The Custom Road Bike Book

The Custom Road Bike, by Rouleur editor Guy Andrews, looks like a pretty decent addition to the bicycle-themed coffee table book family. Including interviews with famed frame builders and photos of their workshops and design studios, the book is a guide to the finest kit money can buy, and looks like it will be full of quality bike porn.

Olympic Gangster

This book sounds mental. It's the story of José Beyaert, professional cyclist and Olympic road race champion, who also just happened to be an "emerald-trader, logger, smuggler, and perhaps even hired killer." The book is written by Matt Rendell, who also wrote a brilliant biography of another of cycling's great characters, Marco Pantani, so I'm sure it's great. Heard it recommended by David Harmon while listening to him and Sean Kelly on Eurosport covering yesterday's stage of the Tour.

Come & Gone

Joe Parkin has a new book out on VeloPress!

Book Bike!

Apparently, this guy is riding around Chicago giving out books for free, in an effort to promote reading, independent presses and local bookshops. Such a great idea, and I love the custom made bike! The books he gives out are paid for by donations, so if you want to know more and possibly donate, check out his webpage here.

Photo and heads up by Russ Woelfel.

Books

Here are a couple of new cycling books that you'll have to speak Italian to read, but not to appreciate all the excellent photos. The first is a history of the Giro, the second a history of Bianchi, and both are available at Prendas Ciclismo.