It's lean, passionate, tough-as-nails ... and absolutely intriguing. The Rider is Tim Krabbe's first-person account of the fictional "Tour de Mont Aigoual" amateur race in France. Just look what Krabbe writes in the very beginning as he takes his gear out of his car:
Tourists and locals are watching from the sidewalk cafes. Non-racers. The emptiness of those lives shocks me.
It's all written with that wonderful arrogance! It goes on from there with a kilometer by kilometer account of friends and enemies of the race, flashbacks to Krabbe's "sporting career", and allusions to historic real-life riders Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, and many others. They all come together in this relentlessly exciting, fascinating page-turner.
Here's the complete bibliographic info...
Krabbe, Tim. The Rider. Bloomsbury USA, New York. 1978.
It's only 150 pages ... perfect for the subway commute or a weekend afternoon. Enjoy!
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