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Tomorrow, We Ride
"Tomorrow we ride. that's what my brother Louison and I used to say as we arranged to every day while we were racing cyclists, and then just on Sundays when we weren't competing any more. We kept on riding until the end of his life, because even then - especially then, perhaps - we always understood each other best on bikes. We had always needed a bike beneath us. In the words of the song, we took the high road and the low in cycling, the glory days always have less glorious ones on their tail. Thanks to Louison, I had the good fortune to ride with him through the golden years, the 50 the years of post-war reconstruction, of Coppi and Bartali, of Kubler and Koblet, of Gaul and Van Steenbergen, Anquetil and Darrigade. These are names that speak of the aristocracy of cycling, and the fierceness of the competition. Every day, Louison and I took pleasure in cycling together, whether on our intimate journeys through Brittany or the Alps, or in the frenzy of the Tour de France or Giro d'Italia." Jean Bobet. Jean Bobet's book is not so much a biography of his superstar brother Louison, nor his own autobiography, but rather an account of the intermingling of their two lives. And what lives - Louison, triple Tour de France winner and World Champion and Jean (no mean rider himself) who gave up an academic career to ride in the service of his brother in pursuit of sporting glory. Set in the period after the war, this story brings alive the romance of the great races and the star riders of the day whose exploits lifted the public spirit after years of conflict and economic hardship.
179 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 15, 2024
One of the most exquisite books about professional cycling I've read, all the more gratifying because the author's voice (and, of course, Berry's translation) is (are) as elegant and thoughtful as it is (or they are) convincing. Very much a sublime little window into a life, a sport, a brotherhood, a time, a place, a profession, and so much more.
I'm glad I found it (in a roundabout way), got my hands on a copy, and finally read it. Much as it's a book that any serious cycling fan should enjoy, it's also a splendid period piece, a poignant portrayal (ooooh, that's a lot of P's) of two remarkable lives.
Quirky note: I'm guessing I'm not alone in being pleased that I'd fortuitously read McConnon's (x2's) excellent Bartali biography, Road to Valor before reading this. It's not a simple and direct thread from Bartali to Bobet, but, historically, the 1948 Tour de France is well, an incredible story unto itself that very much links the two (although it features far more in the the Bartali saga).
I'm glad I found it (in a roundabout way), got my hands on a copy, and finally read it. Much as it's a book that any serious cycling fan should enjoy, it's also a splendid period piece, a poignant portrayal (ooooh, that's a lot of P's) of two remarkable lives.
Quirky note: I'm guessing I'm not alone in being pleased that I'd fortuitously read McConnon's (x2's) excellent Bartali biography, Road to Valor before reading this. It's not a simple and direct thread from Bartali to Bobet, but, historically, the 1948 Tour de France is well, an incredible story unto itself that very much links the two (although it features far more in the the Bartali saga).
November 10, 2020
"The voluptuous pleasure that cycling can give you is delicate, intimate and ephemeral. It arrives, it takes hold of you, sweeps you up and then leaves you again. It is for you alone. It is a combination of speed and ease, force and grace. It is pure happiness."
There are a few moments in "Tomorrow, We Ride" , like the above gem, where Jean Bobet captures an entire world in a few sentences.
The story of the Bobet Brothers and cycling in the 1950's is certainly aimed at cycling fans. Unlike most sports books however it is full of heart and enlightening to the harsh world of competitive sport. Winning three consecutive Tour de France titles never seemed so fleeting. Done. What's next?
The English translation felt a bit clunky at times and I worry a lot of clever wit and turns of phrase may have been lost. That said Jean's story is compelling and extremely honest. It will stick with me for some time and exists as a firm reminder to enjoy the simple parts of cycling before the great escape.
There are a few moments in "Tomorrow, We Ride" , like the above gem, where Jean Bobet captures an entire world in a few sentences.
