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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Tim Krabbé is one of Holland's leading writers. He is also a cycling (and chess) enthusiast. In The Rider he has created a book unique in the ranks of sporting literature, and probably elsewhere. Already acclaimed as a cycling classic, this translation from the original Dutch serves not only to evoke the endeavour and exhaustive struggle of road racing, but also inspires as a study into the workings of the human mind, from the context of a racing cyclist. The narrative is driven by an analysis equal parts psychological and philosophical, strategic and surreal. The reader might feel that Krabbé is presenting the race or the rider as a metaphor for life in general, but the author might argue that it is more than that as he brings the ecstasy and the agony of the race, and the descriptions of his fellow competitors, to such a prominent position that all else is somehow of little significance. Perhaps Krabbé's real point is that only the rider can truly understand what makes the feelings engendered by the race so vital. For the rest of us, his description might be the nearest we get. Nevertheless, The Rider stands as a masterpiece, and alone of its kind. The feelings experienced by the actors of endurance sports have never been so well captured, nor the power and the pain of cycle racing captured in such a cerebral yet compelling manner.--Trevor Crowe
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
'On the one hand it is a literary masterpiece that will still be read a hundred years from now; on the other, it is the best book on sports in the Dutch language' Leeuwarder Courant 'Whenever I hit rock bottom I always think of those immortal words from The Rider by Tim Krabbe - Battoowoo Creakcreak - and everything seems just fine again' Maarten Ducroit, racing cyclist 'Classic account of the fictional Tour de Mont Aigoual. Like all the best sports writing, The Rider manages to convey the excitement, determination and skill of the competitors even to readers who have little or no knowledge of the sport. Above all, he evokes the heightened focus of the cyclists, for whom nothing seems real apart from the race' London Review of Books
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not a cyclist by any stretch of the imagination, and am only a moderate fan of the sport in general. But Krabbé's novella, originally published in the Netherlands 25 years ago, has got to best one of the best fictional treatments of any sport. The book follows an competitive amateur rider through a half-day, 150 kilometer race over the very real Mont Aigoual in France. Krabbé is himself an avid amateur cyclist, and his ability to capture both the mental and physical aspects of the sport is uncanny. Although I've never raced a bike, I did run cross-country competitively, and many of the elements carry over—mainly the twin battle each individual faces with their brain and their body (There's one excellent moment when the rider wills his bike to get a flat so he can withdraw with honor.).
The stripped-down prose style (common to all Krabbé's work), works especially well in the context of a race where the long distances can lead to almost a trance-like state. The mind wanders all over the place, and that is captured brilliantly in the rider's musings—for example, one part describes how he tries to invent words to keep himself amused during long, boring training rides. At the same time, the race itself is very tense, and Krabbé does quite well at describing the various tactical gambits employed along the way. The main competitors emerge as distinct figures—allies and foes in both a psychological and physical sense (I especially liked the unknown in the blue Cycles Goff jersey). Interwoven with it all are tidbits of cycling history, which are intermittently interesting to the non-racer.
It's not a reach to call this a masterpiece of sports literature. The story does a remarkable job at conveying the tension and flow of a race to the outsider. At the same time, the insights into the psychology of the athlete are so acute as to be universally recognizable across cultures and sports.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's A Ride To The Sun, And A Ride To Zen, August 6, 2005
Tim Krabbe, from Holland, is a much beloved writer by his country men and women. His books "The Vanishing" and "The Cave" have become known world wide, and made into very successful movies. He started out in life knowing he had to be a winner. His first love was that of chess. He played chess, he wrote books on chess, he joined tournaments, and then he realized he would never be the winner he wanted to be. So, at the age of 29, he turned to bicycle racing.
Tim Krabbe, from Holland, is a much beloved writer by his country men and women. His books "The Vanishing" and "The Cave" have become known world wide, and made into very successful movies. He started out in life knowing he had to be a winner. His first love was that of chess. He played chess, he wrote books on chess, he joined tournaments, and then he realized he would never be the winner he wanted to be. So, at the age of 29, he turned to bicycle racing.
