Bobke II

boring

Bob Roll writes like he talks, with wit, humor and great insight. Anybody who has followed the Tour and enjoyed his outstanding commentary will enjoy this book. Also, you can draw great lessons from this book that apply to any competitive endeavor in sports, or business.

If you are lucky enough to have read Bob's first book that came in and out of print about fifteen years ago, or to have followed along with all his columns over the years in Velo News or wherever, then maybe this book isn't for you. You can try to buy his original book on ebay for a hundred and fifty bucks if you are a purist. If you want to jam econo then just get this book. It is great. Thanks Bob!

I got this book as a gift for Father's Day, and after the second page I was hooked. If you are a serious competitive cyclist and have had your head deep into this crazy sport, you won't be able to put it down. Maybe a bit random, but if I want to read Grisham, Koontz, or King, I'll buy one of their books. For a window into the world of professional cycling at its most glamorous and its worst, this is a must read. If I could give it 6 stars I would. But then again, I am a Bobke fan.

Finally, Bobke for the masses. This book fills the gap left by the skyrocketing prices for his first book. Anyone who has ever had fantasies of riding a bike for money has to read this. Bob's writing style takes some getting used to, but he tells it like it is, and does it his way. A mediocre editor would have taken this book and made it more "readable" and mainstream, but it would have lost what makes Bob Roll Bobke. Imagine if he was just another generic commentator for the Tour--would anyone want to listen? I wouldn't. Half the fun of Bob Roll is wondering what he'll say next. The other half is his fantastic storytelling. Get this book, read it, then pass it on to someone else to share the fun.

Any fan of pro cycling will enjoy Bobke II. Even if you think he's basically a clown on OLN television, this will change your mind. Wacky, wild, disoriented, this book probably violates all the rules...but Roll does it purposely. His passion, especially for cycling, Italy and things Italian shines through. Since I share those passions I loved it. The off-the-wall humor was expected, the passion was a refreshing bonus.