Reading the Ride
Back in September when I found myself in the throes of a mysterious and debilitating malaise I decided to get a bit of new reading into the house. If I couldn't ride my bike at least I could immerse myself in some cycling literature. Jonathan Vaughters' biography "One Way Ticket" had just been released, which I'd been eagerly anticipating. I decided to treat myself to a couple of other books while I was at it. A bit of variety seemed like a good idea, so I chose a narrative about a half day race called "The Rider" by Tim Krabbé and a collection of snapshots of pro cycling: "Around the World in 80 Days ~ A ride through the greatest cycling stories", written by Giles Belbin and illustrated by Daniel Seex.
Three Thumbnail Reviews
Around the World in 80 Days
There were three things I really liked about this book. Firstly, it canvasses a lot of different cyclists across the history of pro cycling through 80 days of the calendar year, starting on the 2nd of January with the death of Fausto Coppi through to the record for distance ridden in a year set by Tommy Godwin in 1939 - which stood for over 76 years!
The second thing I liked is that each portrait is a brief snapshot which can be read in just a few minutes, a nice bit of inspiration before heading off for a two-wheeled adventure of your own. (Actually, I had to discipline myself at times not to rush ahead and gobble it all up too quickly!) Belbin, who is a specialist cycling journalist, is clearly engaged with his topic. Each vignette is well written - often quite poignantly. In relatively few words one gets a real sense of each character.
Finally, the illustrations add a nice counterpoint to the text. They are imaginative and quite varied. I found myself wondering pictorial surprise awaited as I was about to turn each page.
The Rider
This book is just a brilliant read for anyone who is an enthusiast of the sport of cycling. Snippets from the back cover do it far better justice than I ever could so here are a few: "published in Holland in 1978, The Rider became an instant cult classic."; "a loving, imaginative, and above all, passionate tribute to the art of bicycle road racing"; "a literary masterpiece that describes in painstaking detail one 150 kilometre ride in a mere 150 pages"; "compelling ... irradiated by an intense love of cycling and a fascination with the nature of the racing experience"; "Its infectious pace accelerates to an unsparing conclusion".
If you pick up this book you will want it to last and last. Absolutely wonderful.
One Way Ticket ~ Nine Lives on Two Wheels
Jonathan Vaughters' biography is engrossing, well-written, highly detailed, engaging and, at times, difficult reading.
Vaughters holds nothing back: this really is a warts-and-all sort of book. What is difficult is seeing someone of outstanding talent and determination succumb to the insidious regime of doping that existed in the late 1990's through the first decade of the 21st century.
He describes going from being a bone-rack of a kid who finished dead last in his first race and wanting to give up the game before he'd really got started, to being obsessed with cycling - seen as a weirdo and bullied by his mainstream gridiron and baseball playing contemporaries - then emerging, along with the likes of Hincapie and Armstrong, as a bright young star of American cycling. And then there is the move to Europe and the dawning realisation that pretty much anyone who is winning is also doping. Vaughters' defection to their ranks is sad to witness, but it's also inspiring to read about his work to redeem the sport. It's a roller coaster of a ride and I highly recommend it.
Oh, and an appeal for help. If you feel at all inclined to aid my efforts in raising funds for improving mens' health outcomes, please go to my page on the November site. Donations of any size would be much appreciated and I'll send you a personal thank you.
Cheers!
Doug
