Bob the Bike Man

I’ve read a few books whilst I’ve been away….well, there’s not much else to wile away the time on transatlantic flights and the food in this book was of much more interest than the in-flight offerings!

The Hungry Cyclist. Author: Tom Kevill-Davies. Paperback, 2009, Collins.

Tom Kevill-Davies cycled 15,000 miles from New York to Rio de Janeiro and this is an entertaining record of his ride and quest for the genuine food flavours of the Americas.

“I could not help but be exposed to the real flavours, smells, ingredients and people of the cultures I rode into…..I ate where the people of the country were eating. Markets, homes, the street, the beach, rivers, campfires, trees and truck stops.”

Sounds like a recipe for some spectacular food poisoning incidents but Tom survived his epic cyclo-culinary expedition with good humour and picked up some intriguing recipes which are detailed at the chapter ends. I like the sound of Peba Caipira but I’m not sure where I’ll find an armadillo (this is an armadillo stew)…wonder if hedgehog might do instead?

What do cyclists do when they’re not cycling? They read about bikes and cycling in Cycling Weekly, Cycling Plus or any of the other dedicated magazines. And when they’ve read those they read books about cyclists and cycling. Here are three which I have enjoyed recently and have no hesitation in recommending:

Bicycle: The History. Author: David V. Herlihy. Hardback, 2004, Yale University Press

Here is everything you’d want to know about the history and development of the bicycle. Chock-a-block with fascinating information and images.

Dancing uphill: Charles Holland. Author: Frances Holland. Paperback 2007 M&N Publishing

Written by his daughter, this is the story of the first English rider to take part in the Tour de France (1937). Charles (no relation of mine by the way) was a local lad, born in Aldridge in 1908. Of particular note, amongst his many achievements on the bike, is his record ride from Land’s End to Hyde Park Corner, London in 1938, 287 miles in 13 hours 44 minutes, beating the previous record by 25 minutes! An average speed of 21 mph approx. Oh, and he punctured just two miles from the finish, but continued the ride on a borrowed touring bike, which was six inches too big for him!

Tommorrow, we ride. Author: Jean Bobet. Paperback 2008 Mousehold Press and Sport & Publicity. Translated from the original by Adam Berry. Originally published 2004 as ‘Demain, on roule’.

Jean is the brother of the famous Breton cyclist Louison Bobet, the first winner three consecutive Tours de France (1953, 54 & 55). This is an absorbing insider’s view of the 50s and 60s cycling scene, from the era of Coppi to the eras of Anquetil and Merckx.