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Shadows on the Road: Life at the Heart of the Peloton, from Us Postal to Team Sky
In 2012, veteran cyclist Michael Barry announced his retirement from the sport. Weeks later he testified against his former team mate Lance Armstrong, as part of the USADA investigation.In a stunning piece of writing, Barry explores the dreams and passion of a young, idealistic cycling fan from Toronto, what it was like to go on to ride as a teammate alongside such giants of the sport as Lance Armstrong, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, and how those dreams were compromised early on in his career by a sport in crisis.
But it is also the story of his eleven years riding clean, before and after his time in the notorious US Postal Team. What was it like to head for Europe at such a young age, and what was it like to escape the environment of doping, to try and start again, all the time aware that past actions may one day catch up with him? Offering an elegiac insight into the life and mind of a professional sportsman - the pressures, sacrifices, fears, crashes, injuries and neuroses - Shadows on the Road is a must-read for cycling and sports fans alike.
But it is also the story of his eleven years riding clean, before and after his time in the notorious US Postal Team. What was it like to head for Europe at such a young age, and what was it like to escape the environment of doping, to try and start again, all the time aware that past actions may one day catch up with him? Offering an elegiac insight into the life and mind of a professional sportsman - the pressures, sacrifices, fears, crashes, injuries and neuroses - Shadows on the Road is a must-read for cycling and sports fans alike.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2014
About the author
Michael Barry
104 books2 followers***THIS IS A MULTI-AUTHOR LISTING***
- Michael Bukht: (1941–2011), British radio executive who (as a chef and television personality) used the pseudonym Michael Barry.
- Michael Barry: (born 1975), Canadian professional racing cyclist.
- Michael Bukht: (1941–2011), British radio executive who (as a chef and television personality) used the pseudonym Michael Barry.
- Michael Barry: (born 1975), Canadian professional racing cyclist.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 10, 2014
A fascinating and well-written look into life in the peloton, an interesting take on Sky's no-tolerance policy (puts cyclists off admitting doping in the past). The most interesting parts of the book for me though weren't the drugs but the crashes and the just getting back on your bike, the toll on family life, the attitude towards food and weight. Pushing your body to the limit in every way. Very interesting
December 18, 2018
An interesting read, especially after just finishing Dave Millers book The Racer. I found the writing introspective, more about what he was feeling and the way life as a professional cyclist effected his family and home life. Some of the descriptions of what Lance Armstrong’s team did to win were horrible, how could they do that to themselves? Lance himself comes over as a particularly unpleasant character. The book does jump about a bit which made the narrative hard to follow and the list of the authors crashes and injuries is horrific, somehow racing needs to be made safer. The authors conclusion was that he really likes riding his bike and doesn’t really need to race, it just took him a long time to reach that conclusion and should have reached it earlier. Probably only for cycling enthusiasts.
April 11, 2020
A Good Book and well written
A charming and evocatively written book. I'm not sure if Barry had a ghost-writer for the book or is just an articulate writer himself but this book, more than many other cycling biographies, captures the passion and drive to cycle, and race!
If you're looking for a book on why some pro's race this is it.
A charming and evocatively written book. I'm not sure if Barry had a ghost-writer for the book or is just an articulate writer himself but this book, more than many other cycling biographies, captures the passion and drive to cycle, and race!
If you're looking for a book on why some pro's race this is it.
May 2, 2023
As autobiography’s go this was superbly written. Barry has a real flare for words, although those looking for a warts & all expose of the doping culture should look away now - it’s there but doesn’t dominate. Instead Barry shares the brutality of the sport and the freedom of cycling. It also isn’t a book which is linear and that is to its credit.
May 23, 2019
A wonderful book on the author's life as a pro cyclist. Absorbing and enthralling, the writing at times is so good, it is almost poetic. He really captures the essence of cycling and why the pro circuit destroys it.
November 10, 2022
I’m not a cyclist but I’m a very active person who loves sports. The book is great, it gives a fantastic sight into professional cycling and sport in general. Well worth the read.
I would say the core of the book is about drug usage but more about the cyclists life, struggles, joy, etc.
I would say the core of the book is about drug usage but more about the cyclists life, struggles, joy, etc.
