Latest Non-Fic

I'm trying hard to branch out. I've realized that I basically read the same book over and over, because I tend to choose things that appeal to certain interests and even though I was a English major, I have grown up treasuring reading as a form of escapism. Historical fiction? Yes!

I'm not a cyclist, though I have some aspirations that way. I have read Lance Armstrong's first biography mostly because of his fight with cancer, but I found myself fascinated with the sport of cycling. I began watching the Tour de France a few years ago. I was talking to a friend about this and we were wondering what is interesting about a 6 hour race? Not sure, maybe the high level of athleticism, single minded determination, the beautiful scenery, the spandex (no no NO - just kidding)...

Anyways, Inside the Postal Bus by Michael Barry was a nice light read. So light in fact, that at one point, I mixed up my book mark and picked up reading about fifty pages ahead and didn't really notice. Later I realized I missed a whole chunk...I went back of course. This book really jumps around and I have to say that it seems a lot like a PR campaign, the endless name dropping, no one can keep track on all the people that parade across the pages...everything is PC, there is no criticism of rules, sponsors, race officials, athletes...But I'm not athlete, and this guy, he's not a writer! A lot of things got past the editor, some sentences don't make a lot of sense. Here's one that is a little interesting...I've never managed to start and finish a sentence with the same word.

"Summers in Spain are hot, hotter than anything I ever experienced back in the muggy Toronto summers."

Little guest features really spiced this book up, the following from George Hincapie...

"Riding on a team like U.S. Postal means winning a lot of races, a lot of the time. It means riding with some incredible teammates who do amazing things."

Yup. Hmmm... well anyways here's what the athletes say... (7/10 on PedalPushers.com)

"For any reader who enjoys following the exploits of professional cycling teams, and the U.S. Postal Team luminaries in particular, this book is filled with the kind of details and statistics that allow such a reader to "talk shop" for hours with a similarly inclined competitive cycling aficionado. There are interesting flashbacks to the author's youth and his motivation to compete. There are asides about the author's wife, also a competitive cyclist, and a fair number of insights into what makes other team members tick, and on occasion, not tick. There are the required obsequities to The Lance Armstrong legend and a fairly in depth examination of the role the team plays in elevating the team hero to his winning status."