It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong–a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. Armstrong is a thoroughgoing Texan jock, and the changes brought to his life by his illness are startling and powerful, but he’s just not interested in wearing a hero suit. While his vocabulary is a bit on the he-man side (highest compliment to his wife: “she’s a stud”), his actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. There’s serious medical detail here, which may not be for the faint of heart; from chemo to surgical procedures to his wife’s in vitro fertilization, you won’t be spared a single x-ray, IV drip, or unfortunate side effect. Athletes and coaches everywhere will benefit from the same extraordinary detail provided about his training sessions–every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living color. It’s Not About the Bike is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike. –Jill Lightner
Customer Review: Well written
The book gave good insight into what Lance had to endure and the success of his efforts dispite the still ongoing doubters that plague many sportsmen and woman.
Focus on moving foreward.
I have enjoyed reading it and have made a point to bookmark some passages in his book for references that I can use with my children and others I know who are or may face simular challenges Lance wrote about.
William
Customer Review: Life on a Bike
“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” ~H.G. Wells
I was finally able to get around to reading this book. It has been on my to-read list for a long time now. I considered not reading this thinking it may be outdated since he has gone on to win The Tour de France six more times since it was published; however, I am glad I did.
There are basically two parts to the book: his racing and what it takes to win, and his fight with cancer. I learned quite a bit about the Tour, about cancer and chemo, and even about in-vitro fertilization.
I thought the book was well written and easy to read but I can’t help wondering how much was Lance and how much was Sally Jenkins, the co-writer. Makes me wish I would have paid more attention to the sport while he was still actively racing.
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