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Jamie O. Smith
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Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer Kindle Edition

by Smith Jamie (Author), Jef Mallett (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 68 ratings
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"As an avid cyclist and amateur bike racer I feel like I can relate to every word in this book. It was so good that I bought two extra copies to give to my cyclist friends[.]"Veteran race announcer and long-time cycling enthusiast Jamie Smith sets out to explain the sport he loves and the roadies who live for it. Every seemingly neurotic tendency is explained and celebrated with humorous illustrations from nationally syndicated cartoonist Jef Mallett.This book is perfect for: Anyone who has ever known a roadieAnyone who has considered becoming a roadieAnyone who has walked away from a bike race completely puzzledFinally, a book to explain those people who roll out for a ride dressed in technicolored Lycra at the crack of dawn on Saturday, and return at sundown with a glow of satisfaction and even stronger tan lines. Whether interested onlooker or cycling aficionado, readers will find themselves laughing out loud as they revel in the roadie’s world.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    228 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    VeloPress Books
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2008
  6. File size
    7799 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Roadie

The perfect gift for the cyclist in your life.

This book is perfect for:

  • Bike riding enthusiasts
  • Confused family members who want to better understand cycling enthusiasts
  • Confused friends who want to better understand what the big deal is about bikes
  • People interested in becoming a biking enthusiast and want an inside scoop on what the lifestyle entails

Roadie

Laugh and Learn

Learn about:

  • The dynamics of a group ride
  • Biking races and strategies
  • The deal with shaved legs and colored jerseys
  • And more

The Cyclist's Training Bible Saving Lucy Zinn & The Art of Road Bike Maintenance
The Cyclist's Training Bible Saving Lucy Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance
See Details
See Details
Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
589
4.8 out of 5 stars
149
4.7 out of 5 stars
1,307
Price $15.99 $9.87 $22.23
More cycling titles from Velopress: The bestselling and most comprehensive guide for aspiring and experienced cyclists. A cyclist, a dog, and more than 1,000 miles create a story of mutual comfort and healing. The best-selling guide to bicycle repair and maintenance. An essential for any roadie.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Perfect for the active foodie, this book provides more than 80 real-food, simple fuel recipes for before, during, and after a workout.” -- Competitor magazine

“Registered dietitian Matthew Kadey shares unique real-food recipes.” -- Triathlete magazine

“Rocket Fuel caters to athletes and active people seeking healthy, natural alternatives to the energy bar aisle.” -- Gear Junkie

“You barely have time to work out, let alone make a post-workout snack. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for another boring packet of almonds, or a super-processed, super-sugary energy bar. Whip up any of these six easy-to-make, portable, post-exercise snacks from the new cookbook, Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sports and Adventure, by registered dietitian Matt Kadey, and you'll have delicious, take-anywhere eats. Bonus: all 6 snacks help your body keep muscle and burn fat.” -- Prevention

“Fuel up before, during, and after your run with homemade eats.” -- Women’s Running

“More than 80 simple and quick homemade fuel recipes for the everyday athlete.” -- Competitor

“As any serious athlete can attest to, what you eat before, during and after your intense workouts can have a profound effect on your performance in the gym and after your workout…Recipes from Kadey’s book are easy to make, taste delicious, and will help you fuel up to reach your goals.” -- Oxygen magazine

“Mostly, it’s research that inspired Matthew Kadey’s recipes…The registered dietitian also finds inspiration at the local market…Apart from the recipes, Rocket Fuel has great advice on fueling, including the timing of your pre-ride food, the number of carbs you should take in during the ride, and the mix of carbs and protein you should have after. Rocket Fuel is a great reference for any athlete.” -- Canadian Cycling

“Don’t settle for junk calories to squash those hunger pangs…Take your pre-workout snack up a gastronomic notch and reap the benefits of long-last energy.” -- Muscle & Performance

From the Publisher

  • "This primer explains everything you've wanted to know (and more) about a somewhat mysterious sport."--Chicago Tribune

    • "Absolutely entertaining from start to finish. The book finishes up with ways non-cycling friends and family can start enjoying the favored pastime of their bike racing friends. Terms, strategies, and ideas are explained so well that even someone who really doesn't care for cycling will stay interested, maybe even enough to pique their interested and get into the sport." --RoadBikeReview.com

      • "This witty primer offers lively insights into race formats and techniques, including drafting, breakaways and strategies employed in professional and amateur bicycle racing. Get it for family members and friends who are interested in the lingo and politics of bicycle racing, if not up for the experience of actually pulling on a pair of padded Lycra shorts." --Denver Post

