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Draft Animals: Living the Pro Cycling Dream
From the author of the cult favorite Pro Cycling on $10 a Day and Ask a Pro, the story of one man’s quest to realize his childhood dream, and what happened when he actually did it. Like countless other kids, Phil Gaimon grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete. But unlike countless other kids, he actually pulled it off. After years of amateur races, hard training, living out of a suitcase, and never taking “no” for an answer, he finally achieved his goal and signed a contract to race professionally on one of the best teams in the world. Now, Gaimon pulls back the curtain on the WorldTour, cycling’s highest level. He takes readers along for his seasons in Europe, covering everything from rabid, water-bottle-stealing Belgian fans, to contract renewals, to riding in poisonous smog, to making friends in a sport plagued by doping. Draft Animals reveals a story as much about bike racing as it is about the never-ending ladder of achieving goals, failure, and finding happiness if you land somewhere in-between.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
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993 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 180 reviews
January 24, 2023
Another entertaining book from Phil Gaimon, talking about his life in the World Tour. I loved how he ended it - poignant and pragmatic. But I didnt care too much for his throwing shade at some cyclists while letting others go free.
December 9, 2017
I have read Gaimon's two previous books and liked them reasonably well, so when I saw that he had another book coming out I was eager to read it. It focuses on his most successful year as a WorldTour rider with Garmin-Sharp in 2014, then his "remedial" year as a Continental level rider with Optum, followed by a less successful year with Cannondale (which was a successor WorldTour team to Garmin-Sharp).
The books successfully combines an interesting narrative presentation of what it is like to be on a WorldTour team with contemplation of several "what is the point of this?" type questions or considerations. At least for me, neither of these threads got in the way of the other.
Gaimon has a brisk style that I find easy and pleasant to read - I got through this in only a few days, which for me these days is highly unusual. (That alone is why it must be a five star read.) Gaimon's humor can veer into the juvenile, but my impression is that there is less of that in this book than the previous two books. One senses it was part of his identity as a professional bicycle racer, so it belongs.
One aspect of modern bicycle road racing is that we are in the post-Lance Armstong era - doping reached something like a pinnacle of technical success, then came crashing down. Gaimon, who has a tattoo that reads "clean" on his arm, was a professional road racer who established his career just when many sponsors were withdrawing support in reaction to the doping scandals. Most of the best known riders for some time however were all former dopers and one of the questions this book raises (but does not answer) is what the appropriate position is for a clean rider towards these former dopers. He does, however, describe many interactions between the two kinds of riders.
Gaimon occasionally makes comments about individuals that are not, let's say, particularly positive. That is, some of these people are almost certainly unhappy with him. The range of these comments varies considerably in tone and approach. For example, it becomes clear he has no use for the Schleck brothers, who are both (apparently) assumed to have enjoyed success largely through doping, mostly be descriptions of exchanges with them where other riders told them in one or another way to get lost. He is far more direct in his criticism of his former tour director, Jonathan Vaughters, and a few others.
One subject that surprised me in its absence is that while Gaimon had the difficulties of the contraction of support for professional cycling to contend with in the post-doping era, he says nothing about being an American professional bicycle racer in Europe as such. By the time he arrives to WorldTour cycling that mostly plays out in Europe that previously would have been mostly European riders, the challenge of success presented simply be being an American has been overcome, it seems.
One interesting aspect is that Gaimon's success with social media and skills at public relations ended up being perhaps his strongest contribution to a WorldTour team - which he realized was not what really what he was in it for. Now, however, as a "retired" racer, social media is fine and he is all about public relations, mostly it would appear on behalf of himself. http://philthethrill.net/ is the starting point for current information about "PhilTheThrill."
What will he write about next??
The books successfully combines an interesting narrative presentation of what it is like to be on a WorldTour team with contemplation of several "what is the point of this?" type questions or considerations. At least for me, neither of these threads got in the way of the other.
Gaimon has a brisk style that I find easy and pleasant to read - I got through this in only a few days, which for me these days is highly unusual. (That alone is why it must be a five star read.) Gaimon's humor can veer into the juvenile, but my impression is that there is less of that in this book than the previous two books. One senses it was part of his identity as a professional bicycle racer, so it belongs.