The story of the Bobet Brothers and cycling in the 1950's is certainly aimed at cycling fans. Unlike most sports books however it is full of heart and enlightening to the harsh world of competitive sport. Winning three consecutive Tour de France titles never seemed so fleeting. Done. What's next?
The English translation felt a bit clunky at times and I worry a lot of clever wit and turns of phrase may have been lost. That said Jean's story is compelling and extremely honest. It will stick with me for some time and exists as a firm reminder to enjoy the simple parts of cycling before the great escape.
March 19, 2017
Autobiographical musings by Louison Bobet’s brother who, at his request/order, abandons his English literature studies to ride beside him. Jean is a decent rider (he wins a Paris Nice after an early break) and his relationship with his brother gives him the privileged access and unique insight of a normal rider into the world of the handful of charismatic superstars who dominated cycling in the 1950s. His literature training means that the book is beautifully written including his collaboration with the translation. His post-racing journalism gives great perspective on the changes in cycling since the 1950s. The book is candid on race fixing (including the Breton mafia that dominated amateur racing) and the use of medical preparation and soigneurs (although he clearly admits he doesn’t know if he or his brother actually doped).
July 29, 2017
It’s that time of year again, when I break out a Tour de France related book. Although this one didn’t seem to grab me as much as last year’s. Considering it’s only a couple of hundred pages and I started it at the beginning of the 20 day Tour and finished it a week after the race had finished, I’d say I pretty much slowly slogged through it.
Tomorrow, We Ride is the story of the Bobet brothers who were professional cyclists, told both bashfully and boastfully by the younger (and less successful from a cycling standpoint) of the two. Jean Bobet looks nostalgically back at a time in the 50’s when doping was much less prevalent and advertising much subtler. It’s a collection of chapters that could stand alone as essays that recount uplifting, gentlemanly stories as well as dish a little dirt on the race fixing that has most likely always been a part of the sport as well as some other behind the scenes bad behavior.
I read the English translation and now wish I had read it in French because I can’t tell if the writing was mediocre or it was just a clunky translation. I didn’t get the occasional change in font mid-chapter – is that text from his journals from back in the day?
While there were a couple of beautifully written descriptions of when they were “flying” (i.e. in a zone) and some romantic mid-century takes on the sport, in general I didn’t feel a lot of tension or power in the story telling or writing. This is a book for die-hard Tour fans and not something that will pull you into the sport or entertain a lot if you’re not already into it.
Tomorrow, We Ride is the story of the Bobet brothers who were professional cyclists, told both bashfully and boastfully by the younger (and less successful from a cycling standpoint) of the two. Jean Bobet looks nostalgically back at a time in the 50’s when doping was much less prevalent and advertising much subtler. It’s a collection of chapters that could stand alone as essays that recount uplifting, gentlemanly stories as well as dish a little dirt on the race fixing that has most likely always been a part of the sport as well as some other behind the scenes bad behavior.
I read the English translation and now wish I had read it in French because I can’t tell if the writing was mediocre or it was just a clunky translation. I didn’t get the occasional change in font mid-chapter – is that text from his journals from back in the day?
While there were a couple of beautifully written descriptions of when they were “flying” (i.e. in a zone) and some romantic mid-century takes on the sport, in general I didn’t feel a lot of tension or power in the story telling or writing. This is a book for die-hard Tour fans and not something that will pull you into the sport or entertain a lot if you’re not already into it.
September 19, 2022
I was interested in this book because my brother and I are both cyclists. We live in different states but whenever we get together it always involves cycling. I loved everything about this book from the title to the finish, very inspiring!!
January 23, 2011
This is a wonderful, impressionistic evocation of 1950s professional cycling in France - part memoir of the author’s exploits, part biography of his more famous brother Louisson Bobet who won a hat-trick of Tour de Frances and other honours; and part reflection on the nature of competitive cycling.
