Customer Reviews

Tour De France Companion 2005

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bob Roll's 2005 Companion is a delight to read and a masterpiece in explaining the Tour, even if your bike racing knowledge is limited to wondering what all the fuss is about. Chapeau! If you don't have it, get it. Unless you already have the 2004 Companion, that is, because the vast majority of the book is pretty much identical. Only the TdF cribsheet is all new. No offense, Bob, but I'll stick with the 2004 version and my Velo News 2005 guide.

Unfortunately, this book is mostly a cut and paste job from the '04 edition, and a very bad one at that. For example, on several pages 'last year' refers to '03, on others it refers to '04. On page 105 Richard Virenque had won 6 polka-dot jerseys, on page 117 he won 7. I gave it a second star only because I'm a big Bob Roll fan.

C'mon Bobke, you can do better than this.

Tour de France: Companion 2005 implies that you will be getting a guide to the race for 2005. If that is your expectation, you will be disappointed. Of the 184 pages, almost 5 relate to this year's race in what is hardly more than cursory detail...

There are no profiles of the stages. There are no individual stage maps. There are no descriptions of the routes and the challenges they pose. The authors, it is clear, have not taken the trouble to follow and scout this year's route. They did not follow last years either would be my guess, nor will they next.

The cover of the book promises to provide a 2005 crib sheet. If the reader expects to pass a test based on the promise of the crib sheet, he will get a failing grade. Look elsewhere if you are interested in information regarding the current Tour de France.

I am a big fan of the Tour de France and an avid cyclist so I've read alot of books pertaining to both over the years. Several good books and a number of mediocre ones.

However, I have to say that this is the best book on the event that I have ever read. It's entertaining without being condescending. Roll's prose is humorous at times but still respectful of this incredible sporting and cultural event. If you are new to the sport this book will help explain the nuances. If you're like me and watch every stage, the book is still helpful-especially where he explains often-used french terms.

Lastly, Bob Roll is probably one of the best Tour commentators, next Liggett and Sherwen, out there. He is a former racer and knows what he's talking about. Great read before and after the race.

Hey!
Like any non-athletic (cycling, football, golf, soccerball, basketball, and baseball) person who actually watches the Tour and throughly enjoy's Bobkes' take on all the action, Hail to the Bobke!!!! He really explains all of it in pretty simply terms for us gals who are couch potatoes and who really enjoy the competitiveness of it all. I've been watching the Tour since the mid 80's when Greg LeMond outsmarted and won. Bobkes' real-life description is the only one I trust, heck, the man rode the Tour didn't he? He rode to help Lance realize his true ambition/talent on that mountain in Boone, North Carolina didn't he? Bobke has helped me understand the Tour with the companion book, it's like he's right next to me riding along. I love all the guys from OLN but Bobke is the one that holds all the respect.

An extremely readable and entertaining book for all those who want the inside scoop and understanding of the Tour de France. Bob Roll is both articulate and amusing. It has enough general information that it is worth keeping, even after the tour is finished, although some of the information is specific to this year's tour and Lance Armstrong. I have followed the tour for more than 40 years, and consider myself knowledgable, but still learned some interesting details

This book really added to my enjoyment and understanding in following the 2005 tour!