUND Australia. I really liked it too. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0792279522

[Nanci]

Ooh, I forgot one!! Downhill: the Life Story of a Gravity Goddess by Marla Strebb. I bet I've read that three or four times. Love it.

[Trekhawk]

WOW - thanks ladies. I nip out for a few hours (off to school so my youngest can meet his new teacher for Kindergarten) and get back to a million recommendations. OK maybe not a million but a good twenty or so.

A few books on this list I have seen and been tempted to get - French Revolutions and Gravity Goddess. Now I know they are good I will definitely read them.

Limewave - I have read The Memory of Running and loved it.

Quillred - I have The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling and I agree its a good one.

Thanks again ladies. Im going to print out this thread so I can use it next time I visit the book shop.:)

[Nanci]

Trekhawk-

You can gets lots of books cheap if you find them at Amazon, then look under used books. There are almost always super good deals there on any book I'm looking for...

Nanci

[Bikingmomof3]

I'm reading "The Art of Urban Cycling" right now and am enjoying it. A lot of the stuff applies to cycling anywhere, not just in cities.

I keep contemplating buying this book. Is it worth it? Okay, I am an avid book lover, just books are not actually in my budget now and so I ned to be careful which I buy. Sadly, my library does not carry this one.

[roshelleuop]

Triathlons for Women by Sally Edwards

She does a really good job with helping to create a program, getting you through the program, and also providing motivation. My favorite parts are when she provided detailed descriptions and diagrams of biking, swimming, and running for those people (like myself) that can't afford a personal trainer.

Thanks ladies!!!!
Roshelle from Milwaukee

[Hetty]

I like Josie Dew's books - if you like British sense of humour and the added bonus of a woman's perspective. She definitely doesn't take herself too seriously! :p
http://www.josiedew.co.uk/

[Trekhawk]

Trekhawk-

You can gets lots of books cheap if you find them at Amazon, then look under used books. There are almost always super good deals there on any book I'm looking for...

Nanci

Thanks for the tip Nanci - I will check it out.

[light_sabe_r]

I'm reading "The Art of Urban Cycling" right now and am enjoying it. A lot of the stuff applies to cycling anywhere, not just in cities.


I also picked this one up from my library. ^_^

It's a great read.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I keep contemplating buying this book. Is it worth it? Okay, I am an avid book lover, just books are not actually in my budget now and so I ned to be careful which I buy. Sadly, my library does not carry this one.
Jennifer, you can get one used from amazon.com for $7.50 plus shipping:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762727837/sr=1-1/qid=1155764985/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7048837-4321557?ie=UTF8&s=books

[SnappyPix]

Another recommendation here for "Chasing the Chimney Sweep" - have just finished reading it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's meanders back and forth between a journey through France, retracing the steps of the very first Tour - and factual/historical stuff about the 1903 Tour itself. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I read the conditions those first Tour riders had to endure. It's a brilliant read.

Hetty - thanks for the nudge about Josie Dew - I'm a massive fan of her books, so witty and fun to read - and I've just been on her site and see she has a new one out! Yay! And it covers New Zealand. Yay!

[Clare]

Great thread! Always looking for good bike reads.

I second Barbara Savage's "Miles from Nowhere." One of the best books on cycyling that I've read. Also "Where the Pavement Ends" by Erika Warmbrunn is good.

Clare

[Hetty]

Hetty - thanks for the nudge about Josie Dew - I'm a massive fan of her books, so witty and fun to read - and I've just been on her site and see she has a new one out! Yay! And it covers New Zealand. Yay!

Hey Snappy - you are really lucky to live in NZ (I'm assuming you do). I would love to emigrate but have an inert boyfriend who has no interest in leaving Blighty! :rolleyes: I just got the Saddled at Sea book and it's actually mostly about her journey out to NZ on a ship rather than cycling around it (still good fun tho). Her website says the book about cycling around NZ is out in spring so will have to wait a bit more for that.

[SnappyPix]

Hetty,

Ooh, another book on the way - brilliant! I now have two books to look forward to!
I'm only here until the end of the year now, I'm afraid, and then return to Blighty for good - and go immediately from late Spring to the start of Winter (again) overnight! :(
I'm treating myself to a turbo trainer when I get home though, so that'll be something to look forward to!

Sorry, going off thread.