In respect of which there are reflectiosn on the language of cycling: masculine and dynamic, frequently personifying the equipment of the sport; introspective thoughts on drugs, where he sadly notes than he was clean but that he would never expect anyone to believe him; the ugly face of inner-circle conspiracy that often decided amateur races and wonderful insight into the nature of soigneurs – they could be expensive maestros for hire, charlatans or down-at-heel masseurs who wait at the station for piece rate work as cyclists and teams arrive for a competition.
Like Hinault and Petit-Breton, the Bobets came from Brittany, the region with the most passionate followers of cycling, to this day. Reflecting on his seeming outsider status as an intellectual in the rough-and-tumble world of competitive cycling, Bobet speculates on the word “plouc”, which bluntly means country yokel or hick but is a proud form of identity in Brittany; Bobet claims the word for himself – when all is said and done he too is a plouc.
My favourite chapter is devoted to “la volupte”, the voluptuous pleasure you get from cycling. It is unexpected, rare and unlike the euphoria of racing. It is “delicate, intimate and ephemeral. It arrives, takes hold of you, sweeps you up and then leaves you again. It is for you alone. It is a combination of speed and ease, force and grace. It is pure happiness.”
The title of the book comes from the French version, “Demain, On Roule” – more literally, “tomorrow, we roll,” but less prosaic than to “roll” - to “roule” is to go out onto the open road with a sense of both purpose and promise. It is an expression Louisson was apt to use to Jean as much as when they were young and in the thick of it as in retirement, when cycling was purely for pleasure.
Louisson comes across in the book as someone with the idiosyncratic self-possession of the pure talent who ruled the rough, masculine world of cycling for several long seasons, whereas Jean casts himself as the bespectacled, educated intellectual, an interloper who nevertheless applied himself and scored several important victories, both on his own account and in the service of his brother.
For those who love cycling, this book is a charmer.
In respect of which there are reflectiosn on the language of cycling: masculine and dynamic, frequently personifying the equipment of the sport; introspective thoughts on drugs, where he sadly notes than he was clean but that he would never expect anyone to believe him; the ugly face of inner-circle conspiracy that often decided amateur races and wonderful insight into the nature of soigneurs – they could be expensive maestros for hire, charlatans or down-at-heel masseurs who wait at the station for piece rate work as cyclists and teams arrive for a competition.
Like Hinault and Petit-Breton, the Bobets came from Brittany, the region with the most passionate followers of cycling, to this day. Reflecting on his seeming outsider status as an intellectual in the rough-and-tumble world of competitive cycling, Bobet speculates on the word “plouc”, which bluntly means country yokel or hick but is a proud form of identity in Brittany; Bobet claims the word for himself – when all is said and done he too is a plouc.
My favourite chapter is devoted to “la volupte”, the voluptuous pleasure you get from cycling. It is unexpected, rare and unlike the euphoria of racing. It is “delicate, intimate and ephemeral. It arrives, takes hold of you, sweeps you up and then leaves you again. It is for you alone. It is a combination of speed and ease, force and grace. It is pure happiness.”
The title of the book comes from the French version, “Demain, On Roule” – more literally, “tomorrow, we roll,” but less prosaic than to “roll” - to “roule” is to go out onto the open road with a sense of both purpose and promise. It is an expression Louisson was apt to use to Jean as much as when they were young and in the thick of it as in retirement, when cycling was purely for pleasure.
Louisson comes across in the book as someone with the idiosyncratic self-possession of the pure talent who ruled the rough, masculine world of cycling for several long seasons, whereas Jean casts himself as the bespectacled, educated intellectual, an interloper who nevertheless applied himself and scored several important victories, both on his own account and in the service of his brother.
For those who love cycling, this book is a charmer.
April 2, 2012
"On the following Sunday, he escaped"- a single sentence that, like Hemingway's "For sale, baby shoes, never worn" uses six words to tell a gripping, emotional story more than reams of flowery prose ever can. This is typical of a very untypical sport biography/autobiography- it is said that cycling and boxing promote the best sports writing, but Jean Bobet has gone much further in this one. As well as being a successful professional cyclist and brother of first 3-time winner of the Tour de France, Louison Jean Bobet was also an academic- leaving a life destined as a lecturer in university in Scotland at his brothers behest, and together they experienced the highs and lows, triumphs and failures of the Classics and Grand Tours in the 1950s.