May 20, 2015
I read Barry's earlier book Inside the Postal Bus which discussed his 2004 season with the U.S. Postal Team, and gave it two stars. That book struck me as not particularly well written, trying to offend no one. It also ended on an odd note with people shocked, shocked I say, at Tyler Hamilton's doping.
This is a much better book. Better writing--it fees like a book, not like blog posts--and with the freedom of retirement, honest about both people and doping. This is not a book that makes you long for life in the pro peleton, this is the book you read to experience a bit of that life without having to live it. Yet it still communicates the joy to be found in cycling.
My only complaint might be that it can be difficult to follow the chronology at times, since it jumps around between chapters and it can take you a bit of time to pick up the through line again (the chapters describing his accident at the Tour of Qatar, recovery, and finishing up his final season are sprinkled around). I might also complain that his account of coming clean before the USADA is pretty cursory, but obviously I can understand that he doesn't really want to go there.
This is a much better book. Better writing--it fees like a book, not like blog posts--and with the freedom of retirement, honest about both people and doping. This is not a book that makes you long for life in the pro peleton, this is the book you read to experience a bit of that life without having to live it. Yet it still communicates the joy to be found in cycling.
My only complaint might be that it can be difficult to follow the chronology at times, since it jumps around between chapters and it can take you a bit of time to pick up the through line again (the chapters describing his accident at the Tour of Qatar, recovery, and finishing up his final season are sprinkled around). I might also complain that his account of coming clean before the USADA is pretty cursory, but obviously I can understand that he doesn't really want to go there.
August 4, 2014
I'm in some ways obsessed with the sport of cycling now. And naturally that obsession began with supporting Lance when I was very young. But as the skeletons have come out of the closet, things have changed in my mind and this book helps clarify and confirm a lot of those changes. For someone who has been in the peleton all his life, this book is a great insight into what it takes to make it there. To serve and be served, to perform and not ask questions. The only problem I felt with the book was that it drags a little towards the end but its a smashing book none the less. Its a unique perspective and one that should not be missed.
October 2, 2014
The usual issue with sporting autobiographies is that the person may know their sport inside and out but they are not as good at writing as they are at their sport.
This book avoids that trap Barry can write has a very interesting style and has been around the big moments in the cycling world. It offers an interesting insight into cycling and also the hypocracies of pro cycling.
It is a great read even if you are not a cycling fan
This book avoids that trap Barry can write has a very interesting style and has been around the big moments in the cycling world. It offers an interesting insight into cycling and also the hypocracies of pro cycling.
It is a great read even if you are not a cycling fan
August 25, 2015
Really nice
It was a fun, good read. Most of the book discusses the ups and downs of his career and not the doping which is mainly dealt with in the last chapters of the book.
The book is a bit demotivating as it shows a lot of the negative sides of the sport from injuries, through uncaring bicycle teams and up to doping of course. It's another piece in the puzzle of understanding how cycling worked until quite recently.
It was a fun, good read. Most of the book discusses the ups and downs of his career and not the doping which is mainly dealt with in the last chapters of the book.
The book is a bit demotivating as it shows a lot of the negative sides of the sport from injuries, through uncaring bicycle teams and up to doping of course. It's another piece in the puzzle of understanding how cycling worked until quite recently.
March 17, 2016
It's a interesting read, the timeline is sometimes a bit confusing but if you watch Tarantino films you get used to it. I was expecting more. More fireworks, detail, just more. It's interesting reading about the day to day but the USPS side and doping were mentioned in passing, just very matter of factly. Then left, mentioned briefly in a conversation post-Landis's confession and that's it. For all the supposed anguish, it didn't come across as that much of a cross to bear.
July 26, 2016
The book is fascinating from start to finish. The book feels confessional and the disjointed flow of the narrative enhances the feeling. It is the story of someone who made a bad decision, influenced by more powerful characters, and regrets that decision.
December 8, 2017
A well written book by someone who has been at the heart of the problem area in cycling - the drug culture. A bit rambling in parts but that doesn't detract from the story of his acceptance of doping and subsequent admissions, which are evocatively explained. ASs
June 3, 2014
It's all about looking for forgiveness for cheating
February 8, 2015
A quick read, bit boring in places but more interesting parts definitely out weigh that.
Worth the read.
Worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews