I love this new book "Heft on Wheels" by Mr. Mike Magnuson. It inspires me in a way that no account of Merckx nor certainly drugged up moderns like Armstrong can. I will never be the fastest in the world but for a couple of hours, I can be the damn fast on the east leg of the Key Biscayne ride. This book tells the story of a 275 lb man who challenges himself to in one year become damn fast, and drop his weight down to 175, all while fighting alcoholism and a smoking addiction. Now to the classic content:
In the book, a true story set in Illinois, there is a bike shop called Carbondale Cycle. The manager is "Saki" the Thai rider who inspires all around him and allows many to watch classic videos and borrow tools from the shop. Also described is Geoff of Geoff and Christina fame. They ride a tandem and Saki allows Geoff to bring "his assortment of thirty year old friction shifting Italian bikes" and fix them using Saki's tools and stand. Does anyone have familiarity with Carbondale Cycle, Geoff or his assortment of thirty year old Italian bikes"? I am half way through the book, can't put it down (except for food, morning ride and essential time with my wife and child), so of course I would recommend it to all, even the slender tea-tottlers among us, which is a category I guess I fit in..... However, we all have our personal demons.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl.