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 It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life :: 0425179613
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| People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. Armstrong is a thoroughgoing Texan jock, and the changes brought to his life by his illness are startling and powerful, but he's just not interested in wearing a hero suit. While his vocabulary is a bit on the he-man side (highest compliment to his wife: "she's a stud"), his actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. There's serious medical detail here, which may not be for the faint of heart; from chemo to surgical procedures to his wife's in vitro fertilization, you won't be spared a single x-ray, IV drip, or unfortunate side effect. Athletes and coaches everywhere will benefit from the same extraordinary detail provided about his training sessions--every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living color. It's Not About the Bike is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike. --Jill Lightner Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
This is a truly amazing novel. Lance shows no signs of being avaricious but isn't afraid to tell it like it is. The book begins talking about Lance's childhood and racing before cancer. It painfully documents his onerous battle with cancer. But the reader is rewarded at the end with a truly uplifting payoff. I enjoy this novel so much that I could not put it down. I don't recommend to children under twelve because of the cursing. It is more of an adult book. But other then that, this book is a must-read.
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Author: Guest
Very enlighten book. A must read for anyone dealing with cancer.
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Author: Guest
"It's Not About the Bike" is mostly not about the bike. Lance Armstrong spends the better part of his book talking about his fight against cancer and how it changed him as a person and as a professional cyclist. It's easy to get swept up in Lance-mania, hearing the guy describe his awful experiences with his illness and his improbable return to athletic greatness.
Despite the catchy title, the bike really does matter. Cycling is so central to Armstrong's life that his bicycle is always with him. He sees it as part of his treatment, whether riding between chemo treatments, or discussing the nuances of bike parts with his nurse. Just as interesting are descriptions of key races that he competed in both before and after falling ill. You'll feel like a real dweeb when you learn all of that cycling vocabulary, particularly if you use it around the office. You may also take a keener interest in next summer's Tour de France, whether or not Lance is there to compete.
The book's key weakness is that it's tough to reconcile Lance's personal life with how he describes himself in the book. He barely pays lip service to an erstwhile girlfriend who was with him during his battle with cancer, but he fawns incessantly over his now divorced first wife Kristin. Sheryl hadn't shown up yet. Oh well, that's the elephant in the room so it had to be mentioned. But don't let that stop you from reading this book. It's a good read and it'll give you a profound respect for those who have battled and survived cancer.
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Author: Guest
Keep Riding
By: Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is the best bicyclist in the world. I chose to read this memoir because I've heard of Lance's survivorship from cancer. Lance grew up loving the sport of riding fast on a bike. When he got older and more experienced, he became one of the legends in cycling.
Lance had a tough childhood while growing up. His birth father, whose name was Gunderson, divorced his mother when Lance was only two years old. Then after they moved, they lived across the street from Richardson Bike Mart. His mom (Linda) got a deal from the owner (Jim Hoyt) and Lance got his first bike. At the same time came a new step dad for Lance named Terry Armstrong. Lance became very good at riding a bike and also at swimming, so when he saw a flyer for a triathlon he went and tried and won. Terry Armstrong didn't last very long as Lance's stepfather, because when he and Lance were going to one of his triathlons, he was secretly writing to another woman. So not long after it was just Lance and his mom. Meanwhile Lance was beginning to excel in cycling winning triathlon after triathlon. He was also earning prize money along the way and then he bought a car. Then in one of the bike races Lance got in a fight, and Jim Hoyt, his sponsor, got so angry that he took his car away. So Lance skipped town and joined the U.S. National cycling team. Lance was winning a lot of races and training and racing in Europe. Then when Lance was at the high point of his career his life fell apart- he found out that he had testicular cancer. In his mind Lance thought he would die but luckily there was a doctor in Indianapolis that treated his kind of cancer. It was Dr. Nichols, and first Lance started taking sessions of Chemotherapy. After eating healthy, and with more sessions with chemo and drugs, Lance and the doctors thought he was cured, but there was still a chance the cancer could come back. It did not, so Lance started his rehabilitation. To show his thanks to his doctors, he hosted a fundraiser: The Ride of the Roses. There he met Kik, his future wife. He started cycling again and slowly worked his way up to the point to where he could race again. So he went to the Tour de France, one of the most grueling races of cycling, but few people believed in Lance. Lance showed everyone that he had made it back by winning the Tour de France. After he won this race, he became a father, when Kik had their son Luke. Lance talks about picking Luke up from his crib and when Luke cries and kicks, Lance whispers to him "Yeah, that's right, go on", meaning that he should try hard to make it in life, whatever it takes.
When he rebounded from cancer Lance was determined to accomplish one of his goals, to win the Tour De France. Lance was in shock when he first got cancer and he almost fainted when he heard the odds of him living. Lance took cancer seriously, not breaking any rules and taking his medicine. He said, "Let's kill this stuff. Whatever it takes, let's do it." That quote says that Lance just wanted to be well, no matter how painful or difficult the treatment.
When Lance Armstrong walked out of that hospital he was in remission from his cancer.
Lance showed that some people survive cancer and can continue with what they began before being diagnosed with cancer. He learned a lot about cancer and how it takes a lot of hard work from dedicated doctors to treat it. But sometimes that doesn't work and the cancer kills them. He also learned that you have to believe in yourself and to not give up something that you have always dreamed about. I learned that you always have to believe that you must try your best. I have some uncles and aunts and friends with cancer, and I hope they will keep fighting.
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Author: Guest
Lance Armstrong was a very brave man. It gave me insight into my own son's cancer. He gave me courage to face my own health challenges. I recommend the book to everyone.
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