Inside the Postal Bus: My Ride with Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Cycling Team

by Michael Barry

During the professional cycling season, the members of the United States Postal Team live, train, and work together for weeks on end while traveling to competitions throughout Europe. With wit and singular insight, Michael Barry, a professional cyclist and member of the United States Postal Team, shares his first-hand knowledge of the sport and of his fellow cyclists, describing intricate pre-race orchestrations; the efforts of the coach, mechanics, team chef, and other staff members; the personalities and idiosyncrasies of his international teammates, including six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong; and the thrilling races themselves.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2005

About the author

***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.

Reviews

[JDK1962 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the title, this is actually a recounting of the 2004 season of the Postal team, by one of the domestique riders. While an interesting glimpse into the life of a European cycling pro (certainly not a life I'll ever experience), there are a couple of issues, a few of which could have been addressed by better editing.

First, since this was a chronology of the 2004 season, a more date-oriented or diary format would have worked better, and some maps might not have gone astray (since geography plays a big role). Second, this read more like a collection of blog posts that had been roughly edited into a book; there was some repetition, and the level of detail tended to be all over the map. Third, the writing tended to be on the pedestrian side, a simple recounting of what was going on, rather than more close observation, and he's never less than complimentary about anyone (especially his teammates). Fourth, the book spends a lot of time recounting the 2004 TdF...a race that Barry did not ride, and was not in France (let alone "Inside the Postal Bus") for.

This was a 2005 book, so naturally one wouldn't expect the revelations about doping that came later. But the book closes on Tyler Hamilton testing positive for blood doping, and how shocked the dining table was that night. In retrospect, one wonders if it was shock that he was doping or shock that a big rider had been caught.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

Michael Barry is really not a good writer. The book promises to be a behind the scenes account of what goes on in the professional ranks of cycling, but it hardly offers much. A few funny stories, that's it. There is not much here.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was 17 we had to start reading English books for school. And well, English wasn't exactly my strongest suit. I struggled with the grammar, with the vocabulary and well, with everything. Luckily we were allowed to pick books we actually wanted to read and therefore I was at the time quite happy with this book. Lance Armstrong was my teenage hero (mind you: I already wrote papers on doping and didn't believe him to be a saint) and reading this book felt like spending some time with him. However, my English has improved and now I wanted to read the book again.

And one thing stands out: The writing of this book is quite messy. Barry has some sort of structure, but quite often he loses himself in anekdotes and details that have actually nothing to do with the overall story. In a way it's endearing that he really wants to tell us so many small things about the places he visits, the people he works with and adventures he had when he was just a little kid, but it sometimes makes the main storyline hard to follow.

On top of that the emotion behind the race and the people doesn't really come across. I think his writing style is perfect for blogs on websites and for columns in newspapers, giving a little insight in the world of cycling, but maybe it's less suited for a book. It never really feels like these guys really show themselves. Almost all Barry's stories are positive and he glosses over all the negative feelings. And therefore the emotions never really feel real.

However, I do understand why I enjoyed this book when I was younger and in a way I really did enjoy it again now. It feels a little like reliving the 2004 cycling season and it contains a lot of information concerning tactics, gear, team spirit and how races are planned and strategized and what makes those strategies work or fail. And it's also quite clear that Barry loved his job and his time with this team, because even though the emotions don't come across, his passion for cycling does.

[Jay French · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you think you’d like to read the transcripts of the announcers from the Tour de France, then you may find this book right up your alley. Barry covers the 2004 season, including many of his own races. But the bulk of this book is about the Tour, and Barry is watching it on TV like the rest of us. Barry is providing background through much of the book. The book counters the first person absence with a couple of pages written by others that were in the peleton, but this comes across as clunky. It also comes across as not being that well written. There are times where Barry repeats what he says multiple times, sometimes with the same words in subsequent paragraphs. There are plenty of anecdotes, much like you would hear the TV announcers repeat during a cycling race, so I did find the book of some interest. While there were a number of anecdotes about the bus, I was a bit disappointed there weren’t more given the title. There was also scant mention of doping, beyond Tyler Hamilton, from another team, getting caught near the end of the book. According to Wikipedia’s article on Barry, he and others on the USPS team admitted to doping in the timeframe covered in this book. One wonders about the untold bus stories…

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Pete Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your a cyclist, it's all in here, the day to day details, how it all works from the inside, what it's like to be a pro cyclist, interesting.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the time I read this I was biking to work every day and taking some long rides every week end. And a faithful follower of the Tour de France. It was also before the evidence of Lance's misdeeds came to the fore. Interesting on the training and day to day on tour. Hard to believe, but not impossible, that other team members were unaware of Lance's activities.

[Jtomassetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

LANCE ARMSTRONG TOUR DE FORCE by Daniel Coyne and INSIDE THE POSTAL BUS by Michael Berry both cover the 2004 US Postal Team cycling season. It was the season Lance Armstrong won his 6th Tour De France and when he was dating Sheryl Crow. Daniel Coyne is a professional writer who was given inside access to Lance Armstrong and the team during the 2004 season. Michael Berry is a professional cyclist who rode for US Postal for several seasons.

