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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 23rd August 2010 20:19
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I'm a bit of a literary type on the quiet, and always on the lookout for books that will interest and stimulate me, especially where bikes are concerned. In fact, there aren't all that many good books about biking. If you strip away the lifestyle journalism (Hunter S Thompson on the Hell's Angels, for example), the TV tie-ins (like the Long Way Round/Down/Up/Whatever books) and the sport-related stuff, the nmber of books about the actual experience of riding and living with a motorcycle are few and far between. Unfortunately for me, this is the kind of thing I find the most interesting.
I won't go into Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as this is the kind of book that you either "get" or you don't, and those who "get" it have probably read it already. But a really good one (that I got for my birthday earlier this month) is:
The Perfect Vehicle, by Melissa Holbrook Pearson.
A gurl writing a book about bikes? Well, yes, and she writes very well. The book starts with a wonderful piece about wheeling the bike out of the garage, firing it up and getting ready for a day's riding. Anyone who has had a bike will appreciate the feelings, and she captures the feeling perfectly. She then goes on the describe how she got into biking, and all the biking friends and lovers, and the race days and rallies she has attended. All American, but pretty universal experiences. It's a good read right the way through, although sometimes you have to make allowances for the anti-men comments (which mostly are pretty fair, to be honest). But she loves her V-twins (Italian, naturally) and she rides them a lot, and covers a lot of mles. She starts as a pillion for a number of dodgy boyfriends, then realises she could learn to ride her own bike if she wanted to, so she buys a bike, learns to ride, and then makes the most of the freedom that she now has.
I lack the patience to read rubbish these days, and if a book hasn't grabbed me within ten pages, I bin it. I finished this one in a day. Well worth a read.
Anyone any other recommendations?
--
2003 ST1300 Pan Euro
1995 Yam XT600E
http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 15th July 2009 14:41
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 23rd August 2010 20:19
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Funnily enough, the Sonny Barger book was another thing I got for my burfday. It's next on the list, after I have finished my third reading of Jupiter's Travels.
--
2003 ST1300 Pan Euro
1995 Yam XT600E
http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 5th July 2008 20:20
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Did they not do a book on Ewan Mcgregor's bike experience? I know they did the film thing, but you know what people say, books are better!!
The car in front, is now behind!
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 23rd August 2010 20:19
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Even funnilyer enough, that was another book I got for my birthday - to be started after I finish the Sonny Barger volume. Seems my family know me too well. Three motorcycling books and a nice jumper.
I'm enjoying the Sonny Barger, although he does seem to be a bit up his own fundament with the whole HA myth. It's quite funny when he writes about "hundreds of motorcycles, all doing eighty, even ninety, down the freeway. Man, you gotta pay attention at those speeds, or you'll DIE" (loose translation). A lot of the bikers I know regard those speeds as suitable for texting a girlfriend or having a snooze.
I'm rapidly going off the McGregor/Boorman thing. The more I see of them in the current series, the more I think they are a pair of w*nkers.
Hey man, you put a tent up by yourself! (Man-hug)
Hey man, we rode through some rain! (Man-hug)
I've ben known to hug other men, but it's usually when I haven't seen them for ten years, or their fathers have died, or something like that.
I'll still read the book, although I'll have a recent reading of Jupiter's Travels in my head - round the world, four years, alone. And on a Meriden Triumph [1], where factory support is a six-week wait in Mexico for a new alternator that he had to fit himself. I don't think the pretty boys will compare well.
[1] Those who remember the British motor industry in the 70s will remember what a brave choice that was. 
--
2003 ST1300 Pan Euro
1995 Yam XT600E
http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 15th July 2009 14:41
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| I can't stand sitting on an airplane twiddling my thumbs and as one is effectively captive and at the mercy of the elements and the pilot accompanied by cabin crew of debatable intellect (not to mention sexuality, which is not a problem but more an affirmation of the truism of some stereotypes) I try to hide my head in a book and hope they leave me alone, also its not often I have two or three hours to do nothing. I picked up 'The mammoth book of bikers' which is about 400 pages in length and is a effectively a case study on outlaw bikers or 1%ers, starting with the Hollister 'riots' which spawned the 'Wild one' with Brando and his silly hat through to the present day view of outlaw clubs as a criminal organization (according to the cops) 40 different stories, reports and columns from those who have been involved in the scene from bikers, wannabee's, cops, et al. Damn good read and gives one a historical timeline. Heartily reccommend it.
Sideways through time
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Forum Newbie
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I hadn't gone through "Bicycle Diaries" so i have no idea about it.But I had read "The Rider " by Tim Krabbé and really this book is amazing..For me it's one of the best riding book I had ever read.
Air Con
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