Realms of the Kingdom by Ian Clayton

Realms of the Kingdom by Ian Clayton

THE TRUE STORY OF PRO BIKE RACING in America exists a world away from the glamour of July's Tour de France. Life on the road is rough, the pay is low or nonexistent, and the schedule is relentless, yet many of these riders willingly endure the hardship for a shot at cycling's big leagues.

American Pro follows one fledgling American team on its rise through the development ranks. Crisscrossing the country on a quest for the next great race, this ragtag tribe of bike racers is born out of the unlikely financial support of a large pharmaceutical company. Still, they are fully reliant on the kindness of strangers they meet along the way and the support of a dedicated community that keeps the cycling scene spinning.

From short, fast-paced criteriums to long, grueling road races, American Pro doles out five seasons of podium finishes, narrow losses, harrowing crashes, and inspiring wins. The team managers steadily build their team from 8 riders to 16, often beating out better-funded teams with young talent or sheer grit. In a cruel twist of fate, just as they hit their apex, the team runs up against its most formidable opponent: sponsorship.

With good humor, compelling storytelling, and scrappy racing commentary, race announcer and cycling insider Jamie Smith humanizes the difficulties facing a team at the development level. More than just a survival story, American Pro is a celebration of big dreams and fat chances, all for the love of bike racing.

Many cyclists start out whipping around city streets in small towns dreaming of making it big--it's how I started racing. American Pro details the heart, dedication, and sacrifice that one team's staff and riders go through trying to make it. --FRANKIE ANDREU, former pro cyclist and Olympian

Ian Clayton has been a freelance writer and broadcaster for twenty-five years. His highly acclaimed memoir of a life in music, Bringing It All Back Home, was published in 2007. He has presented programmes on BBC TV, ITV Yorkshire, the Discovery Channel, and regularly on radio. He has also led workshops in prisons, hospitals, schools and art centres. Ian was born and still lives in west Yorkshire, with his partner Heather and son Edward. He likes listening to jazz and blues, reading about folklore and music hall, and indulging in tap-room conversation and gentle subversion.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780992355425
ISBN 10	0992355427
Title	Realms of the Kingdom
Author	Ian Clayton
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Seraph Creative
Year published	2015-12-12
Number of pages	272
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable