A former rider in the Tour de France tells what life is really like in the world of professional cycling. This new edition is fully updated with two new chapters on the escalation of drug use in sports.
A Rough Ride: An Insight into Pro Cycling
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"Sent shockwaves through the peloton" (Daniel Friebe Outdoor Fitness )
"A devastatingly frank description of life on the professional road cycling circuit, hurtful in its telling of unwelcome truths yet powerful in its capture of what it takes, legally and illegally, to compete" (Mary Perryman Huffington Post UK )
"In the wake of the Armstrong affair, you can't move for books about doping, but Kimmage, and ex-pro rider himself, was the first to 'spit in the soup' back in the 1990s... A must read for any cyclist" (Cyclist ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
"A devastatingly frank description of life on the professional road cycling circuit, hurtful in its telling of unwelcome truths yet powerful in its capture of what it takes, legally and illegally, to compete" (Mary Perryman Huffington Post UK )
"In the wake of the Armstrong affair, you can't move for books about doping, but Kimmage, and ex-pro rider himself, was the first to 'spit in the soup' back in the 1990s... A must read for any cyclist" (Cyclist ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Book Description
Updated edition of one of the classics of cycling and sports literature with a new introduction and new chapters - published to coincide with the 2007 Tour de France coming to London
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Karl McCann
Format:Paperback
Many sports books are written to celebrate the glory of winning and achievement. Kimmages book is different because it is an honest account of an also-ran, a dreamer, a slogger. Paul never enjoyed the trappings of success, never earned anything more than a pithy wage and experienced in rare measure the dream of winning.
Against all this, Paul is forced to deal with the ever-present tumour of doping in cycling. As he struggles to accept his physical limitations as a human cyclist, he finds himself having also to compete against the drugs that fuel those around him to success. Eventually he leaves the sport, disillusioned, bitter but with his head held high.
The honesty, frankness and innocence of the book makes it compelling stuff, and I think it should appeal to anyone, not just those interested in cycling or sport. The 1998 drugs scandal, which happened several years after this book was published, sadly verifies much of what Kimmage describes.
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I think Paul Kimmage's book is outstanding. The newer edition adds details of the events following the book's first publication (about 12 years ago) into context and how it affected not only the sport of cycling but Kimmage's relationships with one-time pro colleagues (such as Stephen Roche) and the pro cycling 'brotherhood' generally. It is especially sad that the book led to him being an outcast yet in 1998 when half the peloton in the Tour de France were found to be doping, it was treated as a huge shock - yet Kimmage and others had tried before to reveal the truth. This book is a superb contrast to books by authors such as Graeme Fife, whose dewey eyed reviews of glorious champions and direct criticism of Kimmage's book are really put in their place. Read this book if you really want to find out about cycling.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By turkle
Format:Paperback
I know that some have complained about Kimmage's bitterness, but that's what makes this book so good - it's for real, he doesn't shy away from examining himself, his own failures and his own role in what went on.
That he felt wretched being a part of the politics and cheating is part and parcel of an aspect of cycling that few people knew about until recently. Kimmage's high-profile spat with Stephen Roche was a precursor to Greg LeMond v Armstrong - for similar reasons.
This book was a genuine ground-breaker - Kimmage really put his neck on the line and had to face the predictable fallout for what he wrote. A far cry from the disingenuous "apologies" and press conference conversions we've seen from the likes of Bjarne Riis.
The original and still the best. Unfortunately, it's still all-too relevant.
That he felt wretched being a part of the politics and cheating is part and parcel of an aspect of cycling that few people knew about until recently. Kimmage's high-profile spat with Stephen Roche was a precursor to Greg LeMond v Armstrong - for similar reasons.
This book was a genuine ground-breaker - Kimmage really put his neck on the line and had to face the predictable fallout for what he wrote. A far cry from the disingenuous "apologies" and press conference conversions we've seen from the likes of Bjarne Riis.
The original and still the best. Unfortunately, it's still all-too relevant.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
great read - explains alot about what has gone on in cycling
a book that transcends the time when it was written, through to the Lance Armstrong affair, it is still as current today as it was when first released.
Published 11 days ago by Mr Paul Ryan
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good insight
I have put reading this book off for years and am glad i have read it. Not current and i would say the best way to read it is preceding Tyler Hamiltons book not the other way... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Hoops
4.0 out of 5 stars
An often painful account of life in the peloton
A very interesting and well written book about the life of a pro cyclist.
Kimmage's first hand account of the doping culture and his struggle not to be drawn in make for... Read more
Kimmage's first hand account of the doping culture and his struggle not to be drawn in make for... Read more
Published 1 month ago by David
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
I heard my husband laughing at one point, which means it must have been worth reading, and he finished it.
Published 2 months ago by pre65
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Shows drug use was widespread in pro cycling long before the greatest drug cheat of them all, Armstrong, came along, he just took the cheating to new levels.
Published 2 months ago by Neil McCann
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic insight!
Really loved this book. Excellent read. Interesting comments.
Next time you watch the Tour De France what will you think?
Next time you watch the Tour De France what will you think?
Published 2 months ago by Mark Black
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some like it Rough
A very honest account of the tour and the life if a pack rider.
Being a huge fan if the tour I hope it doesn't ruin it for me, but I'm willing to take that chance as I... Read more
Being a huge fan if the tour I hope it doesn't ruin it for me, but I'm willing to take that chance as I... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dan MUlhare
5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding read - Essential reading for cycling fans everywhere
As an avid cycling fan I had already read both Tyler Hamilton's and David Walsh`s accounts of the modern peleton. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. G. Gibson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, was sorry when I finished it and that's rare for me. I won't go into an in-depth review are there are loads but I will just say that this is... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gearoid Healy
4.0 out of 5 stars
An eye opener
Honest and frank.
If ever there was any doubt over the content of this book at the time, recent events and revelations from the peloton have proved he was right all... Read more
If ever there was any doubt over the content of this book at the time, recent events and revelations from the peloton have proved he was right all... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Simon Barclay
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