tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post3013375187315692884..comments2023-09-08T06:31:18.925-05:00Comments on Belgium Knee Warmers™: Tim Krabbé's The RiderRadio Freddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419506761098758178noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-79005273336879727242008-05-31T03:47:00.000-05:002008-05-31T03:47:00.000-05:00I Love this book. It makes me want to get on the b...I Love this book. It makes me want to get on the bike every time i pick it up. Is there a genuine race that you can take part in that covers the same route? I would be greatful for any info from anyone in the know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-60268181957124703742008-02-09T09:28:00.000-06:002008-02-09T09:28:00.000-06:00"The Rider" inspired me to buy a road bike. I had ..."The Rider" inspired me to buy a road bike. I had no idea who Eddy Merckx was, forget about Jacques Anquetil. The book affected me in a way similar to Camus's "The Stanger." <BR/><BR/>Now that I've raced some, the book has a different appeal. I understand the frustration the rider feels with the pretty girl cheering him on who is oblivious to the pain and the purpose of racing. He's too old to turn pro, why does he punish himself? As he says somewhere in the book, if there were no mountains there would still be alpinists. <BR/><BR/>I love this blog. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-10810786683688954132008-02-03T14:36:00.000-06:002008-02-03T14:36:00.000-06:00I have not raced - yet I might add. Still I could ...I have not raced - yet I might add. Still I could relate due to the build-up of the book. I love the way you can follow how his mind wanders as he gets more tired and more exhausted. I have been there. Some times after a long day’s ride I’ve been in such a feeble state, my absurd thoughts made me laugh. I hate the taste of energy bars those says. I need to be better than that. My whole existence tells me that I need to be tougher and stronger so I can continue forever and ever where I want to be – in the saddle.<BR/><BR/>This has become one of my favourite blog sites. I’m not anywhere near PRO, but it does not hurt to know the rules ;-). Some of your threads are coming through to me the way some parts of “The rider" do. Seems like signs of really good writing to me. You’re not thinking of writing a book together, are you?Anette Kisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837498359277583814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-68618578451842374352008-02-01T11:00:00.000-06:002008-02-01T11:00:00.000-06:00I'm overdue for another read of The Rider. There's...I'm overdue for another read of <I>The Rider</I>. There's truly nothing quite like it out there on the bookshelves. <BR/><BR/>Rapha has also been planting <I>The Rider</I> seed in my head. About the only thing I can afford from them is <I>Rouleur</I>, and in its 2nd issue there's a lengthy interview with Tim Krabbe well worth reading. Also, they sent out a mini-catalog (more like a print informercial, really) with the Rapha/Condor-sponsored British pro squad doing a ride of the circuit mentioned in <I>The Rider</I> (decked out in Rapha gear, of course and beautifully photographed in b/w). Virtually all of the text is Krabbe talking about his own personal riding experience in that part of France and the inspiration for writing the book. The British pros were charged with completing the circuit in a faster time time than in Krabbe's book. No word on how they faired.Bobke Struthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14531816897802972850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-9348531183551414282008-01-31T07:44:00.000-06:002008-01-31T07:44:00.000-06:00I just ordered one from Amazon. There a number of...I just ordered one from Amazon. There a number of new and used ones available there for little money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-38522603620568187452008-01-30T16:59:00.000-06:002008-01-30T16:59:00.000-06:00I read it every year this time of the year. Great ...I read it every year this time of the year. Great motivation and fun too. Any other cycling books you like, do share. I'm reading Obree's book now, not too bad. He's had many interesting adventures.<BR/><A HREF="jess@cyclingwebsites.com" REL="nofollow"> jess@cyclingwebsites.com</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-64927184326343394962008-01-30T13:24:00.000-06:002008-01-30T13:24:00.000-06:00Krabbe was not a one trick pony either his other b...Krabbe was not a one trick pony either his other books are well worth reading. All be it completely unrelated to cycling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12463657298279561330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-15053815963710398582008-01-30T11:25:00.000-06:002008-01-30T11:25:00.000-06:00let's just hope they don't make this into a movie ...let's just hope they don't make this into a movie as well.tjhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12168109347759222839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-1360232580438716262008-01-30T10:59:00.000-06:002008-01-30T10:59:00.000-06:00I've only read it a half dozen times or so. Every...I've only read it a half dozen times or so. Every time, it is a brilliant inspiration.<BR/><BR/>I would suggest that it be compulsory reading for this time of the year.gewillihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17245908398787098575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-1841338149825201082008-01-30T08:50:00.000-06:002008-01-30T08:50:00.000-06:00It's not just a great book about racing, it's a gr...It's not just a great book about racing, it's a great book because it tells hard to tell truths. Krabbe captures many, if not all, of the essential truths of roadracing, including the moments of agony and horror, shocks and fear, the too short moments of little triumphs, and the inevitable letdowns, and the sheer grinding physical and mental suffering. Roadracing is all about truths; each race is a collection of them. There is little certainty in life, but each race will tell you two or three painful, absolute truths - whether you've trained enough, whether you are talented and skilled enough, how you match up to the competition, and whether you wanted it enough and gave it your all on the day. When the races is finished - whether you've podiumed, finished with the pack, limped in alone or abandoned after blowing up, you know the truth about yourself, for certain. Krabbe's book tells the truth about those truths. It is easy for a book to tell engaging lies, or to selectively tell some truths arranging them in artificial fashion; much harder for a book to tell the truth plainly, and to do so artfully. I'm not a good racer, but I am a racer, and when I am old I will pick up "The Rider" and I will remember once again what it was like to race, what it means to race, and I will recall clearly everything that racing brought with it. This book might not be my desert island book, but it would be in the bag were I allowed 3 or 4 books. BTW, I understand Krabbe was a very good amateur racer who took up the sport in his late 20s.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461836999036966262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-23453750634030735962008-01-30T08:31:00.000-06:002008-01-30T08:31:00.000-06:00I just read this a couple of weeks ago for the fir...I just read this a couple of weeks ago for the first time. I've never raced but this book made me want to, actually. Extremely well written and very, very hard to put down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2821760991275369602.post-27702552158486654102008-01-29T17:10:00.000-06:002008-01-29T17:10:00.000-06:00This is the book to lend to people that think cycl...This is the book to lend to people that think cycling is just 'sport'. I remember picking it up in Victoria, Canada, during the winter when I was out there on a bit of a training camp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com