Book review - A significant other

[DaveB]

Actually I was going to title this Book report but suddenly felt like I
had to stand up in front of a class.

Anyway add another book to my list of disappointments. This one has only
recently hit the bookshops. It sounded really good being about Victor
Hugo Pena's role in the 2003 TdF and the sections on him or by him
didn't disappoint. But there was too few of them and most of the book
was filled with TdF history **** and even a chapter on globalisation. So
a couple of good chapters on the roles of the domestiques and a detailed
writeup on a key stage but a book that just didn't deliver. Doh 20 bucks
wasted.

DaveB "refusing to buy any books not recommended by someone else"

 

[mfhor]

Actually I was going to title this Book report but suddenly felt like I
had to stand up in front of a class.

Anyway add another book to my list of disappointments. This one has only
recently hit the bookshops. It sounded really good being about Victor
Hugo Pena's role in the 2003 TdF and the sections on him or by him
didn't disappoint. But there was too few of them and most of the book
was filled with TdF history **** and even a chapter on globalisation. So
a couple of good chapters on the roles of the domestiques and a detailed
writeup on a key stage but a book that just didn't deliver. Doh 20 bucks
wasted.

DaveB "refusing to buy any books not recommended by someone else"

Ok - trying to get you literary value: "23 days in July" by John Wilcockson (Velonews) is a bit of an extended race report, but he writes so well, Lance doesn't even come across as the bone-headed egotist that he so obviously is (pre-emptively dons flame armour). It's a bit like an extended Phil Liggett - why is it the Poms are the best commentators - cricket, everything? (Yes, I know he's an ex-pat, but he's got that quizzical sensibility that John Arlott used to have).

Give it a try - see what you think. It sucked me in.

M "literatus" H

 

[hippy]

DaveB wrote:
> Actually I was going to title this Book report but suddenly felt like I
> had to stand up in front of a class.
>
> Anyway add another book to my list of disappointments. This one has only
> recently hit the bookshops. It sounded really good being about Victor
> Hugo Pena's role in the 2003 TdF and the sections on him or by him
> didn't disappoint. But there was too few of them and most of the book
> was filled with TdF history **** and even a chapter on globalisation. So
> a couple of good chapters on the roles of the domestiques and a detailed
> writeup on a key stage but a book that just didn't deliver. Doh 20 bucks
> wasted.
>
> DaveB "refusing to buy any books not recommended by someone else"

Oh damn! This 'sounded' like a good'un when I first heard about it -
it's on my list to buy.

Wanna get rid of your copy?

hippy

 

[DaveB]

hippy wrote:
>
> Oh damn! This 'sounded' like a good'un when I first heard about it -
> it's on my list to buy.
>
> Wanna get rid of your copy?
>
> hippy

Yeah you can have it, it'll cost you a 5spd wheel ... oh hang on a
minute. Tell you what I'll do. I'll register it at www.bookcrossing.com
(if you haven't seen this it's where you register a book, turn it loose
into the wild, and follow it's progress) and pass it on to you (can drop
it off with you at work one day on a school pickup). Then you can either
pass it on to someone or turn it loose.

DaveB

 

[hippy]

DaveB wrote:
> hippy wrote:
>> Wanna get rid of your copy?
>
> Yeah you can have it, it'll cost you a 5spd wheel ... oh hang on a
> minute. Tell you what I'll do. I'll register it at www.bookcrossing.com
> (if you haven't seen this it's where you register a book, turn it loose
> into the wild, and follow it's progress) and pass it on to you (can drop
> it off with you at work one day on a school pickup). Then you can either
> pass it on to someone or turn it loose.

Book Crossing.. what a cool idea!! I've never heard of that before!
Probably because I hoard all my books and I thought everyone was too
busy with google and Playstations to read nowadays..

I'll participate! Maybe I can take it with me to Europe and read it
while I attempt to tour places by bike, then leave it in another country?

Yes, I am again thinking of doing some cycle touring! I should've paid
more attention to those guys with the knee socks.. I'm so out of my
depth.. hopefully enthusiasm makes up for knowledge!! :S

hippy

 

[byron27]

Ok - trying to get you literary value: "23 days in July" by John Wilcockson (Velonews) is a bit of an extended race report, but he writes so well, Lance doesn't even come across as the bone-headed egotist that he so obviously is (pre-emptively dons flame armour). It's a bit like an extended Phil Liggett - why is it the Poms are the best commentators - cricket, everything? (Yes, I know he's an ex-pat, but he's got that quizzical sensibility that John Arlott used to have).

Give it a try - see what you think. It sucked me in.