Within the first 17 pages Roland Barthes has been quoted, and a couple of pages later the protective Jean actually turns Barthes away from Louison's hotel room after a hard won stage victory. This is a book that really could only be written by a Frenchman or woman. As well as bringing to life the strain and horror that is climbing the Ventoux on a scorching hot day, Jean also draws from many aspects of life-intellectual, physical, cultural- and with an obvious love of language has created what I consider the best sporting book I have ever read. He is poetic but never mawkish in describing the sight of Coppi, Gaul, Kublet, Kobler and other post war greats heading the peloton, taking on the pave or conquering the legendary climbs that make up the Tour, the Giro and the Veulta. His writing is so enlightening and eases the reader in, that even someone with no interest in cycling would get drawn into it.
It is probably obvious that I am a big fan of this book, and its combination of influences mean it is no simple "he did this, I did that" narrative, but an inspiring, emotional and sometimes funny revelation of what life as a pro-cyclist in post-war France was like.
Within the first 17 pages Roland Barthes has been quoted, and a couple of pages later the protective Jean actually turns Barthes away from Louison's hotel room after a hard won stage victory. This is a book that really could only be written by a Frenchman or woman. As well as bringing to life the strain and horror that is climbing the Ventoux on a scorching hot day, Jean also draws from many aspects of life-intellectual, physical, cultural- and with an obvious love of language has created what I consider the best sporting book I have ever read. He is poetic but never mawkish in describing the sight of Coppi, Gaul, Kublet, Kobler and other post war greats heading the peloton, taking on the pave or conquering the legendary climbs that make up the Tour, the Giro and the Veulta. His writing is so enlightening and eases the reader in, that even someone with no interest in cycling would get drawn into it.
It is probably obvious that I am a big fan of this book, and its combination of influences mean it is no simple "he did this, I did that" narrative, but an inspiring, emotional and sometimes funny revelation of what life as a pro-cyclist in post-war France was like.
October 13, 2016
Cycling is awesome, it gives you a lot of satisfaction and freedom, but it also implies a great challenge when it goes professionally. The most minimum movement out of pace and you're out, away from the peloton, losing seconds and maybe the advantage you won in previous stages with great difficulty. Jean Bobet helps you feel all of that: the good, the bad, the inspiring, the challenging and the beautiful of this sport in a wonderful way, being there among the greatest of the 1950's in the most challenging competitions of the time.
Knowing some of the accomplishments of Louson Bobet from the perspective of his brother, riding next to him in different races, is very exciting because I'm sure is not something you see too often. Sure, Jean was never as great as the first one to win the Tour de France thrice consecutively, but he also had passion and a big shadow to follow, and the fact that he kept going with energy, determination, and his other passions was great. Being there between those great cycling legends must be incredible, as he clearly describes it throughout the book, a feeling that's transmitted to the reader very successfully.
A great book and a nice story of other times when cycling was different, back when the world was recovering from the war. I loved reading about every race, since the amateur times all the way to the last one professionally, his experiences as a reporter and the glory and fall of his brother.
Highly recommended!
Knowing some of the accomplishments of Louson Bobet from the perspective of his brother, riding next to him in different races, is very exciting because I'm sure is not something you see too often. Sure, Jean was never as great as the first one to win the Tour de France thrice consecutively, but he also had passion and a big shadow to follow, and the fact that he kept going with energy, determination, and his other passions was great. Being there between those great cycling legends must be incredible, as he clearly describes it throughout the book, a feeling that's transmitted to the reader very successfully.
A great book and a nice story of other times when cycling was different, back when the world was recovering from the war. I loved reading about every race, since the amateur times all the way to the last one professionally, his experiences as a reporter and the glory and fall of his brother.
