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Reading the Race: Bike Racing from Inside the Peloton
In Reading the Race, veteran professional bike racer Chris Horner and race announcer Jamie Smith team up to show cyclists how to win races with race smarts. Armed with strategies and tactics learned over thousands of races, cyclists and cycling fans will learn how to read a race -- and how to react.
The Tour de France is so difficult to win that for a century it has been tradition for the champion to share the winnings with his teammates. This acknowledgment of the value of team strategy and tactics is commonplace at the top level of cycling, where the sport is all about teamwork. Yet every amateur cyclist who lines up at the start of the weekend criterium thinks he's in it to win it. By drawing up clever race plans, forming ad hoc teams, and reading the race accurately these riders can transform themselves from loose cannons to podium contenders.
Even better-organized amateur teams have a lot to overcome. The spectrum of fitness and motivation on a Cat-III cycling team is gaping wide. Horner and Smith show how even the most mismatched team can employ strategies and race smarts to better their chances of finishing in the prize money.
For team captains who dream of the podium to the teammates who make it happen to bike racing fans who have no dream of racing, Reading the Race offers a veteran's eye view of how the race can be won.
The Tour de France is so difficult to win that for a century it has been tradition for the champion to share the winnings with his teammates. This acknowledgment of the value of team strategy and tactics is commonplace at the top level of cycling, where the sport is all about teamwork. Yet every amateur cyclist who lines up at the start of the weekend criterium thinks he's in it to win it. By drawing up clever race plans, forming ad hoc teams, and reading the race accurately these riders can transform themselves from loose cannons to podium contenders.
Even better-organized amateur teams have a lot to overcome. The spectrum of fitness and motivation on a Cat-III cycling team is gaping wide. Horner and Smith show how even the most mismatched team can employ strategies and race smarts to better their chances of finishing in the prize money.
For team captains who dream of the podium to the teammates who make it happen to bike racing fans who have no dream of racing, Reading the Race offers a veteran's eye view of how the race can be won.
- GenresCyclingNonfictionSports
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2013
56 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Jamie O. Smith
5 books1 followerJamie Smith began writing while serving in the USAF guarding B-52s at a remote northern base. He wrote to alleviate the boredom then immediately burned the pages in order to stay warm.
He spent 25 years writing boring press releases for a sleepy Detroit suburb. The fact that they were sleepy had nothing to do with the press releases Smith wrote.
He also spent 25 years as a bike race announcer working at cycling events in 46 different states. His first work, Roadie - The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer (VeloPress), was named a 2009 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. His second effort, Reading the Race, includes sidebar commentary by 2013 Vuelta a Espana winner and 2012 Olympian, Chris Horner.
Smith lives and surfs in the Great Lakes area.
He spent 25 years writing boring press releases for a sleepy Detroit suburb. The fact that they were sleepy had nothing to do with the press releases Smith wrote.
He also spent 25 years as a bike race announcer working at cycling events in 46 different states. His first work, Roadie - The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer (VeloPress), was named a 2009 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. His second effort, Reading the Race, includes sidebar commentary by 2013 Vuelta a Espana winner and 2012 Olympian, Chris Horner.
Smith lives and surfs in the Great Lakes area.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 8, 2018
This is an informative, well-illustrated, easy to read book on the fundamental skills, tactics, and etiquette of bike racing.
The primary author, Jamie Smith, is an experienced amateur racer and race announcer. The book reflects Smith’s experience in American amateur racing, with its focus on criterium racing.
Smith starts with the fundamental skills — cycling in a paceline, an echelon, or a pack, finding the draft behind and to the side of other riders, cornering, attacking, and contributing to a team. He also covers tactics — when to attack, how to read the intentions and capabilities of other riders, etc. Equally important are tips on what not to do — actions that will anger your opponents or destroy team structure and frustrate team goals. Indispensable stuff.
Chris Horner’s contributions are really separate from the body of the book, set off as inserts or sidebars into the text. Primarily what Horner adds are stories that serve as illustrations of the points being made by Smith. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of Horner’s perspective and guidance, integrated into the structure and main text of the book itself.
If you are a new or relatively inexperienced racer, this could be an especially valuable guide to what you need to do to become a true racing cyclist, and if you are an experienced rider, this will fill the gaps for you and provide some insights you probably haven't gained on your own. If you are like me, your racing days behind you, it’s an enjoyable read, with the self-effacing tone that so many cyclist-writers seem to favor (e.g., racers like Phil Gaimon and cycling culture writers like BSNY/Eben Weiss).
The primary author, Jamie Smith, is an experienced amateur racer and race announcer. The book reflects Smith’s experience in American amateur racing, with its focus on criterium racing.
Smith starts with the fundamental skills — cycling in a paceline, an echelon, or a pack, finding the draft behind and to the side of other riders, cornering, attacking, and contributing to a team. He also covers tactics — when to attack, how to read the intentions and capabilities of other riders, etc. Equally important are tips on what not to do — actions that will anger your opponents or destroy team structure and frustrate team goals. Indispensable stuff.
Chris Horner’s contributions are really separate from the body of the book, set off as inserts or sidebars into the text. Primarily what Horner adds are stories that serve as illustrations of the points being made by Smith. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of Horner’s perspective and guidance, integrated into the structure and main text of the book itself.
If you are a new or relatively inexperienced racer, this could be an especially valuable guide to what you need to do to become a true racing cyclist, and if you are an experienced rider, this will fill the gaps for you and provide some insights you probably haven't gained on your own. If you are like me, your racing days behind you, it’s an enjoyable read, with the self-effacing tone that so many cyclist-writers seem to favor (e.g., racers like Phil Gaimon and cycling culture writers like BSNY/Eben Weiss).
July 12, 2019
Achieved its intended goal. While my racing is at amateur individual level, I was able to glean good info that should help me with what’s going on during a race. Chris Horner’s insight were entertaining.
February 21, 2018
Definite read for someone who wants to get into bike racing. Interesting and something I will keep in my library.
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November 18, 2020cracking coverage of bike handling and technique as well as the racing bits. Obligatory reading for any roadie seeking to improve their craft
June 26, 2014
For someone new to competitive cycling this is most likely a good read. Jamie Smith writes well and had a first hand knowledge of the tactics of bike racing. However if Chris Horner's name were not associated with it I doubt I would have read the book. It appears that the pearls of wisdom from Horner were almost an after thought. For experienced cyclists there is little new information here.
May 14, 2014
Very entertaining writer (funny) and has excellent advice on the how to's of bike racing.
February 23, 2016
This is a must read for anyone that races bikes, particularly on a team. Smith incorporates humor, a laid back style, and racing stories to keep you hooked. It's definitely worth a second read.
June 8, 2020
As a beginner race, I can definitely say this book made me a better cyclist. Thanks Jamie!
June 12, 2015
Clearly it gave me a lot of perspective and knowledge on how to use echelons effectively :-)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews