The Beacon Message Board

John, if you are going to plug your own work, it's no good being half-hearted about it.

...On the 'to-do' list is a post about humility and self-depreciation and their place in cycling. It is one of the elements of the sport that appeals to me the most....

I was given "Mountain High: Europe's 50 Greatest Cycle Climbs" by Daniel Friebe and Chris Goding for Christmas. Great photos, interesting narrative, plus maps, profiles and stats. Ideal armchair reading for the winter months. A big hardcover book and a snip at £10 on Amazon.

John Sanderson wrote:I wouldn't make the claim that it was a great read - but something that requires readers nonetheless is... - the blog i've started http://meandthemountain.wordpress.com/ which is, in a roundabout way, Beacon related. I hope you can forgive my comment about the "90's" kit...

I like the bit about waking up feeling rough on Boxing Day and squirting GT85 on the moving parts to stop them squeaking.

Another interesting read:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bounce-How-Cham ... 830&sr=8-2

Glad you enjoyed the blog Terry - i've just added another post - my i continue to be forgiven for poking fun at the 2005 Beacon kit design (which in my defence I wear proudly (matching shorts/short-long-and winter jersey and even mitts) around the roads of Essex with regularity)...

Slightly off-topic as it's a film rather than a book, but A Sunday in Hell in on YouTube and is well worth watching if you haven't seen it: http://youtu.be/D4IDCkcnnHg

I bought the Mark Cavendish autobiography on Kindle last week. It's incredible dull, written in a distinctly dreary monotone voice. But I suppose that's how he speaks, right?

And within pages the term "light year" was used as a measure of time. I can forgive MC for that, but someone down the chain – editor, copy-editor, proofreader – should have picked it up. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence for the rest of it.

Martin Sketchley wrote:I bought the Mark Cavendish autobiography on Kindle last week. It's incredible dull, written in a distinctly dreary monotone voice. But I suppose that's how he speaks, right?

And within pages the term "light year" was used as a measure of time. I can forgive MC for that, but someone down the chain – editor, copy-editor, proofreader – should have picked it up. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence for the rest of it.

Ghost-written by Daniel Friebe. Author of 'Mountain High' - see above.

lc1981 wrote:Slightly off-topic as it's a film rather than a book, but A Sunday in Hell in on YouTube and is well worth watching if you haven't seen it: http://youtu.be/D4IDCkcnnHg

A bit odd to watch in the context of the TV coverage we get nowadays.. But good nonetheless.

Just got a book from The Works on the history of the T.D.F. It's quite a large book with some great photographs. Dont think it could happen today but has a pic of the peleton stopping to cool down in the sea (1950) and another smoking a ciggie (1929). All in all a good buy at £6-99

I've just pre ordered the new book about Stephen Roche, hope it's as good as the Fignon book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04

You can never watch this too many times

Ed Moss wrote:I've just pre ordered the new book about Stephen Roche, hope it's as good as the Fignon book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04

You can never watch this too many times

Doesn't it seem odd now, having to reach to your downtube to change gear......

I am in the process of reading Three Men on the Bummel.

Don't jump to any outrageous conclusions: it's the sequel to Three Men in a Boat, which I didn't realise existed until it was given to me as a Christmas present. And it's about cycling ... in a vague sort of way. The same trio that went off in the boat decide to cycle through the Black Forest.

Inevitably with a book that was written well over 100 years ago, the modern reader has to do a little bit of adjusting to the writing style ... but only a little; it's not a dense book at all. It's wonderfully observed and full of gentle, understated English humour. And, given that it's set in an era when our pastime was in its infancy, everything is remarkably similar. There is even an anecdote about a man and his wife on a tandem ride, which is uncannily similar to a much more recent presidential incident.

Highly recommended.

bobg wrote:Just got a book from The Works on the history of the T.D.F. It's quite a large book with some great photographs. Dont think it could happen today but has a pic of the peleton stopping to cool down in the sea (1950) and another smoking a ciggie (1929). All in all a good buy at £6-99

I saw this yesterday in Bromsgrove. Very tempted to buy together with any book about the TdeF at a similar price. However having just completed collecting a whole series, 45 books in all, published in France by l'Equipe on the complete history of the Tour I thought that I should give it a miss.

If anyone is looking for such a book get yourself down to Bromsgrove PDQ.

Just read Stepehn Roche's new book.
Lots of opinion later on in the book which is interesting to read, Cancellara slowing down the TDF to let Schleck catch up a few years ago, race radio, jerseys..

Much of it was about what could have been after 1987 had he not sustained his knee injury.

Book was loads better than the books he released in the 80's.