Highly recommended!
December 9, 2020
Just a pleasure to read. Fascinating insight into Pro Cycling in the fifties.The time of Fausto Coppi and Charly Gaul etc. Elegant writing it flows along but brings home the harshness of this toughest of sports. Highly recommended.
July 23, 2025
Great book, I like how it is so many things at the same time: a biography of one of the greatest French riders, a realistic picture of a bygone, romanticised era (Bobet, Coppi, Gaul, Koblet shown from up close), a personal story of a young man finding his way in the shadow of his famous brother (shadow in a good and a bad way: Louison provided protection and opportunities for Jean, but also set a standard too high to reach), and a story of brotherhood. I also liked the writing style, it felt like a love letter to cycling in some places.
October 17, 2021
Superb memories from Jean Bobet - who kept notes of the races he was in. His slightly more famous and successful brother is covered throughout but Jean is unashamed in saying that this isn’t a biography, although it’s a compelling insight and is wonderfully evocative of a time gone by.
January 13, 2022
This is - I think - the book that best illustrates why so many of us fall in love with cycling. The adventure, the comradeship, and the drive come across so we'll and the mid- century setting is fantastic.
January 9, 2026
The Rider is, of course, the benchmark, but I think this is my favourite book in cycling literature. It so elegantly threads between stories, places and the great champions of the day. This was the golden age, and for that, we are lucky we got a golden author in Jean Bobet.
December 16, 2017
Interesting but really mostly only to hard-core bicycle racing fans.
May 17, 2018
Fantastic. I have read a lot of cycling biographies, this is by far the most engaging.
November 21, 2019
didn't work for me.
should maybe check the French version, although they praise the translation so, I don't know, it's probably just me.
should maybe check the French version, although they praise the translation so, I don't know, it's probably just me.
July 9, 2021
A beautifully poetic book about the wonders of cycling. I haven’t been moved as much by a book in a long time.
September 23, 2015
I love this book because it is written by the bother of a very famous cyclist who raced along side his bother and rode with him until the end. If you like stories of Tour De France and other famous races and want the inside story of what happen back in the day this is the book for you. not recommend for the non racing cyclist as their are too many references to pro cycle race events, places and names etc.
February 28, 2012
A biography by Jean Bobet, Professional Cyclist during the 1950′s. His brother Louison won the Tour de France 3 times in succession.
I enjoyed it, the only real criticism is that it over sentimentalises the past – champions were better then as they had class, more open to met the fans etc now they are little princes…
There isn’t too much of that though and the book is worth reading.
I enjoyed it, the only real criticism is that it over sentimentalises the past – champions were better then as they had class, more open to met the fans etc now they are little princes…
There isn’t too much of that though and the book is worth reading.
January 18, 2014
Tomorrow, We Ride concerns Jean Bobet's experiences cycling with his more famous brother Lousion. He describes what is is like to have a much more famous and successful older brother and also what is was like to be a domestique riding in the Tour de France in the 1950s. Probably not for casual cycling fans though.
May 19, 2010
A very interesting book on the life of Jean Bobet and his brother Louison, both were very good riders.
Hearing from a siblings point of view about a more famous brother, and the special bond they had in competitions & cycling for fun.
You also learn about French cycling post WW2.
Hearing from a siblings point of view about a more famous brother, and the special bond they had in competitions & cycling for fun.
You also learn about French cycling post WW2.
March 18, 2015
Is this the best cycling book ever? I don't know, but it surely the best I've encountered. Maybe the best sports book I've read - although 'The Professional' sticks in the mind as a contender (but that was a novel).
Currently reading
October 21, 2009Enjoyed this wonderful account of Jean Bobet sharing the bike experience with his bro, Louison, the 3 time Tour de France champ.
March 1, 2010
the best
November 5, 2011
Engaging depiction of procycling in the 1950s from the viewpoint of Jean Bobet who rode mostly as a domestique for his more successful brother Louison.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews