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jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
Tyler Hamilton was a professional cyclist who was a key member of the US Postal Team in which Lance Armstrong won his first three Tour de France titles. This book is essentially his autobiography - something that I had never realised, thinking it was a more generic book about cycling and doping. He is a likeable individual and with the assistance of Daniel Coyle has written a highly readable book about his career and what it was like to be a member of the US Postal Team. This book opened my eyes to a lot of things that I hadn't been aware of before. Yes I knew that there was doping, but not how much, how widespread and how professional it was.
This is a book that I have intended to read for some time. Since Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, it lacks the shock factor that presumably it had when first published. Nevertheless it is a fascinating story that really sheds light on the extent of doping within professional cycling. Before reading this I was of the belief that only a small number of cyclists were cheating, but after reading this I think the opposite must be the case. But having said that, it is less easy to dismiss them as evil cheaters than I would have before. As Hamilton points out, if everyone is doing it, if that's your only avenue to a career, what decision do you make? To be honest, I found it depressing. And I'm sure as Hell not buying any "spanish beef" stories.
I have read several books about Lance Armstrong so it was hardly a surprise to read about his controlling and dictorial personality, but I was still pretty shocked by how unpleasantly he comes across and how the entire team, medical and coaching staff revolved solely around him and his needs. This is despite the fact that Hamilton makes an effort not to paint a one-sided picture of Armstrong.
I read the 2012 edition, but if ever there was a book crying out for an updated postscript it's this one.
This is a book that I have intended to read for some time. Since Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, it lacks the shock factor that presumably it had when first published. Nevertheless it is a fascinating story that really sheds light on the extent of doping within professional cycling. Before reading this I was of the belief that only a small number of cyclists were cheating, but after reading this I think the opposite must be the case. But having said that, it is less easy to dismiss them as evil cheaters than I would have before. As Hamilton points out, if everyone is doing it, if that's your only avenue to a career, what decision do you make? To be honest, I found it depressing. And I'm sure as Hell not buying any "spanish beef" stories.
I have read several books about Lance Armstrong so it was hardly a surprise to read about his controlling and dictorial personality, but I was still pretty shocked by how unpleasantly he comes across and how the entire team, medical and coaching staff revolved solely around him and his needs. This is despite the fact that Hamilton makes an effort not to paint a one-sided picture of Armstrong.
I read the 2012 edition, but if ever there was a book crying out for an updated postscript it's this one.
bkp's review against another edition
4.0
I had started reading this book before the beginning of the Tour de France this year, partly to understand more about this sport that I am not so secretly a fan of, and partly to remind myself that, despite the turmoil and craziness caused by the doping, it would still be okay to enjoy the Tour.
It turned out to be an excellent book, in many ways. Hamilton and his collaborator tell an honest story, and you can clearly see the mental steps Hamilton took to get from clean to not clean. During the read, I even was able to use some of the material in the book during an interview with National Track Cycling Champion Sky Christopherson, and his wife Tamara, on their work with the U.S. Olympic Women's Cycling Team for the London 2012 games. They acknowledged that this was one of the better books about the influx of doping in cycling as well.
If you know cycling, this is a good, even tale that revisits what was going on in the sport in the 2000s and beyond. Non-cyclists will get a story about choices and fame, and the paths that should not be taken.
It turned out to be an excellent book, in many ways. Hamilton and his collaborator tell an honest story, and you can clearly see the mental steps Hamilton took to get from clean to not clean. During the read, I even was able to use some of the material in the book during an interview with National Track Cycling Champion Sky Christopherson, and his wife Tamara, on their work with the U.S. Olympic Women's Cycling Team for the London 2012 games. They acknowledged that this was one of the better books about the influx of doping in cycling as well.
If you know cycling, this is a good, even tale that revisits what was going on in the sport in the 2000s and beyond. Non-cyclists will get a story about choices and fame, and the paths that should not be taken.
amyclare99's review against another edition
5.0
My dad told me to read this book.
I love my dad, but he is a serious cycling addict and I grew up hearing about it 24/7. I do like an occasional bike ride around the lake and I’ll watch some of the Tour de France while it’s on, but I would never consider myself a proper cycling enthusiast.
