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Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World - And Won
7- America's Greatest Cycling Team is the first book to tell the full story of America's first and greatest pro cycling team.
Founded in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz and Olympic medalist Eric Heiden and sponsored by the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores, the team rounded up the best amateur cyclists in North America and formed them into a cohesive, European-style cycling team. As amateurs, they dominated the American race scene and won seven medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. As professionals, beginning in 1985, the team went to Europe and soon received invitations to the Tour of Italy and then the Tour de France, putting Americans on the podium in landmark victories that would change the face of American cycling forever.
Prepared with the enthusiastic cooperation of the team members and co-authored by the team's founder, Jim Ochowicz, 7-Eleven is not only the most important missing piece in the story of American cycling, but the book that American cyclists have been waiting for ever since the 7-Eleven cowboys snagged that first yellow jersey.
Founded in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz and Olympic medalist Eric Heiden and sponsored by the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores, the team rounded up the best amateur cyclists in North America and formed them into a cohesive, European-style cycling team. As amateurs, they dominated the American race scene and won seven medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. As professionals, beginning in 1985, the team went to Europe and soon received invitations to the Tour of Italy and then the Tour de France, putting Americans on the podium in landmark victories that would change the face of American cycling forever.
Prepared with the enthusiastic cooperation of the team members and co-authored by the team's founder, Jim Ochowicz, 7-Eleven is not only the most important missing piece in the story of American cycling, but the book that American cyclists have been waiting for ever since the 7-Eleven cowboys snagged that first yellow jersey.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 6, 2015
It's impossible to objectively review this book, and, frankly, it's not for everyone. But, if you're a fan of bicycle racing, an American, and, (probably) over 40 [yup, I warned you - it's not for everyone], its hard to imagine you wouldn't love this book. Would it appeal to others? Maybe. It's an epic tale of uniquely American moxie, naivete, arrogance, failure, success, and evolution, played out across the country and over the tallest mountains of Europe....
But let me try another tact. Before Michael Phelps, one Olympian achieved something not even Mark Spitz (before Phelps) even dared. Eric Heiden - who only won five (5) gold medals - won every speed-skating competition at the 1980 Olympics, ranging from 500 to 10,000 meters. Heiden - at the time - was the toast of the nation (and the world). And before becoming a doctor (yup, remember - they were amateurs back then) Heiden went on to race bikes. And - yes, I'm getting to the point here - Heiden's celebrity (in large part) induced those mavens of ubiquitous convenience shopping (or, should I say, soda dispensing) - 7-11 - to underwrite an enterprise that permanently transformed America's presence in the international bike racing community. If that sounds interesting, come along for a wild ride.
If, however, you vividly remember the 7-11 boys and that era, the book is probably worth the price for the photos alone. (OK, that's not objective either - I still have, and savor, some photos I took of these guys 20+ years ago.) The book is heavily populated with relevant black-and-white shots, and the center is jammed with an eclectic, diverse collection of often iconic color images. (OK, I winced being reminded of Davis Phinney's thru-the-rear-windshield wreck - that's one image I wish I didn't recall....) It's a gentle spin down memory lane, and all of your favorites are here, including, of course, Hampsten's crowning achievements in Italy and Switzerland. I just wish I'd had the book with me - a few years ago - when I got to ride with Raul Alcala, one of the most memorable rides of my star-struck cycling life....
Drake has been writing about cycling for leading periodicals for some time, which means (on the one hand) he knows his stuff, yet (on the other hand) he's more comfortable writing in small packages. Fortunately, he simply sticks with what he does best; the result being a linear collection of chapters populated with newspaper-length, sequential columns. It ain't literature, but works just fine in this context.
But let me try another tact. Before Michael Phelps, one Olympian achieved something not even Mark Spitz (before Phelps) even dared. Eric Heiden - who only won five (5) gold medals - won every speed-skating competition at the 1980 Olympics, ranging from 500 to 10,000 meters. Heiden - at the time - was the toast of the nation (and the world). And before becoming a doctor (yup, remember - they were amateurs back then) Heiden went on to race bikes. And - yes, I'm getting to the point here - Heiden's celebrity (in large part) induced those mavens of ubiquitous convenience shopping (or, should I say, soda dispensing) - 7-11 - to underwrite an enterprise that permanently transformed America's presence in the international bike racing community. If that sounds interesting, come along for a wild ride.