One aspect of modern bicycle road racing is that we are in the post-Lance Armstong era - doping reached something like a pinnacle of technical success, then came crashing down. Gaimon, who has a tattoo that reads "clean" on his arm, was a professional road racer who established his career just when many sponsors were withdrawing support in reaction to the doping scandals. Most of the best known riders for some time however were all former dopers and one of the questions this book raises (but does not answer) is what the appropriate position is for a clean rider towards these former dopers. He does, however, describe many interactions between the two kinds of riders.
Gaimon occasionally makes comments about individuals that are not, let's say, particularly positive. That is, some of these people are almost certainly unhappy with him. The range of these comments varies considerably in tone and approach. For example, it becomes clear he has no use for the Schleck brothers, who are both (apparently) assumed to have enjoyed success largely through doping, mostly be descriptions of exchanges with them where other riders told them in one or another way to get lost. He is far more direct in his criticism of his former tour director, Jonathan Vaughters, and a few others.
One subject that surprised me in its absence is that while Gaimon had the difficulties of the contraction of support for professional cycling to contend with in the post-doping era, he says nothing about being an American professional bicycle racer in Europe as such. By the time he arrives to WorldTour cycling that mostly plays out in Europe that previously would have been mostly European riders, the challenge of success presented simply be being an American has been overcome, it seems.
One interesting aspect is that Gaimon's success with social media and skills at public relations ended up being perhaps his strongest contribution to a WorldTour team - which he realized was not what really what he was in it for. Now, however, as a "retired" racer, social media is fine and he is all about public relations, mostly it would appear on behalf of himself. http://philthethrill.net/ is the starting point for current information about "PhilTheThrill."
What will he write about next??
June 16, 2024
When I first picked up Draft Animals, I expected it to be enjoyable on a niche level, for guys like me who like to pretend they're leading a breakaway on the Tour de France, when really, we're just huffing and puffing and trying to lose weight at a quarter of the speed of the pros. And while this book did satisfy the cycling nut in me, it worked on many other levels as well. I've always said David Sedaris was the only author who ever made me laugh out loud while reading, and that was only twice. With this book, Phil Gaimon became the second, and he made me laugh at least twice a chapter, sometimes twice a page. I often had to pause my reading, just so I could relay the latest quip or anecdote to whoever happened to be nearby. Draft Animals gives a raw, unpolished look at life inside of cycling's most elite circles, as well from the outside trying to get in. Gaimon pulls no punches, instead offering his candid assessment of cyclists, directors, coaches, events and even the sport itself. No one is spared from his unflinching honesty, including himself. Gaimon takes us through his struggles to break into, stay in and get back to the top ranks of competitive cycling, sharing the obstacles he faced, the sacrifices he made, and the impact on his personal life. And yet, somewhere in the narrative, the book transforms into more than a look at professional cycling, more than a story about sport. Somewhere along the way, what begins as a book about how a man becomes a professional cyclist instead becomes a story about how a professional cyclist becomes a man. Throughout that tale, Gaimon keeps us laughing with sophomoric puns and stunts, yet leaves us with unexpected wisdom about the dreams we chase and the realities we find.
September 1, 2017
"One of you tested positive."
I received a copy of this ebook from firsttoread.com in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Phil Gaimon I've read and while I enjoyed it I felt like throughout the book I thought something was missing.
He shares information about riding and documents his journey as a professional writer. He names names and calls out people who he felt mistreated by throughout his races. He shares anecdotes and jokes and the high and low of his rides. He talks briefly about his personal life and the loss of one of his parents but it still felt strangely superficial as I read it. Perhaps it's the writing style that felt passive as he talks about the things he did or how races went but it wasn't quite my jam.
It's an interesting look at the world of professional cycling and how athletes are treated.
I received a copy of this ebook from firsttoread.com in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Phil Gaimon I've read and while I enjoyed it I felt like throughout the book I thought something was missing.
He shares information about riding and documents his journey as a professional writer. He names names and calls out people who he felt mistreated by throughout his races. He shares anecdotes and jokes and the high and low of his rides. He talks briefly about his personal life and the loss of one of his parents but it still felt strangely superficial as I read it. Perhaps it's the writing style that felt passive as he talks about the things he did or how races went but it wasn't quite my jam.
It's an interesting look at the world of professional cycling and how athletes are treated.
