Mar
29
2010
Pedaling for Glory: Victory and Drama in Professional Bicycle Racing
Posted by Blogmaster in Books (Bicycle Racing), tags: Bicycle, Drama, Glory, Pedaling, Professional, Racing, Victory
Product Description
An examination of the 1996 professional bicycle racing season. From the early races in March, braving snow and ice in Terenno-Adriatico, to the sweltering heat at the Spanish Vuelta and the summer Olympics, Samuel Abt follows the races and racers, and features interviews with the professionals.
Pedaling for Glory: Victory and Drama in Professional Bicycle Racing
Entries (RSS)
A very slim book – could easily have been fleshed out with the addition of 50 pages or so which would have made it worth the money.
Readers are expected to have knowledge of the men’s pro circuit – no background is given to orientate newbies to the sport.
Lots of names are dropped, but since the author doesn’t focus on any one person, hard to keep interested.
Rating: 3 / 5
There is a lot of info in this book, to flesh out, the central theme is the 1997 Tour de France, won by Scandinavian Bjarne Riijs, still active in coaching TdF teams; but includes a wide array of professional cycling information on cyclists in Mexico, the Tour of China, cyclists in Colombia & Japan for that matter; the Winner of the Tour de France Bjarne Riijs and other cyclists, such as the “Mig” Indurain (of whom the book “Champion” by this author is written about) and many others. But I am in agreement, that the writing style, at times, could be improved… I would grade it as a teacher as a “B” or “C+” because, considering the provocative nature of the subject, and the author, in fact taking it on, there is room for improvement. Parts of the book do excel.
It is not the author’s fault that actually, some of this material, has not been widely reported in the United States. So,in a way, he is the first person transmitting this material to us in the USA at least.
A 160 pager, managed to find it…worth it.
Rating: 4 / 5