Next on the list, Tyler Hamilton's new book

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hamilto ... -de-france

About half way through, it's all truth or one of the greatest works of fiction ever, bit like Lance then

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hamilto ... -the-truth

I'm no more fond of Hamilton than of Armstrong. I never found him a very likeable character even before the S hit the F, and riders who dope when it's in their own direct financial interest, then say it's all wrong when that's in their own direct financial interest don't have very much moral credibility in my eyes. So I'm troubled by the idea of contributing to his income. Nevertheless, I would be interested to hear what he's got to say. Can't therefore decide whether to buy the book or not.

Perhaps we should buy one club owned copy and pass it round, thus gaining the information with minimal gain to the Hamilton coffers.

Finished it a couple of nights ago, feel a bit sorry for Hamilton, it was a case of dope or go home.
He alludes that testicular cancer can be caused by steroid use, something I was also told by cyclist in the US as few years ago.

I'm surprised any of them are still alive, non of them knew how their blood bags were been stored, on one occasion Hamiltons pee turned thick red with dead red blood cells, he thinks he was given the wrong blood.

Tyler comes across as someone who has made his peace with cycling and is slightly ashamed what he did, but at the time, in his world it was normal.

Charlie
Would love a copy of Tommy Godwin's book as a present for a friend who used to know him. Would you be good enough to put a copy to one side and let me know when best to give you some money and collect if still some copies available.
Best
Simon

This sounds like it might be worth a look: http://www.lionelbirnie.com/cyclinganthology/.

George wrote:I am in the process of reading Three Men on the Bummel.

Don't jump to any outrageous conclusions: it's the sequel to Three Men in a Boat, which I didn't realise existed until it was given to me as a Christmas present. And it's about cycling ... in a vague sort of way. The same trio that went off in the boat decide to cycle through the Black Forest.

Inevitably with a book that was written well over 100 years ago, the modern reader has to do a little bit of adjusting to the writing style ... but only a little; it's not a dense book at all. It's wonderfully observed and full of gentle, understated English humour. And, given that it's set in an era when our pastime was in its infancy, everything is remarkably similar. There is even an anecdote about a man and his wife on a tandem ride, which is uncannily similar to a much more recent presidential incident.

Highly recommended.

Assuming you finished it George, would you still say 'highly recommended'? I though the book started very well but sort of faded away in the middle to a fairly weak end. Although it was a long time ago that I read it I recall Three Men In A Boat being a cracking read from start to finish, so I was a bit disappointed by the 'sequel'...

Yes, John, I take your point. It started out very well but, by the end, it seemed to have lost its sense of direction. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it, but that my enthusiasm waned along the way. I would downgrade my rating from "highly recommended" to "recommended".

George wrote:Yes, John, I take your point. It started out very well but, by the end, it seemed to have lost its sense of direction.

Should have used a Garmin

Cut and pasted from another thread:

bobg wrote:Just reading One man and his bike by Mike Carter. Mike was a journalist who cycled to work in London, and every day got to the north side of Blackfriars bridge and turned left. He then thought, if one day i turned right and just kept going, eventualy would arrive back on the south side of the Thames and home. A well written amusing cycling / travel book

The Secret Race. Tyler Hamilton & Daniel Coyle. 2012. MP3.
Racing Through the Dark. David Millar. 2011.

Ostensibly on the packaging of these two publications would suggest two riders with similar experiences of professional racing; reluctant professionals driven to doping, exposed to a corrupt system, personal loss and devastation, followed by a willingness to expose appalling practices within the sport, both providing a sense that cycling has lost its way and far from their idealised dreams of youth.

However, read together they provide a very different flavour. Millar’s book is almost timid and inconsequential in comparison. Tyler and Coyle’s exposé is shocking through its head on attack of out and out corruption of Armstrong, the medical profession and the UCI’s complicity. Tyler and Coyle, unlike Millar, ring out every little last sawded detail on how riders cheated. Their detail is far more extensive that Millar’s own publication. With the latter, I gain the impression that either he was not fully aware of the extent of doping or he held back choosing not to blow the lid of the can.

Millar’s publication was an enjoyable read and interesting insight on what happens to a convicted doper whose dreams have been destroyed. His story is personal and insightful. During his years in exile he suffered bankruptcy and alcoholism – a big fall from his previous existence and penchant for the fast car life style. The book has a good beginning and middle but it was one of the publications that failed to conclude well giving an impression that he or his shadow author had run out of steam.

Tyler and Coyle exceeds Millar’s league in terms of enjoyability. Lisa and I listened to the unabridged audio version for three hours every night over Christmas week. During the day, we would hold lengthy discussions, utter agog at what we had heard the night before. Unlike Millar and some other cyclist’s biographies, there is no bitterness from Hamilton. Just a desire to get some very dark secrets off his chest - something he does so with complete clarity and apparent lack of agenda. He doesn't even claim to feel a huge amount of guilt, except perhaps for deceiving his parents.

