Coming Monday and Tuesday: Phil Gaimon Book Review, Interview
Here’s something I’m surprised to be finding out about myself: I like reviewing stuff, as long as it’s really interesting. Like, if I really love something and find myself thinking about why I’m drawn to it. Or if I really hate something and wonder how it ever came to see the light of day. Or if I’m just confused by something and wonder what I’m missing — or if perhaps the creator of that something just didn’t think things through.
For things like bikes and helmets and power meters, I may not be (ha!) qualified to do good reviews. Hey, I don’t even really work on my own bikes.
But for things like books, well, I do write. And I read a lot. And I like stories about people who ride bikes.
So you might be seeing more reviews here. And I’m going to be honest. Which may come across as a little tough sometimes. But I’m also going to be fair, and try to maintain my core philosophy (be kind).
Read — And Then Meet — Phil Gaimon (Garmin-Sharp)
This Monday, I’m going to be reviewing Phil Gaimon’s Pro Cycling on $10 a Day: From Fat Kid to Euro Pro.
And then, Tuesday — 12:00noon EDT / 11:00AM CDT / 10:00AM MDT / 9:00AM PDT — we’re going to have a live video chat with Phil on Spreecast. I have a bunch of questions for him, but would like you to use the comments question today to start asking your own.
Plus, be sure to attend the Spreecast; I’ll be sure to let as many of you as possible ask Phil your questions yourself.
I want to point out that — as I did with my review of Hincapie / Hummer’s book — I extended the opportunity to Gaimon to have a chance to respond to my review and answer questions, but have not shown him the review itself.
Unlike with the Hincapie / Hummer books, Gaimon accepted, in spite of the fact that he doesn’t know what will be in the review, nor its tone. So kudos to him for that.
Check back Monday for the review and info on watching / participating in the Spreecast.
Have a good weekend and ride lots.
Comment by Corrine | 06.27.2014 | 10:59 am
Finished reading the book last week. I’ll withhold my comments about it for now but I’m curious to see what you think about it. I’ll be riding lots this weekend (like 17 hours in the Sluice Box 100 race -https://sites.google.com/site/sluicebox100/home).
It’s going to be a fun sufferfest tomorrow with millions of mosquitoes, swamps, over 10,000 feet of elvation gain and a bit of hike a bike!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.27.2014 | 11:36 am
You get all the good rides up there!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.27.2014 | 11:46 am
OK Corrine that’s one cool elevation profile. Have Elden & Lisa been to Alaska? ‘Cause this has him/them written all over it. (caution this is going to be ‘wide’ sorry)
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 06.27.2014 | 12:13 pm
Wow Corrine, have “fun” with that! My legs (which are recovering from my race last weekend) are shuddering at the thought of that one…….
Comment by MattC | 06.27.2014 | 12:25 pm
That looks like a BEAST of a race! Add in the mosquitoes and I’d be dead before I finished (drained of blood…mosquitoes LOVE me!) Stay safe and have fun Corrine! Keep the rubber side DOWN!
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 06.27.2014 | 1:54 pm
Good luck with that race, whew! Back to the book/interview… It took me about 2 paragraphs of your first post on Hincapie’s book to decide it wasn’t worth reading (and I didn’t even finish reading your posts about it, sorry). I have a week’s vacation starting tomorrow where I could read a whole book so… Is this book worth reading? Yes or no works just fine. It sounds like a fun read.
Comment by UpTheGrade, SR, CA | 06.27.2014 | 3:12 pm
Coincidentally, I just got this book from Amazon. I’d better read it this weekend before you spoil the surprise for me.
My questions to Phil prior to reading the book:
- Is $10 a day what you spent, or what you were paid?
- Were you tempted to use unnatural means to compete?
- Did you get to ride with Jensie, and did he say “Shut up…”
- Does competing take the fun out of riding, or add excitement?
- Was riding in the peloton at high speed scary?
Comment by ScottyCycles62 | 06.27.2014 | 5:25 pm
Looking forward to Gaimon. He’s someone you definitely want to buy a beer!
Comment by David | 06.27.2014 | 8:00 pm
Ah common Fatty, I thought your 3 month weight loss challenge would warrant even a mention (but better a full post) as the finish date passed… I didn’t make my goal but I did lose 16 pounds and I would love to hear how you did, we did, and the donations to WBR went… ;-)
It will! I just have a lot of things to talk about right now — opposite problem of the winter months! – FC
Comment by AKChick | 06.27.2014 | 10:00 pm
I LOVE that you’re going to start doing book reviews! I LOVE to read. It will be nice to get some recommendations.
@Corinne That race just might finally lure Fatty and The Hammer to Alaska. :) I haven’t had luck. Yet. :) I’m not an MTBer so that race looks pretty intimidating to me! Now 10K of climbing on a road bike (or cross) doesn’t freak me out as much.
Comment by Anonymous | 06.27.2014 | 11:05 pm
@Corrine@AKC
I hope you can get Fatty up there. I’ll pay good WBR money to see Fatty in one of those ‘hairnet’ thingies. Though Fatty in a hairnet seems oxymoronish.
Comment by davidh-Marin,ca | 06.28.2014 | 10:35 am
Big cheer for Steve Banks, and Kukui as they represent us at WBR Red Bell this weekend. Have some pie in their honor.
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 06.28.2014 | 11:59 am
I finished Phil’s book a couple of weeks ago. I don’t want to spoil Fatty’s review, however I will say it is one of the best cycling books I’ve read.
Have a good weekend everyone!!
Comment by Wife#1 | 06.29.2014 | 9:44 am
I’d love to hear Phil talk about the fat kid part and how that transition to cycling came about – the challenges and joys of going from fat to fit as a younger person.
Unless of course by “fat” he really meant he was a few pounds heavier than a cyclist usually weighs (which is what, 130# dripping wet?), in which case I’d like you to virtually slap him. ;-)
Comment by Bill Hart-Davidson | 06.29.2014 | 3:27 pm
I read and enjoyed Phil’s book a great deal. It was funny and well-written. I was impressed by his ability to recall details from races from many years ago. At one point in the narrative he mentions that he benefited from another rider’s careful logging of course details and that this inspired him to step up his own attention to logging race details. So I would be curious to know what his training and racing notebooks look like now and if revisiting those helped him write the book?