Pro Cycling on $10 a Day

From Fat Kid to Euro Pro

By: Phil Gaimon

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Plump, grumpy, slumped on the couch, and going nowhere fast at age 16, Phil Gaimon began riding a bicycle with the grand ambition of shedding a few pounds before going off to college. He soon fell into racing and discovered he was a natural, riding his way into a pro contract after just one season despite utter ignorance of a century of cycling etiquette. Now, in his book Pro Cycling on $10 a Day, Phil brings the full powers of his wit to tell his story.

Presented here as a guide - and a warning - to aspiring racers who dream of joining the professional racing circus, Phil's adventures in road rash serve as a hilarious and cautionary tale of frustrating team directors and broken promises. Phil's education in the ways of the peloton, his discouraging negotiations for a better contract, his endless miles crisscrossing America in pursuit of race wins, and his conviction that somewhere just around the corner lies the ticket to the big time fuel this tale of hope and ambition from one of cycling's best story-tellers.

Pro Cycling on $10 a Day chronicles the racer's daily lot of blood-soaked bandages, sleazy motels, cheap food, and overflowing toilets. But it also celebrates the true beauty of the sport and the worth of the journey, proving in the end that even among the narrow ranks of world-class professional cycling, there will always be room for a hard-working outsider.

©2014 Velopress (P)2017 Sportybooks

Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike.

I absolutely enjoyed this book! I was actually sad when it ended. LOL.

It took me behind the scenes of what a pro cyclist endures and what it takes to get there.

With a witty and light hearted prose, it will fill your mind with fantastic images of chaos, madness and victory. Thanks Phil.

I’ve rediscovered cycling in my late 40s and you were an inspiration and a nice way to pass the time on my new Orbea. It makes me wish that I had not turned away from SCORE after the dozen scandals and truly just rode my bike. Those will be out there, ride your bike, ride your bike and ride your bike. Oh! And get Phil’s book

Ahhhhh

I've only been following pro cycling for under a decade, and it's been hard for me to care about non-World Tour riders, but Gaimon has changed that for me with this book. I first started following Gaimon on twitter because of his wit re the world of cycling and cookies. I like his seemingly cynical but fun outlook on everything. This book offers great insight into the world of cycling and makes me only a little less upset I didn't discover the joys of racing a bike in time to have a go, namely as he describes just how hard it really is. I'm also more willing to follow the non-World Tour riders here in the USA now that I have a sense for what they're battling.
Hopefully someday I'll get to ride Phil's fondo, but I'll certainly be reading his next book.

Loved it!

This book had me laughing out loud more so than any other autobiography or book I've enjoyed in a long time. Phil is a great story teller and his humor is priceless. I listened to this book in 3 days from start to finish because it was so entertaining I couldn't turn it off. Sean Runnette is one of the best narrators out there and anything he reads only makes it that much better. Whether you're a cyclist, a fan of cycling or just someone looking for a good story, I highly recommend this book.

Loved this!

A funny (sort of like Bill Bryson’s dry/casual sense of humor) and realistic peek into the grit, blood and relentless determination required to make it on the road to pro cycling. Yet also an incredibly humble personal story by Phil Gaimon. The narrator was fantastic at delivering the humor and sentiment. Highly recommend. Didn’t want it to end…definitely a book I’ll listen to again.

Illuminating and funny

Loved it from start to finish. Hilarious and heart warming. Thank you for your honesty about a sport we love.

New favourite cycling book

Loads of great stories telling the tale of moving up through ranks of professional cycling.

Didnt expect such a fun book

I really enjoyed this book, great story, very funny, lots of sarcasm and black humor.

Genuine!

This book is a true gem! Inspiring and motivating. Will listen to it again soon.

interesting & witty

great book with an easy to follow story line. the sarcasm, anecdotes, and narration made me feel like I was sitting with my grandfather listening to him tell stories. I did get the impression that Phil is anti-doping.

Entertaining and interesting even to a non cycler

Awesome book, great read even to someone not particularly versed in cycling. Very entertaining. My one suggestion is if you’re a non pro cyclist skip to the back first and read the glossary. I just googled a few words (race jargon) I was unfamiliar with along the way but listening to the glossary first, had I known it was there would have been easier.