If, however, you vividly remember the 7-11 boys and that era, the book is probably worth the price for the photos alone. (OK, that's not objective either - I still have, and savor, some photos I took of these guys 20+ years ago.) The book is heavily populated with relevant black-and-white shots, and the center is jammed with an eclectic, diverse collection of often iconic color images. (OK, I winced being reminded of Davis Phinney's thru-the-rear-windshield wreck - that's one image I wish I didn't recall....) It's a gentle spin down memory lane, and all of your favorites are here, including, of course, Hampsten's crowning achievements in Italy and Switzerland. I just wish I'd had the book with me - a few years ago - when I got to ride with Raul Alcala, one of the most memorable rides of my star-struck cycling life....
Drake has been writing about cycling for leading periodicals for some time, which means (on the one hand) he knows his stuff, yet (on the other hand) he's more comfortable writing in small packages. Fortunately, he simply sticks with what he does best; the result being a linear collection of chapters populated with newspaper-length, sequential columns. It ain't literature, but works just fine in this context.
February 10, 2013
Not the best writing, but an engaging enough story. Standout part has to be the bit on the famous Gavia stage of the 88 Giro, which almost made me want to go ride in the snow.
March 16, 2022
My 8th cycling text, and *not bad* though it's published by the academic imprint of cycling, Velo Press. Not that it's a bad thing, though we're talking about a team now a full 35 years removed from their heyday, and even at press time, the team had been gone for 20 years -- not urgent sporting news.
But so what? Geoff Drake wanted to go after America's first and best cycling outfit (USPS might have captured the "best" crown, but look how they flamed out in retrospect) and memorialize it in way it didn't have the chance to in the 80s and 90s -- at the time of US pro cycling's greatest success, enthusiast bicycling was potentially at one of its lowest points in the US. There was no way this history would capture the imagination of the American public is published in the 80s/90s. America was still completely in thrall to America's Big Three. There was time needed to develop nostalgia and to see the eventual stars of American cycling really bear fruit.
Nowadays, with cycling of all disciplines enjoyed by a huge cross-section of the US -- plus other lesser-known sports having crept forward in importance -- it's a different story. Think about it: 1981--1990, spinning didn't exist; mountain biking was in its infancy (with 7-Eleven and other Euro tour riders yet to enter and dominate it); the idea of cycling being a popular corporate sport over something like golf was laughable; and of course our great American Bicycle God hadn't risen, nor been banished. In a way it's nice that this was published just shy of Armstrong's downfall -- the team could be painted as the culmination of Olympic victory and the godfather of all that would come in American cycling.
And while this book starts off _painfully_ slowly with the life story of founder Jim Ochowicz and the building of the team around dominant Olympic skater Eric Heiden, it accelerates at a decent pace to recount the birth of America's only well-known cycling team up to that point (and you can draw a direct line from there to Motorola and then USPS).
While it might have dropped 50+ pages getting to the point (it's exhaustive in its details of the 7-Eleven corp and the sports marketing team that scored the sponsorship, as well as some unusually long backgrounds on the riders), it still covers the exciting stuff -- early races like the Coors Classic, Lowenbrau's east coast grand prix, the '84 Olympics (when the pro-am 7-Elevens could still field amateur riders before everyone went pro) and the eventual entry into Europe's one-day classics, and then the grand tours (lots of Giro and Le Tour coverage), along with anecdotes and snippets from management, soigneurs, sponsors, etc.
Four stars because among cycling histories, it's enjoyable, not demanding, and brief enough at 280ish pages. Not for the non-fan or the person uninterested in early American pro cycling. It helps if you recognize names like Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten, but it's not a must. Every cycling history or memoir increases your knowledge of the sport, and this is no different. Some solid reportage and fun anecdotes to take away from it.
But so what? Geoff Drake wanted to go after America's first and best cycling outfit (USPS might have captured the "best" crown, but look how they flamed out in retrospect) and memorialize it in way it didn't have the chance to in the 80s and 90s -- at the time of US pro cycling's greatest success, enthusiast bicycling was potentially at one of its lowest points in the US. There was no way this history would capture the imagination of the American public is published in the 80s/90s. America was still completely in thrall to America's Big Three. There was time needed to develop nostalgia and to see the eventual stars of American cycling really bear fruit.
Nowadays, with cycling of all disciplines enjoyed by a huge cross-section of the US -- plus other lesser-known sports having crept forward in importance -- it's a different story. Think about it: 1981--1990, spinning didn't exist; mountain biking was in its infancy (with 7-Eleven and other Euro tour riders yet to enter and dominate it); the idea of cycling being a popular corporate sport over something like golf was laughable; and of course our great American Bicycle God hadn't risen, nor been banished. In a way it's nice that this was published just shy of Armstrong's downfall -- the team could be painted as the culmination of Olympic victory and the godfather of all that would come in American cycling.