June 3, 2022
I have followed professional cycling closely since the late 1990s so am always interested to hear a voice from inside the peloton. Draft Animals is essentially what its like to be an also-ran. Peloton Cannon Fodder. The sport, both on and off the bike, is absolutely brutal and Gaimon does a good job of showing this. It aint as glamorous as you might think. However, coming from an English Major author (which Gaimon likes to remind the reader) I would have liked a lot more depth to the story being told. Instead I got a lot of blokey banter & one liners from individual conversations. I'm sure you had to be there. It was all rather light, quite repetitive and quite self-indulgent. The prose was passable, but certainly not what I'd expect from Penguin.
February 22, 2019
I enjoyed the insider perspective that Phil shared. It was eye opening to see how brutal the life of a professional cyclist is, and how grossly underpaid they are! However, I was disappointed by Phil’s overall tone in the book. He comes across as a self-righteousness, sophomoric narcissist. Racing clean, his palmares is quite impressive. But instead of highlighting the important life lesson of maintaining integrity regardless of what others around you are doing, he uses his “clean” as a sledgehammer to bash other riders. The book’s Afterword was probably the most honest chapter of the book. I’d recommend reading the Afterword, and just skim the rest of the book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2017
If you've ever wanted to know what life as a pro cyclist is like (and be entertained at the same time), this would be the book for you. Describing four seasons (two as a Continental [US] racer, two as a WorldTour racer for Garmin-Sharp/Cannondale), you get what seems to be a very inside look at the highs and lows of the life.
I enjoyed this more than his previous book, which was more about the racing. This is more about "living the dream."
And JV, as a manager/team owner, does appear to be kind of a dick.
I enjoyed this more than his previous book, which was more about the racing. This is more about "living the dream."
And JV, as a manager/team owner, does appear to be kind of a dick.
September 4, 2017
Received free from Penguin First to Read, my thoughts are my own.
Phil Gaimon had a dream--to ride a bike professionally in the highest level. And he made it, after extreme dieting, and even more extreme exercise, painful loses, crashes, and dealing with other rider's doping (and later dealing with whether or not to make friends with people who had doped.) It's so much work, but there isn't really the pay off he'd hoped for.
I enjoyed how honest Phil was. Especially as he struggled to deal with the doping--could he like someone who had doped in the past? Could he trust that someone was clean now? Sometimes he hated his competitors, team mates, or various managers, coaches, etc. Sometimes he wanted to hate someone, and couldn't. There's a bit more jokes involving body parts and bodily fluids (the cyclists don't get bathroom breaks on some races!) than I enjoy, but there are also some insightful moments about the true value of working for an unlikely goal. And some wonderful descriptions of what drives people like Phil Gaimon. There has to be something to get them through the pain, and it's not a drive everyone has, I think. The end is a little deflating, but when you're talking about real life, that's how it goes sometimes. He still draws that part of his life to a conclusion, and it works. If you're curious at a behind the scenes peek into professional cycling, this is a story with humor, a sense of honesty, passion, and some unforgettable imagery.
Phil Gaimon had a dream--to ride a bike professionally in the highest level. And he made it, after extreme dieting, and even more extreme exercise, painful loses, crashes, and dealing with other rider's doping (and later dealing with whether or not to make friends with people who had doped.) It's so much work, but there isn't really the pay off he'd hoped for.
I enjoyed how honest Phil was. Especially as he struggled to deal with the doping--could he like someone who had doped in the past? Could he trust that someone was clean now? Sometimes he hated his competitors, team mates, or various managers, coaches, etc. Sometimes he wanted to hate someone, and couldn't. There's a bit more jokes involving body parts and bodily fluids (the cyclists don't get bathroom breaks on some races!) than I enjoy, but there are also some insightful moments about the true value of working for an unlikely goal. And some wonderful descriptions of what drives people like Phil Gaimon. There has to be something to get them through the pain, and it's not a drive everyone has, I think. The end is a little deflating, but when you're talking about real life, that's how it goes sometimes. He still draws that part of his life to a conclusion, and it works. If you're curious at a behind the scenes peek into professional cycling, this is a story with humor, a sense of honesty, passion, and some unforgettable imagery.
June 12, 2018
Gaimon explains how he reached the second tier of bicycle racers but didn’t quite reach the top. His stories are humorous, covering his life and his racing over a four year period, with expected anecdotes and plenty of behind-the-scenes looks at the best racers of our time, their sponsors and support staff. Gaimon’s story is personal and first-person. You learn as much about what makes him tick as about the racing crowd. And he writes about the business of bicycle racing on big European teams as well as smaller North American teams, but from his perspective, quite a ways down the totem pole. I enjoyed most of the humor in his voice, which wavered between self-deprecating and just a bit creepy when focused on drug use. And there’s a lot of that covered here. Gaimon has opinions on performance enhancing drug use, and this is his soapbox. And he likes to name names. But you also see some growth here, as he spends time with performance drug users who have been punished. A very human story.
