Doing the rounds, this afternoon, of shops in Bourges where I might pick up a few bargain bikes, I dropped by into Troc de l"ile. This is one of at least 200 similar shops in France where you can take in a nything you wish to sell..and where you can often find most of the things y ou wish to buy..second-hand. They are Aladdin's Caves full of wonderful del ights. In addition to a couple of lightweight bikes made by local frame-builders I came across a whole section of books for sale...all new but to clear from the publishers.
The range was impressive and the discoubnts more so..The sepia-coloured cov er photograph showing a grinning Ferdie Kubler out-sprinting a dis-spirited Gino Bartali grasped my attention. At first I misread its title as Miroir de Cyclisme..then did a retake and made it out correctly as "Le Monde du Cy clisme". The author is Jean-Paul Ollivier, the historian of the Tour de France when it goes out live on French TV...and learned author of so many first rate bo oks on French cycling. The book was first published in 2003, and in its 360 + pages it carries over 500 photographs. The photos and text describe in gr eat detail some of the great events and cyclists of the period 1869 to 2003 .. Ollivier was even generous enough to permit a couple of photos of a very miserable and disgruntled-looking Lance Armstrong to be included..but there were much better ones of Greg Lemond.
The book's cover had a sticket showing that the list price of 60 euros had been discounted to the bargain price of 32 euros...there were six copies on the shelf...now there are five as I could not leave the shop empty-handed of such a treasure.
I do not know whether this Paris-produced book was ever distributed in the States..but if it wasn't, it should have been. The point of this email is n ot to revel in my good luck but to ask CR Listers if anyone would like me t o purchase one for them. The books weigh in at 1.9kgs...so it is all good p aper and card. I return to Settle UK later this week and would be more than happy to purchase copies and to send them off to you when I get home...to arrive.maybe just in time for Christmas.
I make to be just after noon in Seattle..I shall be back at this computer s ometime tomorrow..but not too late on as I have bikes to pack...say 15 hour s from now at the latest...to stake your claim
Norris Lockley..Sancerre France