Rating: 
Summary: Bobke II, a passion lived.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Bobke takes passion from the road and puts it in a book
Review: As someone who loves cycling but finds most books on the subject more boring than watching paint dry, this book is a refreshing change. Bob Roll takes you riding in the pelaton, on the training rides, and into the heart of a professional cyclist; which after reading this book you will never look at the same again. Part of Roll?s charm comes from being exceptionally unexceptional. Though never having any great wins he was able to have a long career, ride in the big tours and experience the sport from the inside; all because of his relentless work ethic which seemed to be fueled by his pure love of cycling. If you've ever watched the Tour De France and scratched your head wondering what it is about this sport that draws hundreds and thousands of screaming fans to pack the roadways to see these little skinny shaved legged men wearing garishly colored jerseys race past in a blink of the eye, Bobke will answer this. You will see cycling as this great sport; this drama of man against man, team against team, and man against himself ? all played out on this wonderful little machine the bicycle.
Rating:
Summary: Bobke takes passion from the road and puts it in a book
Review: As someone who loves cycling but finds most books on the subject more boring than watching paint dry, this book is a refreshing change. Bob Roll takes you riding in the pelaton, on the training rides, and into the heart of a professional cyclist; which after reading this book you will never look at the same again. Part of Roll's charm comes from being exceptionally unexceptional. Though never having any great wins he was able to have a long career, ride in the big tours and experience the sport from the inside; all because of his relentless work ethic which seemed to be fueled by his pure love of cycling. If you've ever watched the Tour De France and scratched your head wondering what it is about this sport that draws hundreds and thousands screaming fans to pack the roadways to see these little skinny shaved legged men wearing garishly colored jerseys race past in a blink of the eye, Bobke will answer this. You will see cycling as this great sport; this drama of man against man, team against team, and man against himself - all played out on this wonderful little machine the bicycle.
Rating:
Summary: For cycling fans
Review: Bobke II is for serious fans of cycling, and probably those that also cycle themselves. There are very few pro riders out there who write about what it's like to live eat and breathe bike racing, especially in the 80's and 9o's -- before Lance made it so big. Yes, it's often Bob's diary entries, and they can be random, but it's better than anything else out there. For some reason Bobke's first book is going for between $300 and $400 on the used books sites. This book contains all the material from his first book -- and the second half is all new. A cyclist who can write, and be funny? That's rare. So is Bobke.
Rating:
Summary: Mental crack for competitive cyclists
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Bobke is the man
Review: For the bike rider this is plan old fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Warning!! Bobke Triple Regurgitation Fraud!!
Review: I am a big fan of Bob Roll, ever since watching him face plant in a NORBA race at Big Bear. After enjoying his column in Velo News, I bought Bobke when it was published. Amusing read. When we got back from France in a TdF frenzy, I ordered his Tour primer, and thought my wife might enjoy more stories, so I ordered Bobke II.
I didn't mind re-reading his columns in B-I, but to be sold the same stories twice, with minimal value add was insulting. The few new bits have such a 2004 speculative orientation, I am sure this book will become instantly dated.
If you DO NOT own the original Bobke, and discovered Bob on OLN, perhaps Bobke II is of value. I just feel ripped off and ignorant for having been taken this way.
I still love Bob, and hope he has continuing success. OLN's coverage would suffer without his knowledge and funk.
Rating:
Summary: Mental crack for competitive cyclists
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Really disappointed
Review: I love reading books on bicycling, of any type, and looked forward to reading Bobke's new book. Being a fan of Bobke's from his OLN-TV TDF commentaries, I was expecting to find this book to be very entertaining and informative. Frankly, it was neither! It was quite the opposite. The book was given to me as a gift, otherwise, I would have returned it. Reading sketchy diary entries and random thoughts that offer little in the way of new insights or revelations about the sport was painful. I would have been satisfied, just to have had a few good laughs from reading the book. Personally, I found that the sophomoric tales of drinking, horsing around, and getting sick that were written when he was a young man were hardly enough to bring forth any belly laughs. I really wish Bobke would have taken the time to write about the sport and his experiences in a truly meaningful, mature and coherent manner. The expectation for a book like this is that it will offer deeper insights into the sport and its personalities. I was really disappointed, although I must confess that I have some new insights into Bobke as a result of his writing this "book" and I will leave it at that.
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