If you are someone who does not like cycling’s disreputable past to be exposed leaving a foul taste in your mouth, then don’t read Tyler. Equally, if you intend to read both then I suggest starting with Millar. Leave it the other way around and you will be bitterly disappointed.

In short I no longer have any romantic thoughts regarding the world of professional cycle racing.

I'm part way through Secret Race and also finding it to be a great read. For me a must read if you are a fan of professional cycling and have watched it over the last 20years.

Think this may be the last one I read though from the doping genre, after in the past reading Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage (best book ive read, read it if you haven't) and The Death of Marco Pantani (good but very science based and bit depressing as you know the ending!).
I think I might have had enough of it.

Yes the romance is tarnished but I wouldnt say gone completely, even with what we now know there's still something romantic about the professional races and now it does seem to be genuinely cleaner so there's hope for the future.

I don't know whether to read Millar's. As I said I may have had my fill of drugs and confessions and Ive always found it to be a bit annoying his "former doper now anti-doping activist" stance. If he hadnt have been caught he would still be on EPO and he certainly has been measured in the scope of his confessions.

laurence_cooley wrote:Slightly off-topic as it's a film rather than a book, but A Sunday in Hell in on YouTube and is well worth watching if you haven't seen it: http://youtu.be/D4IDCkcnnHg

And if you liked that then Stars and Watercarriers, which follows the 1973 Giro and is by the same director, is also on YouTube: http://youtu.be/vQ0pUiTXV40.

laurence_cooley wrote:

laurence_cooley wrote:Slightly off-topic as it's a film rather than a book, but A Sunday in Hell in on YouTube and is well worth watching if you haven't seen it: http://youtu.be/D4IDCkcnnHg

And if you liked that then Stars and Watercarriers, which follows the 1973 Giro and is by the same director, is also on YouTube: http://youtu.be/vQ0pUiTXV40.

I watched this vid this afternoon and really enjoyed it, then I Watched another vid about a guy who had a bike built at Rourke's, which was quite entertaining and interesting, although it was in 4 parts it was worth the watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p6xSIbvcUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5B0HL5WLMs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11YxHZ4NuCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhv8pEGazEA

Just read an excellent book called: Paris-Roubaix, The Inside Story: All the Bumps of Cycling's Cobbled Classic by Les Woodland . It's a must for any fan of Paris Roubaix. Below is a link for the trailer of the book

http://youtu.be/umtefgwRlL0

Just finished reading "Reg Harris: The rise and fall of Britain's greatest cyclist" by Robert Dineen. An interesting book about an interesting champion and a nice easy read. I'm not sure nowadays whether he is “Britain’s Greatest Cyclist” when you consider the achievements of Tommy Godwin, Tom Simpson, Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins Chris Froome etc but he was a great champion of his era.

Kev C wrote:Just finished reading "Reg Harris: The rise and fall of Britain's greatest cyclist" by Robert Dineen. An interesting book about an interesting champion and a nice easy read. I'm not sure nowadays whether he is “Britain’s Greatest Cyclist” when you consider the achievements of Tommy Godwin, Tom Simpson, Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins Chris Froome etc but he was a great champion of his era.

Was Harris the greatest rider ever? That’s an unanswerable question. What is true is that Harris possessed a huge charisma which, with one or two notable exceptions is lacking in the present generation of top riders. Whether you liked him or loathed him one thing that you couldn’t do is ignore him.
I know that Tom Godwin couldn’t stand the man, in fact I well recall Tom telling me that he, Tom, had been in invited to attend a Manchester Wheeler dinner and would only go if Harris wasn’t there.
In the book was anything said about the time Harris “won” the National Sprint Championship? I would by very interested to know as would those who know the true story.
In those days sprinting was the tops as far as track racing was concerned and the likes of Harris, Arie van Vliet, Antonio Maspes and so on were the superstars of their day. They didn’t prat about with kierin (sp) team sprints and other Mickey Mouse events.

Les Ladbury wrote: ... those who know the true story ...

Come on, Les. Stop teasing us.

George wrote:

Les Ladbury wrote: ... those who know the true story ...

Come on, Les. Stop teasing us.

George,

There is a story behind this but in view of the fact that I don't want "Lawyers R Us" knocking on my front door I couldn't possibly comment.

Les Ladbury wrote:There is a story behind this but in view of the fact that I don't want "Lawyers R Us" knocking on my front door I couldn't possibly comment.

You drive a hard bargain, Les. I'll buy you half a mild at the Dinner.

George wrote:

Les Ladbury wrote:There is a story behind this but in view of the fact that I don't want "Lawyers R Us" knocking on my front door I couldn't possibly comment.

You drive a hard bargain, Les. I'll buy you half a mild at the Dinner.

Noted George.

Just finished reading French Revolutions, pleasant and amusing. If anyone fancies it or wants to swap for another read then let me know.

