The Rider
by Tim Krabbé
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 73)
Read in November, 2007
I am, unabashedly, a cycling geek. I work in a shop for god sakes, yikes! And yes, I loved it. The simplicity of it, the cementing of the narrative in the here and now without becoming boring recitation of events. The writing style was a bit stilted or abrupt for me but not distractingly so. It's always my woe with translated books. I'm never quite sure if my awkwarness in reading them is attributed more to the translation itself or to the different cultural context inherent in the orginal...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
The Rider by Tim Krabbe is a bicycling book that will appeal to more than just hardcore cycling fans. In fact, The Rider is the best sports book I’ve ever read. This slim fast-paced novel follows bicycle racer Tim Krabbe on a grueling one-day race in mountainous France. Krabbe chronicles the cat and mouse strategy of cycling; the competitive camaraderie; the blinding physical pain; the superstitions; and the internal stream of consciousness battle that takes place as a rider pushes themselves ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
I picked up this book to get ready for this year's Tour de France (which has been pretty spectacular so far). After reading, I can't quite tell if its a novella or a memior, but I guess that doesn't really matter. The Rider is a first person chronology of a bike race given by a rider named Tim Krabbe. Not only does it give a unique perspective of what goes on inside the peleton, but Krabbe's wit and good sense of pacing make this a very enjoyable and quick read. Probably not for someone who ...more
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in August, 2005
Short and excellent. I read this partly while on a bike tour of the Outer Banks with Ellie. Anyway, this book really puts you in the mind of an amateur racing cyclist. The more cycling lingo and history you know, the better, but I think anyone would find the tale engaging and riveting and the ending is anything but contrived. You may not want to race after you read this, but you will want to ride!
As an aside, after you read this, rent The Vanishing, based on the book by Tim Krabbe...more
As an aside, after you read this, rent The Vanishing, based on the book by Tim Krabbe...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
Sweet! I'm a commuter and will never be a racer, but this made me feel like I could slip into a party conversation with some serious cyclists and hold my own.
Even though I was in diapers when Tim was racing, the rhythm and cadence (pun intended) perfectly conveyed what it's like when my mind starts to wander on a long ride (I seriously mentally marked out different "stages" of my commute for the particularly hungover mornings). I also make up stories about my Olympian physical pr...more
Even though I was in diapers when Tim was racing, the rhythm and cadence (pun intended) perfectly conveyed what it's like when my mind starts to wander on a long ride (I seriously mentally marked out different "stages" of my commute for the particularly hungover mornings). I also make up stories about my Olympian physical pr...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommended to John by:
Mike Bené of courserecommends it for: Anyone who's ever raced a bicycle
Amazing, mundane and heartbreaking all at the same time...I loved it.
Anyone who's never raced a bike would be mystified as to the appeal of this book. Anyone who has will completely identify with Krabbé's stream of consciousness heading toward delirium writing style.
Sit on Krabbé's shoulder as he pedals through the 137km of the 1977 Tour de Mont Aigoual. You're going to love it.
Anyone who's never raced a bike would be mystified as to the appeal of this book. Anyone who has will completely identify with Krabbé's stream of consciousness heading toward delirium writing style.
Sit on Krabbé's shoulder as he pedals through the 137km of the 1977 Tour de Mont Aigoual. You're going to love it.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
competitive Cyclists
Pretty sweet book, but only if you've raced before, hard to understand otherwise. The writing style is choppy, which captures the internal dialog of a racer, but makes for painintheassical reading. There are several perfect thoughts and statements in The Rider that definitely make it worth reading for any competitive cyclist. I would quote some passages here so you'd understand how badass Krabbe can be, but I returned the book last week and I don't remember diddily-jack. Enjoy.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I really like riding bikes. I ride my bike everywhere. I ride it fast for fun. I ride it slow sometimes when I want to take in the day. I ride to the grocery store. I ride when I'm having a bad day. I like riding with other people. I like fixing my bike. I like teaching other people how to fix bikes.
I think racing is stupid.
This is a book about a bike race, written in a way I can appreciate, considering I like riding bikes but I think racing is stupid.
I think racing is stupid.
This is a book about a bike race, written in a way I can appreciate, considering I like riding bikes but I think racing is stupid.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book appeals to the obsessiveness of people like me who occasionally get obsessed with stuff, in this case bicycling. Krabbe writes about a bike race in minute detail. He describes his extremely tanned wrists and how he thinks that they are beautiful.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
This train of thought account of a road bike race gives insight to the odd minds of amateur bicyclists. I laughed out loud many times while getting through this quick read. I recommend it for all riders, from the weekend pedal pusher to the 5am lunatic.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommended to Brian by:
The best cyclists on bikeforums.net
Excellent read. Great autobiography of a race. This is about bicycling, but the strategy and emotion can be felt/applied to any sport or endeavor. Brisk, tight, clean, and emotional.
Certainly the best book on cycling - FTW.
Certainly the best book on cycling - FTW.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
cycling enthusiasts
A fascinating glimpse into the psychological chess match of competitive cycling. Beginning to end, it covers one man's experience in one 150 kilometer road race along with brief personal and historical anecdotes.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2006
If Walter Mitty shaved his legs and raced a bicycle in Belgium....this would be his story. Excellent stream of consciousness depiction of one road race from the view of the rider. Existential woolgathering.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
recommended to Warrick by:
liamrecommends it for: cyclists
One race, described in loving and telling detail. This book explains something of the thousands of things that make cycling great.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
Short book about a 150km ride by a writer/semi-professional cyclist. Recommended to me by a friend who also enjoys cycling.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Krabbe really captures how you think about everything and nothing simultaniously while riding.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
other than ham sammies,i like short books and i like eating dates during bike races.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in February, 2008
Freaking awesome. I will read this again and again before every big race.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Not only is this a good novel about bicycle racing, it is a good novel.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Great insight into the world of cycling from the Dutch novelist.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