July 7, 2021
A decent enough book covering the post doping era(if there is such a thing)of cycling the post EPO era anyhow I suspect cheating will always find a way.
Anyhow a book which shows maybe a rise slump ..rise and retirement of a rider.
It was interesting to read a book by a half decent domestique of whom from reading about you feel could maybe have done a little more if only investment had been longer term but team politics as in office politics took their toll.
He is very open and frank in regard opinions of other riders including some names I had followed during their career and damning to some however their is a levity and humour her so it doesn't just come across as the gripes of a also ran...or also rode.
Anyhow a book which shows maybe a rise slump ..rise and retirement of a rider.
It was interesting to read a book by a half decent domestique of whom from reading about you feel could maybe have done a little more if only investment had been longer term but team politics as in office politics took their toll.
He is very open and frank in regard opinions of other riders including some names I had followed during their career and damning to some however their is a levity and humour her so it doesn't just come across as the gripes of a also ran...or also rode.
November 28, 2023
An interesting memoir from an athlete that never completely made it in a supremely punishing sport that treats all but the superstars very poorly and is bereft with doping scandals. We go behind the scenes of the World Tour, cycling’s highest level. We witness the highs and lows of the sport: the fervor of the fans, contract negotiations, enduring toxic smog, and navigating friendships. The writing is easygoing and honest, making the narrative relatable and engaging.
December 29, 2017
Extremely well written. Funny, poignant, sad and revealing.
Only a cycling insider, or dilettante like myself would appreciate its richness and brutal honesty. If you want a picture of how hard it is to become a professional cyclist, this really paints that for the reader. Not a pretty one.
Only a cycling insider, or dilettante like myself would appreciate its richness and brutal honesty. If you want a picture of how hard it is to become a professional cyclist, this really paints that for the reader. Not a pretty one.
August 29, 2018
I thought it was a fun portal into the world of pro cycling, and made me want to get out on my bike.
March 21, 2019
oddly I'm not sure if this book made me want to chase my dreams more or made me feel like everything was meaningless and I should give up, but a pleasant and humorous read nonetheless
February 3, 2023
Funny and enjoyable, couldn't put it down
August 24, 2025
Maybe you shouldn’t chase your dreams - the author
March 24, 2021
5 stars for the story. I learnt a lot about pro cycling! Storyline is a bit hard to follow
December 12, 2022
Get the inside scoop on the peloton and like in the pro cycling world. Very readable and as a fan of cycling for since the Lance Armstrong era this was a very enjoyable read.
August 12, 2024
Crazy stories of Phil’s rise to the World Tour level, the struggle to stay there, and the aftermath. I really enjoyed this
March 18, 2019
Irreverent, honest, entertaining. But furthers my disappointment with professional cycling. Love the athletes but what a terrible business model.
January 13, 2021
Fun read
November 20, 2019
Honest account of pro cycling and what it is like to chase your dreams
September 23, 2017
A firsthand look into the pro-cycling world that is at times hilarious. I thought it was especially interesting to hear about what it's like to race clean in a (mostly) post-doping sport. After the first half however, I had a hard time remaining engaged since the insights were exclusively about cyclists I was unfamiliar with and there were more references to the author's genitalia than I felt was necessary. Use of specific names of people who had offended the author seemed unfortunate. Those involved in competitive cycling will have more appreciation for this. Overall, I appreciated how Gaimon tried to do the right thing and sought after something he cared about with such dedication and tenacity.
April 11, 2018
Continuing on from Pro Cycling on $10 a Day, Phil continues to share his journey. Reading about his intense training, his insights and curious adventures while racing, and the chaos of trying to secure contracts, it is really shocking how chaotic the life of a professional cyclist can be. The book has really increased my appreciation for the hard work and challenges pros can face. Disappointed to be finished with this book as Phil's tales and writing style made for a fast enjoyable read, and now I'm out of content.
May 23, 2018
Think of the dreamiest job in the world. Among others, a professional athelete is probably a common response. Well, that and a rapper according to some. How frequently do we hear about athletes who have departed the stage? How many ex-pros care to share their story, especially if either their career or their retirement wasn't glamorous? It's that Flaubert style of realist mentality and true experiences. Phil Gaimon's Draft Animals: Living the Pro Cycling Dream (Once in a While) falls into that category.
