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| French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour De France | 
 enlarge | Author: Tim Moore
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £7.98 (100%)
New (23) Collectible (2) from £3.55
Avg. Customer Rating:  45 reviews
Sales Rank: 2070
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 0099433826
UPC: 000099433826
EAN: 9780099433828
ASIN: 0099433826
Publication Date: June 6, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Amusing in places, but wordy writing style January 1, 2007
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'm afraid I didn't find this book particularly funny and came to dislike Moore's wordy, over-descriptive writing style; like one reviewer said, it tends to hide the meaning or intent of what he is trying to say. And were his experiences as really as entertaining as he makes out, or has he taken artistic license a bit too far?
I thought the most interesting bits were the anecdotes about past Tours, including Paul Kimmage's experiences, though these became less frequent in the latter half of the book.
Another star is lost because he didn't ride the whole route, as the book's title implies.
 Larry David on a bike August 27, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Moore is a talented writer and in the space of 280 pages manages to give a pointed critique on the absurdities of the French; provide overwhelming proof that the word "exercise" for the over 30's is actually an abbreviation of the term "exercise in futility"; and, most impressive of all, comes perilously close to getting himself divorced.
My favourite bit in the book comes on the road to Evian. When Moore meets a couple who complain about how cold it is, he comments, with intentional vulgarity, that he's sure they can think of others ways of warming themselves up. Delighted with this, he cycles off only to become aghast when it finally dawns on him that they are not actually a couple but brother and sister. Initially repentant, Moore concludes that:
"my veiled accusation might indeed have forestalled an incestuous atrocity: they wore the same clothes, after all, and rode the same bikes - and, let's face it, there's no smoke without fire."
A witty and irreverent travelogue.
Excellent travel guide to the Tour de France February 12, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Sometimes you read a book because it’s something you’re really interested in, sometimes you choose a book from an author you’ve read before.. but sometimes you just pick up a book and read it because you can’t quite figure what on earth the author is going to write about leaving you quite intrigued. Tim Moore’s guide to the Tour de France is a perfect example…Moore is a cycling fan, but undergoing a little bit of a mid-life crisis whereby he suddenly announces to his wife that he’s going to cycle the Tour de France route one year, just before the Tour proper actually starts. Now to start with, that’s what this book is about; yet it is so much more… as a sports fan (though someone who has never followed the Tour de France) I had no idea just how much effort cyclists have to put in to this event (reading this I can understand why Lance Armstrong never really focussed on any other event, and why his achievements are so astounding). Moore’s own commitment to his efforts is equally something to behold. Throughout, Moore details each leg of his journey, the challenges he faces both physically and mentally, often relating a famous piece of cycling history related to that, including where one or two died from sheer exhaustion. All in all, an excellent intro to cycling and well worth reading.
laugh out loud funny January 27, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic read. I had thought that it might be a rather factual account. Instead it is a wry, laugh-a-minute account of this regular bloke's epic journey following (much of) the route of the Tour. The author's observation of life as a farce, and his skill as a raconteur are both excellent.
 If you don't like Moore's humour you're in for a struggle! November 26, 2005
3 out of 12 found this review helpful
This book is touted as being hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny etc. Unfortunately I simply did not appreciate Moore's humour and if you happen to feel the same way when you start reading then you're going to find this book a struggle. The 'humour' is relentless. You read one line, and then there's a wisecrack on the next. Most of it centres on the absurdity of the undertaking (i.e. cycling the Tour de France route a few months before the actual event) given his complete lack of fitness and preparation. I suppose my disappointment also stemmed from the fact that I was hoping to read about a serious attempt to complete the Tour route. However the undertaking is really only a vehicle for Moore to inflict his sense of humour on the reader. Incidentally, I turned to Paul Howard's 'Riding High', who has the same mission, but this was even worse (if anyone knows about an amateurs attempt at riding the Tour that is actually worth reading I'd like to know about it).
I'm reluctant to say avoid this at all costs because if Moore's sense of humour is to your liking then I'm sure you'll love it. Start reading and you'll soon know if this is the case because it doesn't take long for the 'hilarity' to begin.
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