Daniel Coyne’s about Lance Armstrong book goes deep into the details of the season covering Lance’s preparation, team tactics, Dr. Michele Ferrari, the David Walsh book, Lance’s rivals Ulrich Mayo, Vinokourov and Hamilton, and Lance’s team mates such as Floyd Landis and George Hincapie. Coyne accurately covers the controversies of the season but he does seem to stay on Lance’s side when writing. Thebook also briefly covers the 2005 season. This book is well written and it is a must read for cycling fans.

Coyne’s book barely mention’s Michael Berry, however, Berry was a member of US Postal in 2004. The Postal Bus book covers the 2004 season without focusing on Lance Armstrong as Berry was not on the 9 man Postal team that won the 2004 Tour De France. We get more details on the Vuelta, the Olympics and smaller US Postal races. The book includes short articles written by team mates George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, and his professional rider wife Dede.

Berry’s book is interesting but compared to Coyne’s book it is light and humorous. While Coyne spent entire chapters on the controversies, Berry only mentions them in passing. Berry’s perspective is interesting because he is just a team member and not a superstar like Lance. Both books are readable but Coyne’s book is much better.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

No one who isn't quite interested in professional cycle racing would want to read this - and the rather pollyanna description of the US Postal Team's 2004 season is only mildly interesting as described here in any event. For all intents and purposes this is an authorized description of the team's season - nothing even vaguely controversial is said about anything or anyone.

Barry didn't ride in the Tour de France that season (or any other, I guess) so there are no special insights to that. Barry's relationship with Armstrong was not close - something like what one would have with a boss's boss.

Given all the problems with various riders on the Postal Team and doping being discussed now, the (very) few mentions of doping emphasize the controlled nature of what he wrote. (There is a history for authors of books etc that talk about this being shunned, so it isn't surprising.)

Other memoirs of cycle racers who were not stars on their teams describe the times they thought they made some great contribution in some detail and with obvious pride, making it clear how second tier riders are motivated. Barry talks about contributing to the team in a more general way. Odd.

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I enjoy reading about cycling and cycling races. I was disappointed to discover that the writer who was supposed to give us the scoop on what it was like to be with Lance Armstrong "inside the postal bus" was not one of the riders selected to ride in the Tour de France, instead he watched it on television like the rest of us. I also decided that journalists who are cycling fans write much better books than cyclists who try to be writers. Michael Berry is a cyclist trying to be a writer and there was nothing commendable in his writing. I enjoyed the anecdotes and some of the insights from his perspective as a rider who is not a star. This is a book I would recommend only to others who read very piece of cycling literature they can find.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a total Postal fan. I loved watching them race - especially in the Tour de France. I wanted to really love this book, but I didn't. It was an interesting look into the inner workings of the team. However, Barry moved back and forth through time and never seemed to finish the story he was trying to tell. I kept having to go back paragraphs (or even pages sometimes) to figure out what he was talking about. It was an interesting read, but not for someone who doesn't already know some of the history or isn't a cycling fan.

[Kelly Bolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was a little choppy, and the part of the book about the actual Tour felt very rushed and "thin", but this may be in part due to the fact that the author was not one of the riders on the team chosen to ride in the Tour. That being said, it was an absolutely fascinating look into the world of professional cycling, primarily in Europe, with the different types of races and how much time the entire season covers. I would recommend for anyone interested in delving more into professional cycling.

[Ed Maldonado · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was a collection of varied stories during the course of the season. However the author does tend to jump from story to story and some of the points are lost along the way. I'm a huge cycling fan and therefore I picked up the book trying to get an inside look into a Pro team, but didn't quite achieve that level of entertainment. Good book, just not great.

[Garrett Burnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barry is a good writer and gives a nice profile of life as a professional cyclist. While the book is interesting and enjoyable, Barry seems as though he doesn't want to burn any bridges or dwell on anything too negative--understandable since he presumably wants to stay employed as a cyclist. It's just too bad he doesn't have the freedom to provide a more incisive look. Very good, but safe.

[Phillip Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

After what has come out in the media over the last few months its hard to give this any more than a 3 star. However I thought Michael Barry was an informative writer if an unlucky rider. I gained a good insight into the tour, US Postal and Lance. It would probably be a book aimed for a younger audience.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book giving inside into the world of a cyclist. I loved it, but since find a bitter taste after Armstrong finally told the truth. Had my copy signed by Victor hugo Pena, a team mate of Michael's.

A great writer caught up in a not so great world of subterfuge. I look forward to reading more by Mr Barry

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read. A look onto the Postal bus back in the day. Unfortunatley this took place in a time period where msot of the characters in the book were dopers. Since the writing realies on so much reader invest in the characters it can take away from the book.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the workings inside a pro bike team.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cool look at the cycling life behind the scense..On the team bus...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Granted, it's not great writing, but it does provide a interesting look inside the life of a professional cyclist.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's sort of like an extended "what did you do for summer" essay written in junior high. Quick read, but doesn't approach the classic books on cycling.

[Ryan Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best bike book ever written, nevertheless, this is a frank and often funny, insider's take on life as a professional bike racer.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't keep my interest enough to finish it...but I was very close to the end.

[Patrick Ackley]

I light read and interesting view into the US Postal Team bus during the 2004 season.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is TERRIBLE

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Below average writing skills, redundant information.

[Jeremiah Woods]

Nice work of fiction.

[John Sutter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fiction!

[Jack B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and candid look at life as a pro bike racer.