Product Description

This new collection from cyclist Bob Roll reflects his unique perspective on the professional racing circuit and his own brand of dry humor. Straightforward yet sly, funny but perhaps a little crazy, Roll calls it like he sees it. Here are anecdotes about the Tour de France, international mountain-bike tournaments, training struggles, heart-stopping crashes, and personal vendettas, all of which provide a fascinating inside look at the world of championship cycling.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18005 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Customer Reviews

Bobke takes passion from the road and puts it in a book
As someone who loves cycling but finds most books on the subject more boring than watching paint dry, this book is a refreshing change. Bob Roll takes you riding in the pelaton, on the training rides, and into the heart of a professional cyclist, which after reading this book you will never look at the same again.

Part of Roll's charm stems from his being exceptionally unexceptional. Though never having any great wins he was able to have a long career, ride in the big tours and experience the sport from the inside all because of his relentless work ethic, which seemed to be fueled by his pure love of cycling.

If you've ever watched the Tour De France and scratched your head wondering what it is about this sport that draws hundreds and thousands of screaming fans to pack the roadways to see these little skinny shaved legged men wearing garishly colored jerseys race past in a blink of the eye, Bobke will answer this. You will see cycling as this great sport; this drama of man against man, team against team, and man against himself all played out on this wonderful little machine the bicycle.

Finally!
Finally, Bobke for the masses. This book fills the gap left by the skyrocketing prices for his first book. Anyone who has ever had fantasies of riding a bike for money has to read this. Bob's writing style takes some getting used to, but he tells it like it is, and does it his way. A mediocre editor would have taken this book and made it more "readable" and mainstream, but it would have lost what makes Bob Roll Bobke. Imagine if he was just another generic commentator for the Tour--would anyone want to listen? I wouldn't. Half the fun of Bob Roll is wondering what he'll say next. The other half is his fantastic storytelling. Get this book, read it, then pass it on to someone else to share the fun.

Mental crack for competitive cyclists
I got this book as a gift for Father's Day, and after the second page I was hooked. If you are a serious competitive cyclist and have had your head deep into this crazy sport, you won't be able to put it down. Maybe a bit random, but if I want to read Grisham, Koontz, or King, I'll buy one of their books. For a window into the world of professional cycling at its most glamorous and its worst, this is a must read. If I could give it 6 stars I would. But then again, I am a Bobke fan.