Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel With a Pro Cyclist [Paperback]

Paul Kimmage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2007

Paul Kimmage's boyhood dreams were of cycling glory—wearing the yellow jersey, cycling the Tour de France, and becoming a national hero. He knew it wouldn't come easy, but he was prepared to put in the work—he spent his teenage years cycling an average of 400 miles per week. The dedication began to pay off. As an amateur, he represented his country and finished sixth in the World Championships. In 1986 he turned professional, and reality hit. He soon discovered it was not about glory and courage, nor about training or dedication. It was about grueling defeats, complete and utter exhaustion, and drugs—not drugs that would ensure victory, but drugs that would allow you to finish the race. Paul Kimmage left the sport to write this powerful and frank account that breaks the code of silence surrounding the issue of drugs in sport. An eye-opening exposé and a heartbreaking lament, this is a book that anyone interested in any sport should read. This updated edition includes the story of Kimmage's 2006 return to the Tour as well as a moving section on the life and death of an old teammate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kimmage’s tale provides an important context for our current problems with performance enhancing drugs, i.e., doping."—Boston.com

From the Inside Flap

Winner of the 1990 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

A former rider in the Tour de France tells what life is really like in the world of professional cycling. This new edition is fully updated with two new chapters on the escalation of the use of drugs in sports. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Random House UK (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0224080172
• ISBN-13: 978-0224080170
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rough ride indeed, September 6, 2001

By 

Noel Molloy (Werribee, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel with a Pro Cyclist (Paperback)

Kimmage rode with some of the greats of cycling, but was only in the cold shadow of greatness in terms of ability. He details in the book the means taken by some cyclists to climb out of the shadows into the sunshine by taking drugs. His book was brave at the time, he was accused of 'spitting in the soup' and lost the friendship of many of his cycling peers for his writing about the drug taking. He was called a liar. But time has revealed through the 'festina affair' who were the liars. A good read, but leaves one feeling a little sad to think that sport in general, not just cycling, can be so diseased.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Many Questions Answered, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel with a Pro Cyclist (Paperback)

What happens when the talented amateur becomes the paid professional cyclist? This book answers that question in graphic and, occasionally horrifying, detail. To be sure, the author portrays himself as a stained saint of the sport. It does raise the question as to what we expect from all professional athletes.

With the backdrop of the 1998 Tour de France in our history the re-release of this book is a poignant reminder that these riders are not super men. Some, to compete in a grueling stage race, subject their bodies to horrific potential consequences. Most of them are not the leaders but the "domsetiques" who ride in support of the leaders. They lead them in their draft, carry water bottles back and forth, only to drop out just before the glory moments.

Why do they do it? Perhaps it is the sponsors. Perhaps the fans. Perhaps it is just the difference between the professional, to whom the team win is more important than finishing.

This book is a chilling look at all professional sport through the lens of professional cycling.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very insightful, pulls back the glossy veneer, March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel with a Pro Cyclist (Paperback)

Very hard to put down, even though I am strictly a recreational rider with no racing experience I found the story painted very vivid images. Paul Kimmage pours it all on the table, sometimes trying to be neutral, other times being very judgemental. The book feels very honest in presenting the history of drugs and cycling. I would definitely read more of his work.