Customer Reviews

The Srampagmano Tales

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If, like me, you thought that a dissection of different types of cyclist in a Chaucarian style might not be your thing, don't be put off!

Parker's power lies in his acute observation: this is clearly the work of a seasoned cyclist, yet the portrayal of the various cyclists never becomes condescending or partial. From the Lycra clad 'roadie' to the long distance randonneur, the characteurs cannily address each in turn; their motivations and foibles, their eccentricities and fears.

While we may not like to be typecast, it's only natural to wonder which of the featured cyclists most resemble ourselves. At his best best Parker is highly poetic, really hitting the nub of what makes each cyclist do what they do.

I love these lines from 'The Randonneur's Tale':

"There is a certain place I like to ride
To get there I spend many hours outside
Beyond the pressing walls of time and space
Without the agitation of a race"

In short I really enjoyed this: it made me want to go out and ride!

Scarletts beautifully observed characterisiations of the many reasons we cycle is both poignant and insightful.

This lovely little book bears repeated reading as they rhythms of the verse are evocative of many a cycle ride.

This book is not merely for cyclists as Scarletts wry and witty language is a pleasure to read and contemplate.

Special mention should also be made for the illustrations by Faith that complement the book superbly

Cycling literature has experienced a boon recently, perhaps in accordance with its well-documented rise in popularity. Not all cycling books are worth reading, though.

The Srampagmano Tales is certainly a niche affair. Fifty pages of 'Chaucerian' verse littered with detailed cycling references, depicting numerous cyling tribes, and accompanied by simple but charming illustrations. If there is a dedicated collection of cycling poetry, it certainly isn't circulated widely. The Srampagmano Tales certainly fills this void, and does so with style.

It's not a long, or particularly innaccesible read - not for any cyclist who's dabbled in various aspects of the sport - but after a few pages I was left thinking: why hasn't someone thought of all this before? I feel like I've read all this before in numerous articles, spread across countless turgid cycling publications, and passed over it with a sigh. Yet this rendition brings together all those cliches and boring generalisations into a coherent narrative, with genuine, comical insight into the life of the cyclist, and in the form of poetry, to boot.

In short, it's brilliant, and hopefully it will take its place as one of cycling's 'must-read' books.

A kilometre apart from the usual cycling book - Scarlett Parker takes us on a journey through the myriad worlds of the road cyclist to the tune of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

The delicately constructed pentameter is crafted with attention and care, meaning you are entirely wrapped around the storyteller's finger for the duration. Parker skilfully manipulates the verse to make the rhyme and structure surface in time for a few lines of brilliance, yet manages to make it almost invisible at other times. The book flows beautifully from character to character; slowly building a cast of road cyclists ranging from The Tester (timetrailist), to the Courier. The case for each cyclist is made, without snobbery or bias, and told with extreme care and humour - I enjoyed every minute of the book.

The writing is full of wit and won't fail to raise a smile from anyone with a connection to road cycling - especially in the UK. I found myself sitting down to read for 15 minutes, and being so utterly absorbed that I read the whole book in one afternoon.

I should also mention the illustrations by Faith Buck, which are beautifully drawn and produced, each one telling you something about the character and their environs. Buck has avoided being too 'cycling specific', and as such the drawings stand alone as wonderful work.

Having enjoyed the book so thoroughly myself, I have since far given it to two people as early Christmas gifts - both of whom have gone out of their way to thank me and tell me how much they enjoyed the writing and illustrations. I'll be ordering a few more before Christmas!

Just read it on the tube it is simply superb.
What a great use of noun and verb.
A tome explaining chain and sprocket, fitting nicely in my pocket.
A perfect read for a biker, justifying a reluctant love of Lycra.

A thing of beauty and wit, The Srampagmano Tales is a short book with a lot to give.
Even if it didn't have such beautiful illustrations, this rhyming-couplet journey of a set of cycling stereotypes from London to Brighton paints wonderful pictures in the mind's eye.
Delightful as a single session read, I also think that this will bear up to repeat visits as the small details captured by the author reveal a deep knowledge of cycling and cycling folk.

The book is obviously a real labour of love, and a very successful one.

Gosh, I have to write 20 words for this review. I wish I had Scarlett Parker's imagination and skill to help me out.

I have reached 20 words now, so I can simply sum this piece of work in one word, "delightful".

Thoroughly recommended and I cannot wait for the paper version to enjoy it in the good old fashioned way, which the divine illustrations deserve.

What an entertaining read.

Brilliantly witty and humorous verse, observing the nuances of different cycling tribes.
Most of the target audience probably fall into one of these tribes (I'd like to think I'm a Rouleur, but lets face it, I'm probably a Fakenger...) and I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of the stereotypes.
Excellently observed. Laugh out loud funny yet so very profound at times. An excellent piece of work.
I read through the first sitting rather quickly, but within an hour I was skipping through it again.
I have since read it a third time, highlighting my favourite verses. I thought the illustrations complimented the book well.

Looking forward to more work from Scarlett in the future.

This excellent book is composed in a clever, thoughtful, yet entertaining prose. It was a one-sitting read.. Mr Parker shows an in-depth and impressive understanding of all styles of cycling. The narrative and style adapts cleverly to the characters so you get a real sense of each type of rider. Readers who don't know much about cycling will find it interesting and enlightening , and those that cycle a lot will enjoy, or be shamed by, the subtleties within.

The e-version is the best £2 I've ever spent (!) but I will be buying this in hardcopy and it will be taking pride of place in the book self. Cannot recommend it enough. Enjoy!

I am tempted to write this review in verse but fear that my ability with rhyme and meter is not sufficient to do justice to Scarlett Parker's delightful work. Chaucer used the idiom of his day to convey a picture of medieval England that is intelligible today. Parker also uses idiom, but that of the present time to paint a scene of English life; life on a bicycle. No one reading this will be able to resist clipping into some pedals and riding off into the countryside. A must read for cyclists and to be highly recommended to those who wish to understand cyclists as well.