M "literatus" H

what about bill lawry?????

 

[DaveB]

hippy wrote:
>
> Book Crossing.. what a cool idea!! I've never heard of that before!
> Probably because I hoard all my books and I thought everyone was too
> busy with google and Playstations to read nowadays..
>

I'm a book hoarder but found I had a heap of books I didn't really like
but were too good to chuck out which was when I found Bookcrossing.
Seemed like a good way to get rid of books that I didn't really like but
others might.

DaveB

 

[TimC]

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 at 03:02 GMT, hippy (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> Yes, I am again thinking of doing some cycle touring! I should've paid
> more attention to those guys with the knee socks..

HAW HAW!

> I'm so out of my depth.. hopefully enthusiasm makes up for
> knowledge!! :S

Get rid of your single speed, get a tourer, kit it up with dynamo and
fenders and racks and panniers. Get a trailer, and take Hatchback (why
is he always licking himself?) on the back, ala Roger and his dog.

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
"Some people think that noise abatement should be a higher priority for ATC. I
say safety is noise abatement. You have no idea how much noise it makes to have
a 737 fall out of the sky after an accident." -- anon. air traffic controller

 

[cfsmtb]

Get a trailer, and take Hatchback (why is he always licking himself?)

Because he can.

 

[NickZX6R]

mfhor wrote:
> DaveB Wrote:
>
>>Actually I was going to title this Book report but suddenly felt like I
>>had to stand up in front of a class.
>>
>>Anyway add another book to my list of disappointments. This one has
>>only
>>recently hit the bookshops. It sounded really good being about Victor
>>Hugo Pena's role in the 2003 TdF and the sections on him or by him
>>didn't disappoint. But there was too few of them and most of the book
>>was filled with TdF history **** and even a chapter on globalisation.
>>So
>>a couple of good chapters on the roles of the domestiques and a
>>detailed
>>writeup on a key stage but a book that just didn't deliver. Doh 20
>>bucks
>>wasted.
>>
>>DaveB "refusing to buy any books not recommended by someone else"
>
> Ok - trying to get you literary value: "23 days in July" by John
> Wilcockson (Velonews) is a bit of an extended race report, but he
> writes so well, Lance doesn't even come across as the bone-headed
> egotist that he so obviously is (pre-emptively dons flame armour). It's
> a bit like an extended Phil Liggett - why is it the Poms are the best
> commentators - cricket, everything? (Yes, I know he's an ex-pat, but
> he's got that quizzical sensibility that John Arlott used to have).
>
> Give it a try - see what you think. It sucked me in.
>
> M "literatus" H
>
>


I'm almost finished 23 days in July.

I agree. Very engaging and entertaining.

--
Nick

 

[hippy]

TimC wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 at 03:02 GMT, hippy (aka Bruce)
>>Yes, I am again thinking of doing some cycle touring! I should've paid
>>more attention to those guys with the knee socks..
>
> HAW HAW!

;-) Helmet mirrors be damned!

>>I'm so out of my depth.. hopefully enthusiasm makes up for
>>knowledge!! :S
>
> Get rid of your single speed,

Never!

I'm thinking about using an Il Pompino (ss) for the 'tour' (Belgium and
Netherlands are pretty flat right?) and it will become my commuter in
London afterwards. Unless my mate comes with, in which case we go to
Spain too.. they have some large hills there :S
If I can't climb it on the bike.. I can walk it right?

>get a tourer, kit it up with dynamo and fenders and racks and panniers.

A cheap tourer is an option, but the SS has a certain appeal with me. It
might accomodate a Rohloff hub should I really need gears ($$$ though)
but I'm not particularly interested. Why the dynamo over batteries?
Touring is the exception I'll make for full fenders and rack/panniers

> Get a trailer,

bikesoiler used a BoB trailer over there. Nice idea but $570+.

>and take Hatchback (why is he always licking himself?) on the back,
ala Roger and his dog.

Hey.. you know you would if you could.. um.. i mean.. um.. yeah.
I don't think he's too fond of bikes actually. Perhaps I should try
harder to not run him over all the time.. he blends in so well in the
dark.. (that was a joke RSPCA!).

hippy

 

[oely]

Ok - trying to get you literary value: "23 days in July" by John Wilcockson (Velonews) is a bit of an extended race report, but he writes so well, Lance doesn't even come across as the bone-headed egotist that he so obviously is (pre-emptively dons flame armour). It's a bit like an extended Phil Liggett - why is it the Poms are the best commentators - cricket, everything? (Yes, I know he's an ex-pat, but he's got that quizzical sensibility that John Arlott used to have).

