Book Details:
Close to Flying
Pages: 304
Pages read: All
Words on page 50: 312 (26 x 12)
Words in book: 94,848 (averaged)
ISBN 9781740666671
Author: Cadel Evans (and Rob Arnold)
Published: 2010 by Hardy Grant Books
Price: $39.99
Well, the fourth book is done (though I am nearly a week behind). I think I will have to go on some sort of reading frenzy, soon. Knock one or two over in quick succession. Actually, the next one will be interesting, it is about Princess Diana. That will be great to read, I never knew much about her.
Anyway, on to Cadel Evans.
This book really was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cadel is a world champion, the photo on the back of the book tells the story, with him in his (five striped) world championship jersey. By the sounds of it, he deserved it, as he has been a consistent competitor for many years now. I really didn't know much about Cadel, and I certainly didn't know how much he has achieved. Particularly, how much he has achieved to make cycling popular. What a guy. Apparently, he is the reason (or one of them) that we all watch the Tour De France on TV now. Even though his predecessors (and there were some good riders, like Robbie McEwen) were great riders, our nation appears to be 'Cadel struck'.
His performances seem to say that he deserves every accolade. His effort over many years have been huge, mate, he rides up to 40,000 ks per year. Holy crap. I thought I was doing well with about 2,000 in the saddle. What a machine. He has twice gotten a second in the Tour, and although he has won other races and gets high rankings in yet more, it is the Tour that everyone remembers. His goal to win one is as yet, unfulfilled, needless to say that I am sure in 2010, he will be on the job. Go son, I will certainly be barracking for Cadel. I am going to start a scrap book, and collect all that I can about the tour, particularly Cadel's performances at this year's tour.
I really enjoyed reading about Cadel (have I mentioned that), though I was surprised that Rob Arnold (in my opinion anyway) went to great pains not to paint Cadel out to be a really likable guy. He said he does not like the publicity, has head butted journos, etc. According to Rob, Cadel is not a really nice guy (look, I might have got that wrong, but hey, whose blog is this). Don't get me wrong, Rob did an outstanding job of the book, and he is very accomplished himself in the sports writing arena, especially writing about cycling. Kudos to him, definitely.
It was great to read that Cadel is happily married to Chiara, and Italian. What a lovely name. She appears to be there for him at every turn, every high and low and every adventure. They still travel home to Aussie to spend some time here each year. Good stuff, mate, you can take the boy out of the bush, but not the bush out of the boy, as they say. He remembers his roots.
The information about drug taking in cycling was amazing to read. No results are really final at the time of racing, as a drug test could mean that people climb the rankings down the track (so to speak) at some stage. Very wierd. And yep, Cadel has always been clean. To the point of being one of the fittest athletes to go through the AIS (in all its years). Good on him. He was just a country kid who loved riding a mountain bike. His training involved just riding for fun. He ended up a world champion mountain biker, and ended up at the AIS where he met some great coaches. He transitioned to road cycling and has changed the world. What a story. There should be more Cadel Evans out there.
Key Messages
Look, there are only 2 points that you need to take from this book:
1. Do what you love and it will not feel like work - cycling has never been hard work for Cadel. He has always loved it, and his love of the bike has kept him riding and kept him improving (oh, and so has his incessant drive to win).
2. Work hard and reap the rewards - Cadel is an example of what is possible, if you spend enough time in the saddle (again so to speak) riding the wave of life. Work hard at what you do, do everything to the best of yoru ability and you will become the best at it. Go son.
Readability: 4.5 (out of 5)
Interesting Information: 4 (out of 5)
Overall book quality: 4.5 (out of 5)
Overall book rating: 8/10
Places visited: 1
People met: 0
Books given away: 1 (to Gemma, my wife)
Books purchased second hand or cheap: 2 (Book 1 and 2 and 3)
Until next time, keep reading.
Jimmy A
Showing posts with label Chiara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiara. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Book 4 - Blog1 - Close to Flying
Book Details:
Close to Flying
Pages: 304
Pages read: 70
Words on page 50: 312 (26 x 12)
Words in book: 94,848 (averaged)
ISBN 9781740666671
Author: Cadel Evans (and Rob Arnold)
Published: 2010 by Hardy Grant Books
Price: $39.99 (sheeshe - is Borders publicly listed - maybe some shares might be in order - the words wounded bull come to mind)
Well, after two average books, it is great to finally find a book that is hard to put down. What a story, Cadel is the man, and Rob Arnold (Journalist and co-author) has done an outstanding job.
So far, the book has touched on Cadel's early years, where he was bought up in the NT. He was bought up by his mum, predominantly, although his father has always been in his life, and understandably, they are very proud parents. Actually, in some ways, to this point in the book anyway, Cadel's story is somewhat akin to Lance Armstrong's. Lance was raised by a single mum, was given a lot of freedom as a kid, and was unconditionally supported by his loving mother to achieve all that he was capable of. By the way, that is another great read, Lance's first book. Looks like Cadel and Lance are competing in France and on the book shelves. Go boys.