        • "A well-written and informative insight into the world of road racing." --Lightweight News

          • "I wish I had a copy of Roadie when I started racing 35 years ago. Jamie Smith's wealth of knowledge, insightful comments about racing, and wonderful wit and infectious enthusiasm certainly would have helped me explain cycling to all my friends and family who thought I was crazy." --Paul Alman, President, Michigan Bicycle Racing Association

            • "We should be very grateful for this epiphany; members of my family had to ask me to stop laughing so much while I was carrying out the perfectly respectable and serious task of reviewing the book." --TheWashingMachinePost.net

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HS51E28
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ VeloPress Books; Illustrated edition (March 1, 2008)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2008
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7799 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

About the author

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Jamie O. Smith

Jamie O. Smith

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Jamie Smith began writing while serving in the USAF guarding B-52s at a remote northern base. He wrote to alleviate the boredom then immediately burned the pages in order to stay warm.

He spent 25 years writing boring press releases for a sleepy Detroit suburb. The fact that they were sleepy had nothing to do with the press releases Smith wrote.

He also spent 25 years as a bike race announcer working at cycling events in 46 different states. His first work, Roadie - The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer (VeloPress), was named a 2009 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. His second effort, Reading the Race, includes sidebar commentary by 2013 Vuelta a Espana winner and 2012 Olympian, Chris Horner.

Smith lives and surfs in the Great Lakes area.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
68 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Noe Espinosa
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
Wonderfully written that made it hard for me to put this book down. As an avid cyclist and amateur bike racer I feel like I can relate to every word in this book. It was so good that I bought two extra copies to give to my cyclist friends

I also recommend this to loved ones who have a hard time understanding the sport of cycling and why we do what we do. Its often hilarious and the caricatures adds to the exuberance of this book
One person found this helpful
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Michael Davis
4.0 out of 5 stars From a roadie himself...
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2008
Verified Purchase
I don't race, but I'm an avid roadie and bike mechanic. This is a great book for friends and relatives who frequently ask, "Why do you spend so much time riding a bike?" Whether serious to build a relationship and mutual understanding or as a humerous conversation piece, it would make a great gift...to cyclists of all levels (to have a greater appreciation of the competitive realm) or noncyclists who are close to cyclists. It is easy to read without getting too technical, it has humor infused throughout, the sidebar boxes are great but not distracting, and Mallet's cartoon's are classic (I've been a fan of Frazz for years).

One has to have a connection to cycling to fully appreciate it, but it is a worthy read.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Roadie...
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
A humorous book with insight into cycle racing, strategies, tactics, and life on the road of a cyclist. Entertaining and insightful. I learned a lot. It made me wish I was 45 years younger and 40 lbs lighter (like I was when I was 20).
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Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars A light hearted read that provides insight in to craziness ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
Verified Purchase
A light hearted read that provides insight in to craziness of amateur racing. A must read for SO trying to figure out what a heck is this sport all about.
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E. Varela
3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting...
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2008
Verified Purchase
I have been an avid cycling enthusiast for some time. Most of the people I know don't understand why I like it so much or why I spend so much money on cycling. I was hoping this book would focus mostly on that; in the beginning, it did explain the rationale (or lack of) behind a cyclist's behavior, but then it became too technical and focused too much on racing for my tastes. I feel that most of the cyclists I know are recreational riders instead of racers; I didn't realize that there were that many racers around. All of that being said, I still enjoyed the book, but I think it was because I was able to understand it. Even if your cyclist is not a racer, this book will help you understand his/her love of cycling.
2 people found this helpful
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Daisy
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious. As a non roadie with a lot of ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
Hilarious. As a non roadie with a lot of roadie friends I could totally relate to a lot of these stories. I even learned a few things about a sport I thought i already knew everything about!
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Louis Mauriello
4.0 out of 5 stars All You Need To Know About Racing
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
Whether you are a cyclist or not this book will give you a complete overview of everything you need to know about bicycle racing, plus all the things other books on the subject won't (like were to park your car and how to get to the front of the line before the race starts); all done in a humorous way. Beyond the informative aspect this was a good enjoyable read. Pare this with a more technical Race book and you will have a great knowledge base.

For the non-racer who wants to know more this book may provide a little too much information. I get the feeling the author's intention was an expectation that this would go over big-time with a racer's significant other or family members.
One person found this helpful
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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars It's fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
Whether you are a cyclist, or merely trying to make understand one, Roadie is entertaining and informative, with a down to earth and humorous side. You won't regret it.
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