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Product Description
Review
"A fascinating read." --Bikeradar.com
Book Description
An entertaining book that explains what makes cyclists tick and why cycling inspires such passion
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this among a clutch of books to take away with me on an extended holiday. Imagine my disappointment when I sat down excitedly to read it and quickly discovered that I'd mistakenly purchased a poorly written ode to self indugence.
The author takes perhaps my favourite subject and distorts it out of enjoyable recognition. Instead of the inspiring book artfully describing the sport I love so much I found myself reading an autobiography of a very tedious show off who happens to like bikes.
Despite his faux modesty of never paying attention to the distances he cycles - you know because he's like a force of nature or something - we're then treated to exactly these distances, clearly so you know just what a terrific force of nature Mr Fife is.
Whenever he rides with friends, his young daughter or more or less anyone come to that, he always makes sure he arrives first.
He points this out again and again just in case you are ever in any confusion as to who is the fastest and obviously therefore best rider. So, he wins EVERY ride he goes on to the point where I began wondering why he goes cycling with anyone else at all as he seems to spend 50% of every ride waiting for the puny mortals to catch him up.
Mr Fife's hardships and misfortunes seems to be almost manufactured as a device purely show that whatever curveballs life throws at him, he can rise above it. He would mention being fatally mauled by a crocodile only to point out with studied nonchalance that he went on to conquer Mt Ventoux later that afternoon no handed.
Intersped this slow motion mid life crisis with appalling name dropping of his other books, projects, radio programs etc (point being, he's constantly busy and much in demand) and add a layer of genuinely toe curling home spun cod philosophy and you've got a tome that's truely outstanding in the field of really awful literature. Books like this should remain firmly in the vangard of the self published and his editor could do with a forceful explanation as to what their job description actually entails.
The author takes perhaps my favourite subject and distorts it out of enjoyable recognition. Instead of the inspiring book artfully describing the sport I love so much I found myself reading an autobiography of a very tedious show off who happens to like bikes.
Despite his faux modesty of never paying attention to the distances he cycles - you know because he's like a force of nature or something - we're then treated to exactly these distances, clearly so you know just what a terrific force of nature Mr Fife is.
Whenever he rides with friends, his young daughter or more or less anyone come to that, he always makes sure he arrives first.
He points this out again and again just in case you are ever in any confusion as to who is the fastest and obviously therefore best rider. So, he wins EVERY ride he goes on to the point where I began wondering why he goes cycling with anyone else at all as he seems to spend 50% of every ride waiting for the puny mortals to catch him up.
Mr Fife's hardships and misfortunes seems to be almost manufactured as a device purely show that whatever curveballs life throws at him, he can rise above it. He would mention being fatally mauled by a crocodile only to point out with studied nonchalance that he went on to conquer Mt Ventoux later that afternoon no handed.
Intersped this slow motion mid life crisis with appalling name dropping of his other books, projects, radio programs etc (point being, he's constantly busy and much in demand) and add a layer of genuinely toe curling home spun cod philosophy and you've got a tome that's truely outstanding in the field of really awful literature. Books like this should remain firmly in the vangard of the self published and his editor could do with a forceful explanation as to what their job description actually entails.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this in a local book shop yesterday, the jacket review made it sound interesting. But I couldnt engage with it. After a chapter or two I already find the author irritatingly self indulgent, and I wont waste my time reading any further.
I wondered what others made of it, so I looked up the reviews today and Im not surprised to find that Im not alone. I wish Id read the reviews here first!
I wondered what others made of it, so I looked up the reviews today and Im not surprised to find that Im not alone. I wish Id read the reviews here first!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was about to dash down a scathing a review. Then I read the reveiw below by Dave Noble. Agree 100%.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Frankly, I'm surprised at the number of negative reviews
I thought this book was a riot. Engaging, witty (sarcastic, if you like), honest, passionate, and at times touching but never sentimental. Read more
Published 12 days ago by SaMurray
How I Did It My Way, by Graeme FIfe
I bought this book on the spur of the moment whilst away from home. IT STARTED well then became a paean to Fife's own self indulgence. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Foster
Machines that look good
It's a good read, for those who have been on a long ride to those far off places & for those who haven't, Fife is adept at taking you there. I like it!
Published 9 months ago by Lionel Beckford
Never broke into a sweat
I persevered for a while with this, but I felt the author never really got 'into his stride' and instead meanders along. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2009 by headfirst
I fell asleep!
I lost track of the point of this book half way through and gave up! There are far better cycling books out there!
Published on 5 May 2009 by James Morgan
Its all about the bike
I read the book in 3 days, as per other reviewers have said the book isn't an autobiography. I think the case Fife is trying to make is that despite his chaotic and turbulent life... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2009 by C. Kennedy
Dissapointing
This joins one of only a handful of books that I couldn't face finishing, poorly written, the narrative jumps around chronologically and people seem to appear and disappear from... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by A. Melia
Disappointing biography
I suppose that to enjoy autobiographical writing it helps if you like the writer or have something in common with him or her. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2009 by W. Downie
Outstanding
Fife has always been a cut above, and this is a belter, even by his high standards. The writing is crisp and articulate, but best of all it makes you want to ride. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2008 by Het volk
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