Phil Gaimon and others from his racing crop guided in the new belief of doping-free cycling. The old code of conduct of allowing doping to happen silently has obviously gone out the window. Be prepared to experience Phil Gaimon's lack of caring about calling people out who have doped. He does it so abrasively it makes one wonder if there will be any response from the names he drops. Expect recognizable names; he doesn't let anyone off easily.
What I appreciate is following Phil Gaimon's three years as a professional cyclist in all its true colors. He outlines the sacrifices he made. He captures his desperation distinctly. He hints at the fragile life of a globe-trotting pro trying to remain positively American back home. He races in Europe only to have a long distance relationship. He tries to race while family issues abound. It removes the glaze of the professional life to reveal it for what it truly is: difficult.
I further appreciate Phil Gaimon's outlook about his career as he steps away on his terms. I have pitied those pros who were forced into retirement on terms not their own. Specifically, those whose bodies have been so broken, they cannot continue are the professionals I feel for. Those who hold on way too long juxtapose the forced retirees. Phil Gaimon's career falls somewhere outside the description, but he sure makes us take for granted the exiting of a career.
This book does have one aspect that I struggled with. It involves the doping charges leveled by Phil Gaimon to certain cyclists. The times he fires an off-the-cuff comment that states something like I heard he doped made question the damage that can be done by writing such an accusation. I wanted proof of each doping accusation, not because I doubted Gaimon, but because I wanted to agree with him. Certainly each accusation should be treated seriously and those that are hearsay should be omitted from the text.
I happily enjoyed reading this book, and I encourage cyclists and non-cyclists alike to read it. It is hilarious in many spots, raw in others, and at times sad. That covers the life of a professional athlete just barely. Phil Gaimon fills in the holes of our imagination and walks away giving us a sense of Flaubert's style of writing. Not every story ends with the boy getting the girl or the girl getting the boy. That wouldn't be realistic in this case. What his book does is it takes those television pictures of Phil Gaimon racing and turn him into a three-dimensional person with hopes, dreams, and failures. It then makes us wonder if being a professional is really all it's cracked up to be.
Phil Gaimon and others from his racing crop guided in the new belief of doping-free cycling. The old code of conduct of allowing doping to happen silently has obviously gone out the window. Be prepared to experience Phil Gaimon's lack of caring about calling people out who have doped. He does it so abrasively it makes one wonder if there will be any response from the names he drops. Expect recognizable names; he doesn't let anyone off easily.
What I appreciate is following Phil Gaimon's three years as a professional cyclist in all its true colors. He outlines the sacrifices he made. He captures his desperation distinctly. He hints at the fragile life of a globe-trotting pro trying to remain positively American back home. He races in Europe only to have a long distance relationship. He tries to race while family issues abound. It removes the glaze of the professional life to reveal it for what it truly is: difficult.
I further appreciate Phil Gaimon's outlook about his career as he steps away on his terms. I have pitied those pros who were forced into retirement on terms not their own. Specifically, those whose bodies have been so broken, they cannot continue are the professionals I feel for. Those who hold on way too long juxtapose the forced retirees. Phil Gaimon's career falls somewhere outside the description, but he sure makes us take for granted the exiting of a career.
This book does have one aspect that I struggled with. It involves the doping charges leveled by Phil Gaimon to certain cyclists. The times he fires an off-the-cuff comment that states something like I heard he doped made question the damage that can be done by writing such an accusation. I wanted proof of each doping accusation, not because I doubted Gaimon, but because I wanted to agree with him. Certainly each accusation should be treated seriously and those that are hearsay should be omitted from the text.
I happily enjoyed reading this book, and I encourage cyclists and non-cyclists alike to read it. It is hilarious in many spots, raw in others, and at times sad. That covers the life of a professional athlete just barely. Phil Gaimon fills in the holes of our imagination and walks away giving us a sense of Flaubert's style of writing. Not every story ends with the boy getting the girl or the girl getting the boy. That wouldn't be realistic in this case. What his book does is it takes those television pictures of Phil Gaimon racing and turn him into a three-dimensional person with hopes, dreams, and failures. It then makes us wonder if being a professional is really all it's cracked up to be.
