Half-Wheel Hell and Other Cycling Stories

Rating:
Summary: A nice compilation for cyclists
Review: Although this book may be slightly dated (consisting of a compilation of approximately 40 articles written for cycling publications in the late '80s and early '90s), the reading is still enjoyable and thought-provoking. Ranging from stories about the pro racing circuit to club rides and everything in between, the author does a nice job on this book. Some of the articles made me think about things I've experienced as a cyclist, but never really thought much about until seeing it on paper.
My favorite was the interview with Bob Roll & Alex Stieda (two pro cyclists from 10-15 years ago). Bob Roll is hilarious and this comes across loud & clear in the interview (I wish his book was still in print - I'll bet that's a real knee-slapper!).
"Half-Wheel Hell" makes a great way to relax for a few minutes as you catch your breath from the evening's ride. Probably not of much value to non-cyclists, though.

Rating:
Summary: The hell you say!
Review: Nice book for cyclists,(...) Take it from an aging Cat IV whose racing days have long past, Mr. Herschon's books -- especially this one -- are a fantastic collection of essays on the wonderful world of bike racing, bike riding, and bike Zen in general. If you have ever been to a USCF road race, "cone crit", track race, casually watch the Tour de Surrender Monkeys, or other like any other manifestation of this sport, then you owe it to yourself to read this and other works of his.

He is easily the Tom Wolfe of this sport, his works "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests" or "Pump House" gang of cycling.

I wept, I cried, I wrote bad checks.

It did not, however, cause me to change my low opinion of Finder's "Extraordinary Powers", the flat tire of the spy genre.