Lance was raised, for his early years at least, in Australia's Northern Territory. His mum tells some horrible stories about living up there, about the alcohol, the aboriginals, the lack of services and the general challenges of living in an outback location some 25 years ago. I can relate to a degree, as we lived about 2 to 3 hours drive from where Lance spent his early years. He was near Katherine, we were living in Jabiru (not at the same time - about 20 years apart). But, the life style can be understood once you have seen the area. Just watch Crocodile Dundee, some of that movie was filmed in the area. A bit of trivia for you ...
Unfortunately, I have just got to the point where Cadel has been kicked in the head by a horse (at age 8). Cadel has a fractured skull, is in hospital in a coma, has been operated on and is not assured of making a full recovery. It is obvious that he will (given what he had done since), though I am sure tit will be a hard road. Looking forward to reading about it.
This book is really well written, with an obviously large amount of time and research being dedicated to the project. You know what, it is the first book that I have paid full price for - as part of this blog project at least - and holy crap, did I pay for it, though it is great quality. That might be giving me a message. You get what you pay for, I suppose.
Anyway, I look forward to the rest of the book. Cadel has only had one bike so far, and after a short time, he tried (until dad intervened) unsuccessfully to get the trainer wheels off the bike. Dad assisted, and apparently he has been riding fast since. Cadel was actually a mountain biking world champ, prior to switching to road racing. An accomplished athlete, and someone committed to his profession, obviously. He missed out on winning several Tour De Frances, with second places in both, and I would say that is an unfulfilled dream for him. Good luck with that - big job.
Feelings
Cadel is an inspirational guy - as a general fan and a committed cyclist, it is great to read his story.
I love the story of Cadel's committed mother. They say that behind every good man is a good woman, well what about behind every athlete is a supportive mum. Good on her, and I am sure she would do it all over again.
Not a great deal more to report, as yet.
Until next time, keep reading.
Jimmy A
Close to Flying
Pages: 304
Pages read: 70
Words on page 50: 312 (26 x 12)
Words in book: 94,848 (averaged)
ISBN 9781740666671
Author: Cadel Evans (and Rob Arnold)
Published: 2010 by Hardy Grant Books
Price: $39.99 (sheeshe - is Borders publicly listed - maybe some shares might be in order - the words wounded bull come to mind)
Well, after two average books, it is great to finally find a book that is hard to put down. What a story, Cadel is the man, and Rob Arnold (Journalist and co-author) has done an outstanding job.
So far, the book has touched on Cadel's early years, where he was bought up in the NT. He was bought up by his mum, predominantly, although his father has always been in his life, and understandably, they are very proud parents. Actually, in some ways, to this point in the book anyway, Cadel's story is somewhat akin to Lance Armstrong's. Lance was raised by a single mum, was given a lot of freedom as a kid, and was unconditionally supported by his loving mother to achieve all that he was capable of. By the way, that is another great read, Lance's first book. Looks like Cadel and Lance are competing in France and on the book shelves. Go boys.
Lance was raised, for his early years at least, in Australia's Northern Territory. His mum tells some horrible stories about living up there, about the alcohol, the aboriginals, the lack of services and the general challenges of living in an outback location some 25 years ago. I can relate to a degree, as we lived about 2 to 3 hours drive from where Lance spent his early years. He was near Katherine, we were living in Jabiru (not at the same time - about 20 years apart). But, the life style can be understood once you have seen the area. Just watch Crocodile Dundee, some of that movie was filmed in the area. A bit of trivia for you ...
Unfortunately, I have just got to the point where Cadel has been kicked in the head by a horse (at age 8). Cadel has a fractured skull, is in hospital in a coma, has been operated on and is not assured of making a full recovery. It is obvious that he will (given what he had done since), though I am sure tit will be a hard road. Looking forward to reading about it.
This book is really well written, with an obviously large amount of time and research being dedicated to the project. You know what, it is the first book that I have paid full price for - as part of this blog project at least - and holy crap, did I pay for it, though it is great quality. That might be giving me a message. You get what you pay for, I suppose.
Anyway, I look forward to the rest of the book. Cadel has only had one bike so far, and after a short time, he tried (until dad intervened) unsuccessfully to get the trainer wheels off the bike. Dad assisted, and apparently he has been riding fast since. Cadel was actually a mountain biking world champ, prior to switching to road racing. An accomplished athlete, and someone committed to his profession, obviously. He missed out on winning several Tour De Frances, with second places in both, and I would say that is an unfulfilled dream for him. Good luck with that - big job.
Feelings
Cadel is an inspirational guy - as a general fan and a committed cyclist, it is great to read his story.
I love the story of Cadel's committed mother. They say that behind every good man is a good woman, well what about behind every athlete is a supportive mum. Good on her, and I am sure she would do it all over again.
Not a great deal more to report, as yet.
Until next time, keep reading.
Jimmy A
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