And while this book starts off _painfully_ slowly with the life story of founder Jim Ochowicz and the building of the team around dominant Olympic skater Eric Heiden, it accelerates at a decent pace to recount the birth of America's only well-known cycling team up to that point (and you can draw a direct line from there to Motorola and then USPS).
While it might have dropped 50+ pages getting to the point (it's exhaustive in its details of the 7-Eleven corp and the sports marketing team that scored the sponsorship, as well as some unusually long backgrounds on the riders), it still covers the exciting stuff -- early races like the Coors Classic, Lowenbrau's east coast grand prix, the '84 Olympics (when the pro-am 7-Elevens could still field amateur riders before everyone went pro) and the eventual entry into Europe's one-day classics, and then the grand tours (lots of Giro and Le Tour coverage), along with anecdotes and snippets from management, soigneurs, sponsors, etc.
Four stars because among cycling histories, it's enjoyable, not demanding, and brief enough at 280ish pages. Not for the non-fan or the person uninterested in early American pro cycling. It helps if you recognize names like Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten, but it's not a must. Every cycling history or memoir increases your knowledge of the sport, and this is no different. Some solid reportage and fun anecdotes to take away from it.
March 18, 2018
I received my copy of this book at one of the release events with Phinney, Gogalski, Drake, Roll and Och himself (all signed and beautiful), at the Bicycle Outfitter in Los Altos years ago. I just now got around to opening the pages (beyond the pictures!) and read every word.
It's hard for me to write a critical review about the book, as I love the story and know quite of few of the "leading characters" personally. But if you like Bicycle racing in America, this book will check many boxes!
The Hampsten on The Gavia (Giro) chapter makes the whole book!
It's hard for me to write a critical review about the book, as I love the story and know quite of few of the "leading characters" personally. But if you like Bicycle racing in America, this book will check many boxes!
The Hampsten on The Gavia (Giro) chapter makes the whole book!
May 19, 2020
As a kid, I was really into the 1980 Winter Olympics. Eric Heiden and the hockey team were such iconic characters from that time. This book took the next steps for Heiden and showed how he helped create US cycling. With the financial backing of 7-11, and the dedication of so many other players. It was a fun read.
July 30, 2017
A nice basic account of the early days of American professional cycling. This is probably more valuable for the first half when Ochowicz is getting the team started; its coverage of the late 1980s gets more sparse. It does leave you wanting more details about so much...
November 14, 2016
Fascinating look at the beginnings of an American team to compete in Europe and eventually the Tour de France. The original 7-Eleven Team, and the beginning of the team, was Eric Heiden who won 5 gold medals in speed skating - over all distances. Many of the first team members were from the skating culture of the Midwest: Michigan, W isconsin, etc. where bicyclling was a summer exercise for skaters.
July 13, 2018
A quick read. Nice, rosy history of the 7-11 team and it's impact on American cycling. I know 7-11 greatly influenced my own enthusiasm of cycling.
Possibly a sign of the times when it was published (2011) but everyone tries to take a little credit for Lance Armstrong. Notably absent from the chapter on the 1984 Olympics is the whole blood doping scandal the enveloped the olympic cycling team.
For more of the humorous team stories, check out Bob Roll's books: Bobke: A Ride on the Wild Side of Cycling and Bobke II.
Possibly a sign of the times when it was published (2011) but everyone tries to take a little credit for Lance Armstrong. Notably absent from the chapter on the 1984 Olympics is the whole blood doping scandal the enveloped the olympic cycling team.
For more of the humorous team stories, check out Bob Roll's books: Bobke: A Ride on the Wild Side of Cycling and Bobke II.
May 1, 2019
This is a good book if you like to read about cycling prior to carbon fiber and electronic shifting.
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June 24, 2020Midwest work ethic.
A fun book about how and why team 7-ll came about
A fun book about how and why team 7-ll came about
May 9, 2021
Great read to learn about the modern history of the start of the first USA based international cycling team
July 15, 2024
A good read - I'd go 3.5 stars. A well researched and presented history of the team.
January 13, 2016
TEAM 7-ELEVEN was written by Geoff Drake who is a former editor of Bicycling Magazine and VeloNews. Jim Ochowicz contributed so often the book seems like an authorized biography about Jim.
I recommend this book. It flows along quickly so it only takes a day or two to read through it. It is a happy book and doesn’t delve into the dark side of cycling or the cyclists. The book excels at the character development and details of the main 7-11 riders. There is a center section with many excellent color photos.