January 3, 2018
This is a tale that’s lays bare raw emotions. Gaimon seems to have spent his early adulthood going through the classic Kubler Ross denial/ anger/ bargaining/ depression/ acceptance curve. It’s also a tale of the elite amateur and pro-cycling worlds, where the competition for contracts is intense and the fog of enhanced performance hangs over every good result. There’s also the constant threat of dreadful accidents, that seem to occur in every race, and over which the riders become so blasé that you wonder at the madness of it all. Then there is the training which is really, really hard, but also amazingly loosely managed for a professional sport.
The humor, of which there is much, is dry and sarcastic - he could be a Brit. There seems to be a joke-a-page involving some rider's private anatomy and, indeed, the cycling world comes across as an unreconstructed jock culture. Sometimes a crack becomes a cheap shot, for example when he references David Millar’s post-sanction anti-doping message and can’t resist a snarky comment about how he “sure posted a lot of pictures about his new Maserati.” He describes Millar's book as a “flimsy effort to justify his doping.”, but is more generous towards former dopers who become friends, like Thomas Dekker and Tom Danielson. It risks the impression that it’s more about how they behave towards him than a consistent moral philosophy.
Behind a lot of anger towards dopers, lies a sense that they have deprived 'clean' athletes like him from their rightful place and he is constantly torn between “I paid my dues and earned this” and “I’ll never make it”. Self-pity and brittle self-esteem co-exist in his psyche.
But there is a lot of humility here too. He sees and acknowledges the gap between himself and those with “Real Talent”, who may only have an advantage of “1 or 2 per cent, but it might as well have been the Pacific Ocean.....All those coaches and teachers and cliches were wrong: everyone’s not a winner.” And therein lies a lesson for many of us.
It’s hard not to feel for Gaimon as he experiences so many frustrations and failures, but also some bewilderment at how often he messes up through disorganization or partying before a race. The central truth is that he did reach for the sky, he persisted in the face of defeat, and in the end he carved himself a new and wiser Phil Gaimon. He’s the kind of complex, decent, funny, thoughtful person who would be good as a friend.
The humor, of which there is much, is dry and sarcastic - he could be a Brit. There seems to be a joke-a-page involving some rider's private anatomy and, indeed, the cycling world comes across as an unreconstructed jock culture. Sometimes a crack becomes a cheap shot, for example when he references David Millar’s post-sanction anti-doping message and can’t resist a snarky comment about how he “sure posted a lot of pictures about his new Maserati.” He describes Millar's book as a “flimsy effort to justify his doping.”, but is more generous towards former dopers who become friends, like Thomas Dekker and Tom Danielson. It risks the impression that it’s more about how they behave towards him than a consistent moral philosophy.
Behind a lot of anger towards dopers, lies a sense that they have deprived 'clean' athletes like him from their rightful place and he is constantly torn between “I paid my dues and earned this” and “I’ll never make it”. Self-pity and brittle self-esteem co-exist in his psyche.
But there is a lot of humility here too. He sees and acknowledges the gap between himself and those with “Real Talent”, who may only have an advantage of “1 or 2 per cent, but it might as well have been the Pacific Ocean.....All those coaches and teachers and cliches were wrong: everyone’s not a winner.” And therein lies a lesson for many of us.
It’s hard not to feel for Gaimon as he experiences so many frustrations and failures, but also some bewilderment at how often he messes up through disorganization or partying before a race. The central truth is that he did reach for the sky, he persisted in the face of defeat, and in the end he carved himself a new and wiser Phil Gaimon. He’s the kind of complex, decent, funny, thoughtful person who would be good as a friend.
February 5, 2018
I'm not a huge cycling fan but I've always loved detailed, insider accounts of the day to day grind of obscure professions ranging from garbage collector (Robin Nagle's Picking Up) to biscuit company executive (Alain de Botton's The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work). Phil Gaimon's cycling memoirs scratched that itch, particularly as part of my recent deep dive into books and documentaries chronicling doping scandals in professional cycling and the Olympics.
Encouragingly, since his first book Phil seems to have learned to avoid jokes that hinge on racial descriptors. Also, he deploys the word "misogyny" in this book which hopefully indicates having understood how horrific was his earlier volume's inclusion of a pep talk he gave his teammates in which sexual assault was used as the metaphor for a stage of a cycling race.
Despite these shortcomings, Phil's knack for detailed storytelling, self-awareness and honesty were enough for me to want to keep reading his work. In terms of sports biographies, I've always found the ones about lower echelon figures to be much more compelling than those about the biggest stars, which are often ghost-written and formulaic. The audiobook version, which is the format I consumed, was recorded by Phil himself which reinforces that these are the athlete's own words. Phil's habit of keeping a diary or a voice recorder handy lends an authenticity to his narrative, while his English degree likely contributes to this book's readability and grammatical coherence.
