I've got a fair sized shelf of bike books, but one of the one's that really struck my fancy was Maynard Hershon's "Tales from the bike shop". That and his other book "Half Wheel Hell" are both collections of his short stories that were originally published in Velo News? Tales from the bike shop is made up of a lot of classic CR list type bikes and stories and somewhat revolves around a classic bike shop owned by an old racer, the clientelle, and shop rats working the place as well as just cycling characters we've all met. You don't need to read it from front to back, wherever you pick it up, its a good read for a bike nut.
As for films, I like Breaking away and American Flyers, and a couple others, but my heart still thinks that "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" even with its slow spots is the biggest tribute to a boy and his bicycle. Just imagine the opening dream sequence with you and insert your favorite bike here!
Happy Trails,
Dan Artley
Parkton, Maryland
>>> "Tom Martin" tom@wilsonbike.com> 12/30/2003 7:21:08 PM >>
Please excuse me if this has been covered but with all this talk of
books and films with or about bikes, it got me wondering- what is on
everyones bookshelf, besides bike porn? By 'porn' I mean just pictures
and drwaings of bikes and parts. D. Rebour, with all due respect, will
fit into this category, as well as all those fine collections of campag
catalogues. I'd like to hear more about books like Tim Krabbe's The
Rider, an excellent memoir that was dug out of a bookstore (Cody's in
Berkeley CA) by my girlfriend. I can think of some more contemporary
books like Hugh Travis Culleys autobiographical The Immortal Class and
Lynn Breedlove's Godspeed Novel, but that's about it. The Critical Mass
10th anniversary book would kinda fit into this description too, but
maybe there's something else besides memoirs and topical/ anecdotal
descriptions of bike culture? Something a little deeper and well
written?
And the same goes for films. We all know about the Bicycle Thief. What
else is under your TV set?
Tom Martin
Oakland CA
Where the rain has me reading a lot of books lately.