Tim Moore has published another funny ditty on his re-enactment of the infamous 1914 Giro d'Italia; average stage length over 400 km! It was the BBC R4 Book the of the week, narrated by Tim himself.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04442bq
Unfortunately the first episode has gone but 2-5 are still available on iPlayer.

Makes you realise what a bunch of lite weights, the current bunch of light weights are.

Barry (who tours Europe on a titanium Rolls Royce while sipping macchiatos )

I've just bought "24 Months in the Saddle" and can recommend it to anyone interested in cycling. It isn't great literature but if you want that stick to Proust or Does, Doust, Dostaevski......Can't spell but you know that Russian geezer.

If you can tolerate mangling of the English language so prevalent today it's a pleasant read with some rather good photographs.

Buy it, steal it or borrow it and I don't think that you will be disappointed.

Also remember Christmas is just around the corner, know what I mean, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Carlton Reid Roads Weren't Built for Cars has just come out - I read and commented on the beta version It is a fascinating account of the early cycling boom 1870 - 1914 and the influence of lobbyists like the CTC and League of American Wheelmen on the development of the modern road network - all pre car. Then there was a mass migration of manufacturers, enthusiasts, influential policy makers, racers etc from bikes to cars. By the 1920s cars were for the rich, cycles were relegated to proletarian transport and motoring's debt to the bike was systematically blanked out of historical accounts.

Interesting basis for today's debates and allocation of road space arguments

Some interesting short reads and vids on cycling from the Boneshaker mag

https://boneshakermag.com/features/

and a few podcasts here.
https://boneshakermag.com/podcasts/epis ... sign-life/

and here
https://boneshakermag.com/blog/

This is more of a listen than a read on the iPlayer
Emily Chappell: From Bike Courier to Transcontinental Winner

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07tvnpm

Also, Emily (who came to our Club dinner a couple of years ago) has written a book 'Where there's a Will' which I'm currently reading. Its really interesting and well written; so worth a read.

I’ve just finished reading another book by Emily Chappell, ‘What Goes Around’. Another interesting and entertaining read which I found to be quite compulsive. It records stories if life as a cycle courier recounting tales of life, the jobs, characters and mishaps. Well worth a read.

What type of farm did Beryl Burton work on and which type of confectionery did she offer to male cyclist on overtaking him? You find out in the book ‘Revolutions’ by Hannah Ross, published earlier this year. It is a delightful read, packed with interesting information and very well researched. The book covers the history women’s cycling, including the clothes worn, achievements, misogyny, sexism and inequality, although the author does not have an ‘axe to grind’ on the latter. It’s well written and in my view an interesting book on cycling and worth a read while you’re on the Costa Del Brum basking on the shores of Edgbaston Reservoir with your brolly'!

Rhubarb and liquorice allsort I think?

I couldn’t possibly comment, it would be a spoiler!

Ive just finished reading The Midlife Cyclist by Phil Cavell (2021, Bloomsbury Sport Press). This is a well researched and interesting book which covers many aspects of cycling life including the usual stuff on injuries, training, nutrition, bike fitting and advice on how to train and adjust as a cyclist ages. I think I already knew that that I'm not going to be an elite racer or even had the slightest chance of that before midlife but it was somewhat reassuring and yet on the other hand frustrating to know that continually chasing improvements as the years pass is futile; maintaining a good fitness though is a sure possibility. Advice is also offered on doing alternative weight bearing exercise such as walking and weights to counteract the potential loss of bone and muscle mass in the ageing cyclist. Overall a good read.

Not some much a read but a view.
A couple of videos about the EF Womens tour team which you might find interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIQ80iY7AQo; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8a5lhfiKww;

Also for those of you interested in the Transcontinental Race, which commenced tonight, you can view the progression of riders here:
https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/ ... .980418,11

One more here from the entertaining Sigma sports café ride series with some locations that will be familiar to some:

https://youtu.be/NvuDya_DpNw

Re: A great read- The Midlife Cyclist by Phil Cavell (2021)
I agree Si a great read. Lots of useful advice for the older cyclist

Endurance - How to Cycle Further by Mark Beaumont with Laura Penhall

Overall an interesting read which has some useful hints and tips across a wide range of cycling and endurance topics, but it’s a little light on detail. There are as many pages of photos as text so could have been condensed somewhat. I read it in just a few days which is unusual for me as often take a lot longer.
In reading the book I came across the Podcast ‘Endurance’ also hosted by Mark Beaumont, which has about 20 ‘casts’ of about 1hr each. (I’ve become a fan of podcasts). Personally, I found these much more interesting as they involved discussion with experts in their field on topics covered in the book and could listen to these while pottering about. I’d recommend selective listening to the pods as it covers most of the topics in the book.

I’ve just bought Daniel Friebe’s new book, ‘Jan Ullrich; the best that never was’, so looking forward to what that has to reveal.