The book only covers the start- up and development Team 7-11. Greg LeMond is not mentioned very often and it barely mentions Lance Armstrong at all. Those of us who didn’t start cycling until the 1990s would probably have liked to have read more about Bob Roll and Chris Carmichael. But for those who started riding in the 1980s every name in the book will be familiar.
After reading this book my thoughts were, “Where can I buy a 7-Eleven jersey”.
I recommend this book. It flows along quickly so it only takes a day or two to read through it. It is a happy book and doesn’t delve into the dark side of cycling or the cyclists. The book excels at the character development and details of the main 7-11 riders. There is a center section with many excellent color photos.
The book only covers the start- up and development Team 7-11. Greg LeMond is not mentioned very often and it barely mentions Lance Armstrong at all. Those of us who didn’t start cycling until the 1990s would probably have liked to have read more about Bob Roll and Chris Carmichael. But for those who started riding in the 1980s every name in the book will be familiar.
After reading this book my thoughts were, “Where can I buy a 7-Eleven jersey”.
June 7, 2012
For cycling fans, Team 7-Eleven is an important book because it gives an inside look at how the first major American pro team came to be. Especially because it came to be in some rather unorthodox ways.
But the writing is not great, and the story sometimes disorganized, so if you don't already have a keen interest in the history of professional cycling, you probably won't find the book terribly engaging.
That said, the section describing the epic Gavia stage of the 1988 Giro d'Italia - when riders were forced to climb and DESCEND in freezing, driving snow - is an absolutely thrilling read. If you're unfamiliar with it watch the first minute of THIS video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnJvU0...
But the writing is not great, and the story sometimes disorganized, so if you don't already have a keen interest in the history of professional cycling, you probably won't find the book terribly engaging.
That said, the section describing the epic Gavia stage of the 1988 Giro d'Italia - when riders were forced to climb and DESCEND in freezing, driving snow - is an absolutely thrilling read. If you're unfamiliar with it watch the first minute of THIS video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnJvU0...
September 13, 2014
It's more than a little repetitious. If you question said alleged repetition, I suggest you drink a shot every time the book references the "Midwestern Work Ethic" or words to that effect and see how long you manage to remain sober. You'll need a designated driver before the end of the second chapter. Also, there's the mysterious disappearance - and sudden reappearance - of Andy Hampsten in the book. That was a head shaker. Still, it's an entertaining book and a cornucopia of 80's cycling nostalgia. It makes a good companion for Hunting the Badger, but read the 7-Eleven book first; the superior writing in Hunting will overshadow 7-Eleven too much if you don't.
July 18, 2012
A great history of this cycling team. Too bad it didn't get into the track and domestic teams more, or the women's team. But it was nice to reminisce the early days of Americans competing in Europe. I remember following the names Phinney, Kiefel, Pierce, and not least Hampsten during the Tour for many a summer.
October 31, 2016
Nothing spectacular, but nonetheless an interesting perspective on the pro European peloton from the American side of things. Chapters are either short biographies of the riders or accounts of notable races or stages that the 7-Eleven team participated in. Accounts of the exploits of Lemond are minimized here, which is rare for a American book on cycling. The pictures are nice.
April 11, 2013
Especially rewarding because I cycled through the early years of the team. The names are big, the stories grand (if a bit hyped and superficial) and the chapter on Hampsten's Gavia ride alone is worth the price.
August 3, 2013
I remember seeing Team 7-Eleven Cycling Team all over back in the 80's. I was just getting into biking and watched and read about this team as much as I could back then.
This book is a great read and a must for any cyclist, especially those who followed road biking through the 80's.
This book is a great read and a must for any cyclist, especially those who followed road biking through the 80's.
October 1, 2011
I have a review of this book on my cycling blog at:
http://wheelbike.blogspot.com/2011/09...
http://wheelbike.blogspot.com/2011/09...
December 14, 2011
Workmanlike, a little dull. not very well researched. author did not have much access to the interesting characters like hamsten.
September 25, 2015
very interesting story
October 14, 2013
The book is not especially well-written, but I did enjoy the history and learning about how the team formed.
May 22, 2012
Very inspiring, even for those who have not raced a bicycle. If you raced a bicycle in the eighties or nineties, though, this is a must-read.
December 31, 2012
This was the best of the three cycling books I received for Christmas.
February 13, 2013
Really enjoyed reading this, it was interesting to see the development of a team from meager beginnings in smaller American races to success in the biggest race of all the Tour De France.
April 5, 2013
Nice to read some of the behind-the-scene stories.
August 18, 2014
Definitely one for the cycling aficionado. I highly recommend it!
Read
January 23, 2018Very good. Full understanding of what was done by many people to launch one of America’s best bike teams internationally.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews