Reading the Race: Bike Racing from Inside the Peloton

I am learning lots through this book. I think it is great for those without much knowledge about racing to understand (reading) races or those interested in getting into racing. It is easy to read with good figures and great anecdotes. It is not technical, there are no numbers or charts, nor it is intended to be a training manual, but I have already used the tactics discussed in improving my racing skills.

I am an experienced (if mediocre) bicycle racer and a former race announcer, so I cannot claim to have learned anything new from reading his book, but I nevertheless found it entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone interested in bicycle racing. I especially enjoyed Chris Horner's vignettes describing some of his own racing experiences.Jamie Smith unquestionably knows bicycle racing, and that knowledge is clearly presented in this book. I will go so far as to say that this is the best explanation of bicycle racing I have ever read (not a high bar, I admit), and I recommend this book to new racers, to those who are considering racing, and to spectators who want to improve their enjoyment of watching bike races. Even knowledgeable racers may enjoy reading this book, as I did, and comparing their own racing experiences with those that Jamie Smith and Chris Horner describe. Chris Horner's contributions to the book may be minor, but they are well worth reading.As one of the comments to another review points out, Jamie Smith is not Chaucer. He is no literary giant, but his writing style is sufficient to explain bicycle racing to any reader in a thorough and easily understandable manner that many will also find to be entertaining.On the downside, from my point of view, the author's attempts at humor are weak, even annoying. Example "...the large pack fell apart like a cheap suit." Jamie Smith repeatedly compares a bike race to the Miss America Pageant and the racers to the Pageant's contestants The comparison quickly wears thin. During most of the book, I was able to overlook the attempted humor and concentrate on the book's good points, and it wasn't until near the end of the book that I began to find the attempts at humor to be annoying.In summary, despite a less-than-ideal writing style, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the tactics of bicycle racing. The author's writing technique is adequate; the information presented in the book more than makes up for any minor defects in style; and I don't think there are any other books on the market that do as good a job of explaining our sport. -- Jack Quinn

This is a great book. Even if you arent planning on joining a race, but are thinking of joining a sunday peloton ride, i recommend you give this book a read. First off the author is very knowledgeable in the subject and has been steered in the right direction by his cycling buddies. Second, the book isnt as funny as others but it does have its share of funny which makes it an addictive read. There are gems galore in here, i really recommend this book to anyone who rides a bike and is unsure about road rules, drafting, pedaling, and tons of other topics about this great sport.

I've read a few books about tactics. This one has helped me so much more than any of them. It is easy to understand, and there is good advice for learning the skills you must have to succeed in racing. The author has a ton of experience in the types of races we do around here (amateur - United States). This book has helped me get over the fear of crits, know when to get into a breakaway, and when and how to save energy in a race. I'm a cat 4 so I don't really understand strategy too well - and neither does my competition. I had my best result ever in a road race last weekend (2nd) after putting into practice a couple of things from this book. Basically, I got myself into the winning breakaway. I would not have recognized it as the winning break had I not read this book.

There's some really good information in this book and I'm glad I bought it. It's also pretty fun to read. The vignettes by Chris Horner are also good reading. The author, Jamie Smith, is funny and seems to know his stuff (at least better than I do), but a lot of the time I felt like He was just using a book on racing tactics as a platform for his desire to be a comedian. And does anyone really need a glossary of words like "breakaway"?

I titled this review "Good Entry Level Book" but according to the author quite a few riders who show up for and participate in races don't know half of what he discusses in so far as tactics.Having never races I have no idea of the validity of his claims.What I do know is that I learned a good deal about what to do and what to train for, and what to expect, if I was ever going to enter a race (not that I have any plans to). The author also provides a lot of insight into the mind of amateur racers and what to expect if you will join a team.The author has added in just the right amount of levity that will almost feel like it is too much but will never actually cross that line.What I didn't get from this book was the insight into what can be seen while watching a race that I expected to read about; though there was some tactical information (more like suggestions) that allowed me to slightly see some of that while watching race videos.The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is the only book I've read on the subject of racing, so I had nothing to compare it to. The 4 stars are an indication of how well I enjoyed reading it and the level of knowledge I believe I received in doing so.

OK - this book is exactly what I was after after having read other less useful publications. The book is very well written by Smith with sideline comentary by Horner and is easy to read and has some geat observations of riders actions and habits and very good advice to get the most out of your race, crit or group ride. I laso loved the comedy written into almost every passage/section which keep it light hearted and thoroughly enjoyable.The best cycling tactics and advice book I have found and will surely read time and time again when I get things wrong on race day!!

This book explain most of the tactics used in cycling. If you don't train regularly with a group or team, you are going to get all the value from this book. If you train with a group that practice rendez-vouz, sprints, attacks, you already know most of the tactics presented by this book. I belong to the second group, and tell you that is a good lecture!

The way the book is written... you just can not stop reading.Very fast delivery and ovreall hassle-free purchase

This is a hilarious and informative book. I found the anecdotes related directly to tactics and strategies that are indeed useful. I liked the book so much I bought actual book after reading most of it on Amazon Kindle.

If there was more pictures and images the book would be perfect. A good book to know the peloton action.

Training books! I'm sick of training books! But this one is readable, informative, detailed, fun, interesting and, above all - useful! I love Chris' interjections and Jamie's writing style makes this a joy to dip into. My riding won't get any better as a result of reading this because I'm just a bit past it: but my knowledge, or rather understanding why I do these things, has certainly improved. Nice Book!