Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage

See update at end for Febuary 2008

 

The first major “tell-all” cycling book was Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage that came out in 1990. Irish cyclist Paul Kimamge was a professional cyclist for 4 years in the late 80’s. In the 80’s Irish cyclist Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche were the top stars, but Kimmage never reached such heights. He was one of the many cyclists that was a top amateur, but just hung on in the professional ranks and Rough Ride is his story.

Kimmage is now a journalist and is a solid writer so Rough Ride is a good read. It is far better written then Breaking the Chain. It got a bad rap when it came out as a tell-all book, and if it is read that way then it is not very good. Kimmage tries to make it very clear several times that this book is his story and not the story of other riders. He tells about the late Thierry Claveyrolat helping him deal with taking amphetamines for the first time, and so Claveyrolat is one of the few names given. Kimmage really tries to make it clear that he did not want to be talking about other riders, but show the culture in the peloton. It is the story of lesser riders that struggle to win the finish the race and not about the stars that are competing for the win.

He gives daily reports of his rides in the ’86 and ’87 Tour, ’89 Giro, and ‘89 Tour that he would stop halfway through and never race again. These are a great insight into the other end of the pack of riders just trying to finish the race. When Kimmage talks about drugs it is not to win a race, but just to finish. The book is not about drugs it is more about how a rider who was a top amateur deals with not being good enough to become a top professional, and drugs is just part of that story.

Latter editions of the book include a section called “The Soup Turns to Blood” and about the rise of EPO and its influence that happened after Kimmage stopped racing. This is a little more revealing and makes some stronger accusations.

 

2/2009 UPDATE: I have not had a chance to work on this blog in almost a year being  busy with other things. I noticed a bunch of comments appeared on my review of a Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage this weekend.

Apparently Mr Kimmage got in the news by making some comments about Lance Armstrong, and my review of Kimmage’s  book appears on the first page for a Google search. Just to let people know this blog has no connection to Paul Kimmage in any way, and making comments here will not do anything.

I will stand by my poorly written review of his book as being worth reading to gain some insight into the experiences of a rider not at the top end of the sport in the 1980’s. Unless there is yet another section added that I am not aware of the book makes no comments about Lance Armstrong, and really focuses on Kimmage’s experiences. Snce he centers on himself and not a tell-all is what I liked about his book. The number of riders found doping in recent years and confessed shows it is not just 1 or 2 lower tier riders that have done everything possible to improve their performance, and those drugs do work.
For further info on books involving doping look at this list here Link

 

 

Comments

[Andre Veloux]

This book tells it all. What it's like to be a professional racer, but not a star. The sad thing is, you read this and think how truly hard it is, but it's probably got a lot harder and dangerous (I mean for the health with all the drugs involved) for the domestiques in the peloton nowadays.

[VinoVelo]

I think Kimmage is a great writer - I come from Ireland and have always enjoyed his insights into races and the peloton that he writes for Irish newspapers. I found Rough Ride to be a bit of a rough read though. I had difficulty sympathizing with him because of the overall tone of the book, which I can only describe as 'whiney'. I absolutely take my hat off to him for having the courage to write this book and I wouldn't by any means say "don't read it", I simply didn't enjoy the style in which it was written.

[J. Smith]

Paul Kimmage was a fine cyclist, there were few who could match his dedication and for him not to have made it in professional cycling then something must have been amiss and unregulated. The book was insightful.

[Per Pedersen]

Hi , can you give my E mail to Paul Kimmage or let him call 0045 25300866 hi

[JK]

Would never read or purchase the book because Kimmage relates doping to cancer. I'm a cancer survivor and lost family and friends to cancer. Kimmage is an ass!

[David O]

I will never read any book written by Paul Kimmage. His statement about Armstrong being a cancer coming out of remission, proved that he is a writer with zero class and more importantly sensitivity to the millions of people around the world that battle cancer every day.

I agree with Lance that "You [Kimmage] are not worth the chair the chair that you are sitting in..."

[Z.T.]

Clearly this man doesn' t deserve the air god gave him to breath. If there has ever been someone fighting cancer at its forefront and doing more good than several million people combined, its lance armstrong. This Paul Kimmel is absolutely worthless and should never be allowed any journalistic position again. WORTHLESS. Do not support this kind of behavior.

[Armond Higgins]

Paul Kimmage has a lot to apologize for to Lance Armstrong. Pauls uncalled for metaphor is in bad taste. I would not purchase anything he writes, given his unprofessional attitude displayed, here in Sacramento.

[David Smith]

I've lost family members to cancer and carry a gene for cancer. Paul Kimmage is the cancer, not Lance Armstrong.

[TFD]

Kimmage is a moron whose writing reflects his unequivocal need to gain publicity even at his own expense of demonstrating his ignorance.

[joon]

itsa amazing....someone is a cyclist for 4 yrs and he is a expert on(cycling!) his own failures

[bruce thomas]

Ask yourself a question: Which is worse?

One man tells the truth and uses an image about an illness that upsets some people.

The other has systmeatically lied and cheated in his sport and realizing the need to rewrite his legacy uses the illness to score cheap points against the man who has accused and exposed him. Watch Armstrong quietly drop his libel suit now there are other journalists on to him.

[bruce thomas]

Lance Pharm-strong :)

[John Powell]

Typically thick yanks - Armstrong can't be wrong because he's american! He has tested positive for cortisone and EPO despite all his protests. He is a disgrace to cycling along with Landis, Hamilton, Basso, Valverde etc.
Keep pushing Paul, on behalf of all us amateur riders who love the sport.

John Powell

[faivre]

je suis Philippe FAIVRE et je cherche les coordonnées de PAUL
Voici mon adresse, pfaivre@vm-materiaux.fr