Through out his life, Tim Krabbe,also realized he had to write. No matter what he was involved in, he had to write. In this book "De renner" or "The Rider', he has made literary history. The book was written in 1978 and has become a cult classic. This is a fascinating book, a half-day race, 150km, of the love of bicycle racing, and the love of relating the life of racing.
"It's a ride to the sun, and a ride to Zen-the definitive abc of sports, an encyclopedia, a literary masterpiece, an adventure novel and bicycling odyssey all rolled into one," one book critic wrote. Tim Krabbe tells of us his life as a cyclist all rolled up into a small book of 129 pages. The prose that rolls out of his mouth onto the paper of the book is memorable. This is a book that begs to be read again and again. He tells us of a fantasy of riding with bicycle's best and besting them all by winning the race. Throughout this half day race, we learn how to put the bicycle together and take it apart. We learn all about gears, and what to use, when. We learn what he eats before he starts the race, where to put his hands on the handle bars and how to choose the bicycle seat. The men he races with, the fans that turn out and scream encouragement for all of their favorites. The cafes, the bars,and the major developments of racing. And through out this race, instead of chapters the book is divided into kilometers of the race. We end at Kilometer 137, when he crosses the finish line. Was he the first, third, or tenth? Gotcha' you need to read this book, and you will love it.
This is not a book that is a metaphor for life. It is a book of the racing life and how this life takes over. I understand for the first time, how a racer's blood becomes attuned to the race, the speed, the climbs, the straights, the finish line, the Win!
"Whenever I hit absolute rock bottom I always think of those immortal words from De renner by Tim Krabbé-Batoowoo Creakcreak-and everything seems just fine again."
Maarten Ducrot, bicycle racer
Highly recommended. Prisrob "Batoowoo Creakcreak"
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent novel, rooted with cycling anecdotes that lend a reality to the story. Felt like you were in the race there. Drew me in so I felt as if I was watching, and built up to the final dash for the line, like watching a real race. Excellent.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
it is so good - your legs will hurt by the end of this book.
i read my copy in one sitting, it took about the same time to read as the epic race it depicted - it was so good - i got cramp in my legs.
five stars.
five stars.
Published 1 month ago by BattoowooGreekgreek
Absolutely terrific
This is not just a superb book about cycling, but also one of the most absorbing pieces of fiction writing I have ever read. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Neville Hull
Get it Read
If anyone ever asks me to recommend them a book about cycling this one is I start with.
If they ask for a recommendation that is not specifically cycling, this still gets the... Read more
If they ask for a recommendation that is not specifically cycling, this still gets the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Smart Mart 13
Excellent Portrayal of a Race
This really gives a sense as to what it is like in a race. The way it is written really makes you wonder whether this is fact or fiction. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Robert Southall-brown
simply brilliant
One of the best books I have ever read. Certainly the most evocative sports book. I can't recommend it enough. Read more
Published 18 months ago by phil n
Makes you want to get back on the bike
I bought this for a friend. It's very short circa 150 pages, so I decided to read it myself. Very good read and certainly got me in the mood to get back on the bike. Read more
Published 19 months ago by pound4poundpete
Poorly formatted for the Kindle
I bought this for my new Kindle and started to read it last night.
It is very poorly formatted. It obviously hasn't even been proof read. Read more
It is very poorly formatted. It obviously hasn't even been proof read. Read more
Published 19 months ago by G. Anderson
Wow
Read about this in a magazine article reviewing the best books for triathletes. Bought it as a treat as I had just got a new job and devoured it in days. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. G. A. Heyes
Not a bad read at all.
It's been awhile since I read this book but I remember it to be good, not great. However, it made me laugh in many parts and it reminded me just how much I love living in Europe.
Published 21 months ago by Michael W. Cleveland
cycling folklore
I read this book whilst on holiday in Cornwall. It is remarkable, how Tim Krabbe has captured the cyclist's world through one race. I have ridden (not raced! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Fireflies rider no. 3-2010
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