Part of my curiosity going into this book was around where pro cycling is at in terms of its attempt to move on from its scandal ridden doping era. In this context Gaimon's overt anti-doping stance comes off as courageous if a little self-righteous, making for a number of compelling passages as he grapples with his relationships to admitted former dopers who are still major figures in the sport. His and many other riders' apparent commitment to a zero tolerance doping ethic is encouraging, although he conveys the sense that the sport is still some distance from policy and a testing regime that ensure fairness.
Overall, Gaimon is a believable character who provides a fascinating glimpse into an elite sport that only a handful ever get to experience. In my limited exposure to this genre, his writing and story telling ability are by far the best of any professional athlete whose work I have read.
Encouragingly, since his first book Phil seems to have learned to avoid jokes that hinge on racial descriptors. Also, he deploys the word "misogyny" in this book which hopefully indicates having understood how horrific was his earlier volume's inclusion of a pep talk he gave his teammates in which sexual assault was used as the metaphor for a stage of a cycling race.
Despite these shortcomings, Phil's knack for detailed storytelling, self-awareness and honesty were enough for me to want to keep reading his work. In terms of sports biographies, I've always found the ones about lower echelon figures to be much more compelling than those about the biggest stars, which are often ghost-written and formulaic. The audiobook version, which is the format I consumed, was recorded by Phil himself which reinforces that these are the athlete's own words. Phil's habit of keeping a diary or a voice recorder handy lends an authenticity to his narrative, while his English degree likely contributes to this book's readability and grammatical coherence.
Part of my curiosity going into this book was around where pro cycling is at in terms of its attempt to move on from its scandal ridden doping era. In this context Gaimon's overt anti-doping stance comes off as courageous if a little self-righteous, making for a number of compelling passages as he grapples with his relationships to admitted former dopers who are still major figures in the sport. His and many other riders' apparent commitment to a zero tolerance doping ethic is encouraging, although he conveys the sense that the sport is still some distance from policy and a testing regime that ensure fairness.
Overall, Gaimon is a believable character who provides a fascinating glimpse into an elite sport that only a handful ever get to experience. In my limited exposure to this genre, his writing and story telling ability are by far the best of any professional athlete whose work I have read.
August 12, 2019
I hear my favourite cycling journalists often say that cyclists are just ordinary people doing extraordinary things. This books both confirms and negates this claim, and I loved this about it.
Plus, apparently some cyclists are also damn good storytellers, and Phil is one of them. (See, Phil, I really don't think that college was for nothing.) He opens the door to the (extra)ordinary daily life of a pro in a way a friend would, in the process opening the eyes of this cycling fan who thought she knew everything about the sport to just how tough the sport is - and not just the physical part of it.
As Phil put it - "my job was to race my bike, but I also had to be philosopher, judge and jury, and there was no right answer" - and this is just the tip of the iceberg. After reading this book I feel like a pro cycling insider and I've only ever been to two races. As a spectator.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Phil himself which was phenomenal, but I am seriously considering getting a printed copy as well just so I can highlight and highlight.
(Alex Howes's "Go home, Andy!" and Phil's "I have a policy where i don't give advice to guys who won Paris-Roubaix." would be highlighted first. Made me smile super wide.)
Phil is funny, matter of fact, no bullshit type of narrator which makes you care about him as well as his story, and the process of getting to know both - entertaining. Must admit that I am glad I read the book years after my dream of becoming a pro was shattered otherwise reading this would have been a slightly traumatic experience. (But a welcome one.) Phil does end the book on a pretty high note, though, and I will finish my review with it because I want to read it back sometime and feel the thankfulness after I heard it for the first time again and again:
"You can chase something and you can fail, but maybe a job you'll love is right next to the one you wanted. Or at the very least, whatever you hoped for and wherever you end up, I bet you can carve out little moments of living your dream, once in a while."
I hope so, too, Phil, I hope so, too.
Plus, apparently some cyclists are also damn good storytellers, and Phil is one of them. (See, Phil, I really don't think that college was for nothing.) He opens the door to the (extra)ordinary daily life of a pro in a way a friend would, in the process opening the eyes of this cycling fan who thought she knew everything about the sport to just how tough the sport is - and not just the physical part of it.
