"Self-confessed loafer Tim Moore, seduced by the speed and glamour of the biggest annual sporting event in the world, sets out to cycle the course of the Tour de France. All 3,630km of it. Racing old men on butchers' bikes and being chased by cows, Moore soon resorts to standard race tactics - cheating and drugs - in a hilario8us and moving tale of true adventure."

This completes my collection of books for my Not So Secret Father Christmas recipient this year.

Thank you once again Jalna for a wonderful NSSFC parcel. The explanation for this book being on my wish list: the Tour de France visited "our" little town in France and was the occasion for a great deal of smartening up at least of the route taken through. It sparked a mild interest in the race but as I'm not a very sporty person, I thought this book would be about my level!

I had no idea I had been "sitting" on this for so long - and I wish I had read it earlier. It was more about cycling than I had expected but still it covered many, many familiar places in France so it was a delight to read.

I confess to having been seriously put off at the beginning, when he resorted to cheating BEFORE HE EVEN STARTED! I am a great stickler for rules you see. I would have much preferred him to have followed the exact course in twice the time, but it takes all sorts I suppose.

Great fun! It almost inspired me to take some exercise. Almost.