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 hilarious and moving tale of true adventure.

The book has some tremendously funny set pieces (such as phoning up the editor of a cycle magazine to tell of his quest: "Are you fat?" "No" "Well, you probably won't die then") which are reminiscent of Bill Bryson's earlier writing. Despite setbacks such as the editor's encouragement, Moore goes on to complete the entire course, only cheating a little, and his transformation from unfit journalist to honed athlete is as encouraging as it is entertaining.

I'm hoping to release this book as a bookray. If you're interested, PM me and I'll insert you into the list (under a basic rule of first-come, first served, but putting people from the same country/continent together to keep postage down).

List so far:

• kinedi (Edinburgh, UK)
  
• midwinter (Arizona, USA)
  
• Lucinda (California, USA)
  
• Bilbi (Savoie, France)
  
• jessicalovesyou (Singapore)
  
• ...you?
  

Posted to kinedi. Enjoy.

The photo was taken in the cycle park at Cambridge Railway Station. Can you spot the book? ;-)

I really enjoyed reading this book.Quite like the author I did not know much about the Tour de France or cycling but found myself impressing my friends this weekend, when after the traditional May Day Cycling races in Frankfurt spotting a group cyclists in the beergarde,me being able to comment on their gear and easting habits :o)
It's thoroughly enjoyable read, I giggled and laughed a lot ('' Englishman in France'') and actually learned a lot about THE Tour and that I most definitely would not last 5 mins in this.

Off to Midwinter in Arizona next. Hope you'll like it as well

Posted to midwinter in Arizona

This book arrived just as I was packing up my old apartment and moving to a new one. I tossed it in one of the boxes I thought I would be unpacking first, and now - two months later - it still hasn't shown up. I humbly apolgize to everyone involved in this bookring. I'm positive it is *somewhere* in my house, but it hasn't turned up yet. I've got another copy of the book on order, and will re-start the ring with that. I'll update here when the replacement arrives!

The prodigal returns! My mom found the book in one of her moving boxes, so I'm going to get it travelling again as soon as I have an address. I've already got a replacement copy here, so I'll read that and post a review while the original copy is in transit. Sorry, everyone, for all the delays and mix-ups!

Received last week and will start when I get back from my trip (this coming weekend)