Hello my name is VeloGuy and I am a roadie.
Admit it, your a “Roadie” too!
I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie Smith, the author of the book “Roadie – The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer”, at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, and was completely taken by his complete dedication to his sport of bike racing. For those who do not know he is the roving voice of the Tour of California. He crams himself into a SUV for 8 days driving 15 minutes in front of the lead racer letting the fans know the latest updates about the race. Like time gaps, how many in the break, how fast they are going, and the always important, how is Lance doing.
During one of our conversations Jaime asked me if I had ever read his book “Roadie”. Sensing an opportunity, I told him that if he gave me a copy that I would read it and write this book review for him. With the promise of complete honesty of our like or dislike. He agreed saying something like “no issues, everyone likes it”.
THE BOOK REVIEW
VeloGuy: It took all of one weekend to read the complete book cover to cover, with me even reading some sections to my poor wife who has to put up with my “Roadie” lifestyle. The book is an easy read, and very entertaining which made me laugh out loud a few times disturbing the family’s Saturday afternoon nap time. Expect to be hooked in quickly and not very interested in putting the book down until it is completed. It reads like a comedy, but is filled with facts and information.
If you are a new “Roadie” expect to be educated also. “Roadie” contains a peloton load of much needed facts and advise that will serve you well in your new found “Roadie” lifestyle. It is without question the best resource so far to get a better handle(bar) on the terminology, facts, etiquette, and plain old knowledge on everything “Roadie”. I gave the book to a new “roadie” named Howard to see what his opinion was, and he raved. See why below -
Howard: “Roadie” was a great read, but made it very clear that I’m a cycling enthusiast, not a budding roadie. If my wife wasn’t annoyed enough that I was trying to sneak out on my bike every moment the sun was up when I wasn’t at the office, she certainly didn’t appreciate that whenever I was home I was reading Roadie. The book is a light hearted guide to why otherwise sane men (and women) will tie up dozens of hours per week trying to squeeze in 200 miles per week of riding just to get strong enough to not get dropped on the Sunday morning on the club ride. The how to, what’s it called, what to eat, where to ride sections were pretty straight forward and simple, but the best parts of the book were the psych profiles of what a roadie’s thinking. No matter whether you are new to cycling or an upward moving cat 3, nobody wants to get dropped. “Roadie” did a great job of painting a picture of the joys, pleasures, pain, agony and frustration of a cycling. Its a hobby/passion built around a mix of flying free, rolling with your friends, and laying into the battle of your will against your body’s limits. The book did a great job of feeding my hunger for cycling, while filling in the bits I haven’t picked up from my buddies as we rolled the local paths and highways. Definitely worth buying the day you get your first road bike.
If you are a life long “roadie” of been around the crit racing block a few times you might know, or at least have heard most everything in this book. But it is so entertaining to have some tell our “roadie” life story that you will find the book a good read also. Trust me, it will be worth your time.
“Roadie” is the user manual that should come with every road bike sale.
Bicycle.net gives “Roadie”
4 out of 5 chainrings
To Buy “Roadie” – CLICK HERE