Give it a try - see what you think. It sucked me in.

M "literatus" H

Must take a fair bit of writing talent to ensure Armstrong doesn´t come across as an egotist. That in itself makes me want to read it!

I quite like the dulcate tone´s of Ligget commentating but overall both him and mostly his mate Sherwin rather annoy me. They are wrong often and try a bit too hard to make things exciting. The constant cliches just get to me. Thing is there isnt all that much competition as far as english language cycling commentators go. Actually since ive learnt another language ive realised just how overrated Phil and Paul are, though for what its worth both very nice guys.

 

[oely]

TimC wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 at 03:02 GMT, hippy (aka Bruce)
>>Yes, I am again thinking of doing some cycle touring! I should've paid
>>more attention to those guys with the knee socks..
>
> HAW HAW!

;-) Helmet mirrors be damned!

>>I'm so out of my depth.. hopefully enthusiasm makes up for
>>knowledge!! :S
>
> Get rid of your single speed,

Never!

I'm thinking about using an Il Pompino (ss) for the 'tour' (Belgium and
Netherlands are pretty flat right?) and it will become my commuter in
London afterwards. Unless my mate comes with, in which case we go to
Spain too.. they have some large hills there :S
If I can't climb it on the bike.. I can walk it right?

>get a tourer, kit it up with dynamo and fenders and racks and panniers.

A cheap tourer is an option, but the SS has a certain appeal with me. It
might accomodate a Rohloff hub should I really need gears ($$$ though)
but I'm not particularly interested. Why the dynamo over batteries?
Touring is the exception I'll make for full fenders and rack/panniers



hippy

Its flat in The Netherlands (wind can more than make up for it) obviously though down in the extreme south of Amstel Gold country it can be pretty hilly i hear. Its been so long since ive seen a hill, i actually get excited to go over a longer bridge and even those are just gloried pre pubescent bumps. If in Belgium and you dont want to encounter hills, stear clear of the Ardennes. Though id ride through, it would be an experience.

Depending on when your thinking of going? you could probably work out a way to tour around seeing quite a few races in these 2 countries. Specially post Tour theres lots of little criteriums around in regional parts of Holland for example.

Also depending on your travel arrangements, thought of getting a bike for touring in Holland? theres no shortage of options and extras here.

 

[hippy]

oely wrote:
> hippy Wrote:
>>I'm thinking about using an Il Pompino (ss) for the 'tour' (Belgium
>>and Netherlands are pretty flat right?) and it will become my commuter in
>>London afterwards. Unless my mate comes with, in which case we go to
>>Spain too.. they have some large hills there :S
>>If I can't climb it on the bike.. I can walk it right?
>
> Its flat in The Netherlands (wind can more than make up for it)

It'll be just like Mildura, minus 30degC or so

> obviously though down in the extreme south of Amstel Gold country it
> can be pretty hilly i hear. Its been so long since ive seen a hill, i
> actually get excited to go over a longer bridge and even those are just
> gloried pre pubescent bumps. If in Belgium and you dont want to
> encounter hills, stear clear of the Ardennes. Though id ride through,
> it would be an experience.

"The western portion of Belgium, consisting of the two Flanders, Antwerp
and parts of Brabant and Hainaut, is flat, being little above the level
of the sea; and indeed at one point near Fumes it is 7 ft. below it.
....
the whole of the province of Luxemburg is above 500 ft., with altitudes
up to 1650 ft. In the south-eastern part of the province of Liege there
are several points exceeding 2000 ft.
....
While the greater part of western and northern Belgium is devoid of the
picturesque, the Ardennes and the Fagnes districts of Between Sambre and
Meuse and Liege contain much pleasant and some romantic scenery."

from: http://35.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BE/BELGIUM.htm

Doesn't tell me how hard the climbing is though..

> Depending on when your thinking of going?

mid-May onwards..

> you could probably work out a
> way to tour around seeing quite a few races in these 2 countries.

Ja.. when I was in Europe last time I just checked the UCI calender
to see if I was near any races.. turned out I was.. saw the 'Rund um
Koln' (Zabel, Hondo were two names of note).

> Specially post Tour theres lots of little criteriums around in regional
> parts of Holland for example.

I'll just jump on the back of a bunch..

> Also depending on your travel arrangements, thought of getting a bike
> for touring in Holland? theres no shortage of options and extras here.

My initial (and current) thought was to take my race bike over and buy a
commuter/tourer over there. But wiser people have suggested taking a
tour-capable bike initially. Lots of stuff in the air right now.
"Vapour-tour"

hippy