The Cycling Anthology: Volume One

The Cycling Anthology #1

by Lionel Birnie (Editor), Ellis Bacon (Editor)

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CYCLING IN FIVE VOLUMESVolume One of The Cycling Anthology, a collection of the best writing on cycling by some of the sport's leading writers. Between them, they’ve covered hundreds of Tours de France and written dozens of excellent books and some have even ridden the Tour. Now, their work is showcased together for the first time.Volume One features original and exclusive pieces by leading cycling writers, William Fotheringham disects Bradley Wiggins' transformation from track superstar to becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France- David Millar discusses retirement and dark secrets as his friends' careers start to fade- Daniel Friebe uncovers the fascinating role statistics has to play in cycling- Jeremy Whittle follows Team Sky to assess the Lance Armstrong's legacy to the sport

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Sports

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in what has become a series of collections of cycling journalism, I'd had this on my to read list for a while now. Ellis Bacon and Lionel Birnie have brought together a very varied collection of pieces giving us some snippets of insight into Wiggins' Tour de France victory, the changing relationship between Anna Meares and Victoria Pendleton, why Spain doesn't appreciate Oscar Friere enough and an amusingly short piece on everybody's favourite playboy Mario Cipollini. Of course, a number of the pieces touch on doping and Armstrong's legacy within cycling - that topic that recently everybody has to have something to say about.

It's not clear if the pieces are reprints of stuff they've published previously elsewhere or if they were written specifically for Bacon and Birnie. Some of them feel like they were written closer to the events they describe than the book was published - although that could just be because I'm reading it 4 years after it was published. However, it doesn't really matter either way, the collection is a good one and I think in each piece I learnt at least one thing I didn't know before (even if it was just that Cipo' had been cleared of his running a brothel charges) which is a win. Already added the next one to my to read pile...

[Michael Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb anthology of cycling writing. Really 4.5 stars. The chapter on Thomas Voeckler (my favourite cyclist) was bang on the money.
The only downside, and hence not 5 stars, is that the book is too short.
I hope the second volume will be 50% more.

[Stefano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of short essays on cycling, covering a set of riders and topics. It shows its age a bit, but still nice to read. The only complaint is a certain common denominator in a few of the final pieces, all around doping and Armstrong, again due to the historical moment these come from

[Marco Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter on Tommy Voeckler made it for me, and the heart of Paris-Roubaix with Frédéric Guesdon

[Ciarán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Interesting series of short essays on cycling

[Adam Becket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great essays on cycling. Feels weird reading a 2012 perspective in 2019 though

[Barry Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice collection of cycling essays that are still interesting and relevant today despite being over 10 years old. Recommend for all pro cycling fans!

[Martin Mccann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have often stated cycling lends itself to some great writing due to the personalities, politics and potential epic struggles that the sport embodies. This Anthology takes it even further. A list of the great and the good of cycling writers contribute, and they shine a light on some of the more unusual but still fascinating areas of the greatest sport on the planet- highly recommended, as is the recently released 2nd Anthology which I received and read in a couple of days as well.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, the chapter about Meares vs Pendleton is fantastic. I agree with the other reviewer who said the biggest problem with this is that it is too short. I'd add that there is quite a bit in here about Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins, but this is a British publication. More are planned, thankfully.

[Suzanne Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful little anthology! Great style in presentation, a veritable Who's Who of cycling journalists and cyclists as contributors, and a genuinely interesting and diverse selection of topics. Will certainly be acquiring the other volumes.

[Nichiless Dey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come on www.cyclingshorts.uk.com

[Francis Pellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting and enlightening series of short pieces about cycling.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of cycling writing.