I just assumed this book would be a basic, historical account of some big bike races and the dodgy methods used to win. Wrong!!! Seriously wrong! - this book explores so many incredible themes, notably: the truth, human nature and resilience.
If I wasn’t a cycling fan before, I am now - and even more so, a Tyler Hamilton fan! Love the way this guy gives such a raw, transparent account of his story, without never once claiming to be a saint or justifying his behaviour to paint himself as the victim.
The biases are stripped back and you just get a whole lot of sheer vulnerability and truth.
If you’re tossing up about this one, just go for it. You won’t regret it!
I love my dad, but he is a serious cycling addict and I grew up hearing about it 24/7. I do like an occasional bike ride around the lake and I’ll watch some of the Tour de France while it’s on, but I would never consider myself a proper cycling enthusiast.
I just assumed this book would be a basic, historical account of some big bike races and the dodgy methods used to win. Wrong!!! Seriously wrong! - this book explores so many incredible themes, notably: the truth, human nature and resilience.
If I wasn’t a cycling fan before, I am now - and even more so, a Tyler Hamilton fan! Love the way this guy gives such a raw, transparent account of his story, without never once claiming to be a saint or justifying his behaviour to paint himself as the victim.
The biases are stripped back and you just get a whole lot of sheer vulnerability and truth.
If you’re tossing up about this one, just go for it. You won’t regret it!
daveirl's review against another edition
5.0
Great read, I knew a lot of the material but really well put together. Easy to see why it changes people's minds about LA.
shaun11's review against another edition
5.0
After watching Lance Armstrong confess to Oprah that he took performance enhancing drugs I felt frustrated - not because a sports hero cheated, but because Lance didn't seem to own up to everything. There was something about his answers that seemed to say the whole story had not been told.
Tyler Hamilton took performance enhancing drugs during his career as a professional cyclist. He admits it in a way that feels like he isn't trying to save face or cover up the worst of it. He was Lance's teammate. The detail and apparent honesty found in The Secret Race is fascinating as it is coming directly from the horse's mouth. Tyler says exactly what Tyler did and as a cycling fan I was riveted.
Where The Secret Race falters is the final act where Tyler seems to need Lance Armstrong to suffer in order for Tyler to have closure. This section of the book is less interesting and borderline 'high school' petty.
Where The Secret Race shines is when it allows you to be a fly on the wall observing how one of the most successful athletes in one of the most notably corrupt sports in the world went about the business of cheating. The methods are all here in detail. But along with the methods comes the psychology. Tyler Hamilton was the athlete doing the cheating, and The Secret Race offers a peak into the mindset he had as he crossed the line from athlete to cheat.
Tyler Hamilton took performance enhancing drugs during his career as a professional cyclist. He admits it in a way that feels like he isn't trying to save face or cover up the worst of it. He was Lance's teammate. The detail and apparent honesty found in The Secret Race is fascinating as it is coming directly from the horse's mouth. Tyler says exactly what Tyler did and as a cycling fan I was riveted.
Where The Secret Race falters is the final act where Tyler seems to need Lance Armstrong to suffer in order for Tyler to have closure. This section of the book is less interesting and borderline 'high school' petty.
Where The Secret Race shines is when it allows you to be a fly on the wall observing how one of the most successful athletes in one of the most notably corrupt sports in the world went about the business of cheating. The methods are all here in detail. But along with the methods comes the psychology. Tyler Hamilton was the athlete doing the cheating, and The Secret Race offers a peak into the mindset he had as he crossed the line from athlete to cheat.
sophierhines's review against another edition
2.0
This book was informative but not entertaining. Not that it was meant to be, but it’s one of those books I almost didn’t finish because it made me tired. It’s good if cycling is an interest but not so much if you just want a peak inside the world.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
I know nothing about professional cycling and don't really care that much about it, but this was a fascinating look into the secret world of doping. Very interesting -- I kept reading bits out to my husband. Now, to be honest, the writing wasn't wonderful -- Tyler Hamilton didn't actually write the book, but the memoir-style of it made it more easily readable and accessible to somebody like me.
etopiei's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I raced (ha) through this book. It was an enthralling read, and I was amazed at the lengths cycling teams went to in order to be the best.