As Phil put it - "my job was to race my bike, but I also had to be philosopher, judge and jury, and there was no right answer" - and this is just the tip of the iceberg. After reading this book I feel like a pro cycling insider and I've only ever been to two races. As a spectator.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Phil himself which was phenomenal, but I am seriously considering getting a printed copy as well just so I can highlight and highlight.
(Alex Howes's "Go home, Andy!" and Phil's "I have a policy where i don't give advice to guys who won Paris-Roubaix." would be highlighted first. Made me smile super wide.)
Phil is funny, matter of fact, no bullshit type of narrator which makes you care about him as well as his story, and the process of getting to know both - entertaining. Must admit that I am glad I read the book years after my dream of becoming a pro was shattered otherwise reading this would have been a slightly traumatic experience. (But a welcome one.) Phil does end the book on a pretty high note, though, and I will finish my review with it because I want to read it back sometime and feel the thankfulness after I heard it for the first time again and again:
"You can chase something and you can fail, but maybe a job you'll love is right next to the one you wanted. Or at the very least, whatever you hoped for and wherever you end up, I bet you can carve out little moments of living your dream, once in a while."
I hope so, too, Phil, I hope so, too.
January 21, 2022
There's a good deal to admire about Gaimon's memoir of entering the UCI world tour: he's the rare college-educated person in the sport (cyclists look down upon college years as being time wasted: they're prime cycling years); he was part of a rise in no-doping hopefuls; it's a good look at a supporting rider navigating his way through pro teams.
British sportswriter Harry Pearson noted that everyone in elite athletics, no matter how genuine a person, has at their core a foundation of arrogance. They deserve the win over their opponents. Acheived via the robotic dominance of Merckxx for instance, or the underlying threat of violence put forth by Armstrong. Gaimon has it, and has to explain to you how his VO² max is among the top 10th of of 1% of everyone on the world, and that this along with his CLEAN tattoo mean that on a level playing field he is as good a cyclist as any. Okay. Pearson's other observation: the true working class hero is an extraordinary athlete, and an ordinary man. I can dominate in my sport, and otherwise I'm not a larger than life personality -- you might see me on the street with my family or my old college buddies.
That's kind of where he nails it. He struggled to get his foot in the door; to keep a regular paycheck; to maintain a life with a girlfriend; to overcome his thorny relationship with the godfather of American cycling in Europe; he even reconciles with the unspeakable evil -- reformed dopers.
Yes, as mentioned by half these reviews, the dick jokes wear extremely thin. He's very much a cycling bro (his career is currently based on dominating segments on Strava, the most cyclebro app ever conceived). There's also the double-edged sword of being a college-educated writer who was also a competitor in the sport. His commentary borders on too clever, as he doesn't have the nuance afforded by writing experience. At the same time there are few bicycling autobios written with the depth and rhythm that he brings to the table.
While his short form pieces (magazine/web articles) exceed the quality of this memoir, it's a quality piece, especially for the American reader.
British sportswriter Harry Pearson noted that everyone in elite athletics, no matter how genuine a person, has at their core a foundation of arrogance. They deserve the win over their opponents. Acheived via the robotic dominance of Merckxx for instance, or the underlying threat of violence put forth by Armstrong. Gaimon has it, and has to explain to you how his VO² max is among the top 10th of of 1% of everyone on the world, and that this along with his CLEAN tattoo mean that on a level playing field he is as good a cyclist as any. Okay. Pearson's other observation: the true working class hero is an extraordinary athlete, and an ordinary man. I can dominate in my sport, and otherwise I'm not a larger than life personality -- you might see me on the street with my family or my old college buddies.
That's kind of where he nails it. He struggled to get his foot in the door; to keep a regular paycheck; to maintain a life with a girlfriend; to overcome his thorny relationship with the godfather of American cycling in Europe; he even reconciles with the unspeakable evil -- reformed dopers.
Yes, as mentioned by half these reviews, the dick jokes wear extremely thin. He's very much a cycling bro (his career is currently based on dominating segments on Strava, the most cyclebro app ever conceived). There's also the double-edged sword of being a college-educated writer who was also a competitor in the sport. His commentary borders on too clever, as he doesn't have the nuance afforded by writing experience. At the same time there are few bicycling autobios written with the depth and rhythm that he brings to the table.
While his short form pieces (magazine/web articles) exceed the quality of this memoir, it's a quality piece, especially for the American reader.
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