Author:Michael Hutchinson
The Hour. It's the only cycling record that matters: one man and his bike against the clock in a quest for pure speed. No teammates, no rivals, no tactics, no gears, no brakes. Just one simple question - in sixty minutes, how far can you go?
Michael Hutchinson had a plan. He was going to add his name to the list of record-holders, cycling's supermen. But how does a man who became a professional athlete by accident achieve sporting immortality? It didn't sound too hard. All he needed was a couple of hand-tooled bike frames, the most expensive wheels money could buy, a support team of crack professionals, a small pot of glue, and a credit card wired to someone else's bank account. Still, getting the glue wasn't a problem...
Michael Hutchinson became a full-time cyclist in 2000 after becoming disillusioned with an academic career. Over the following six years he has won more than twenty national titles, and the gold medal in the Masters' Pursuit World Championships. He is now a writer and journalist (and cyclist) and lives in south London.
In this warm, gently wise book, Hutchinson tells of his attempt at the Hour, the history of the record, and the men who have claimed it ... Whether he added his name to that illustrious list is unimportant ... because, as with all great quest stories, this is not about the destination, but the journey
—— Angus Batey , The TimesHutchinson proves as good a writer as he is rider (praise indeed) - congenial, funny and insightful ... A very fine way indeed to spend an hour, any hour
—— Matt Seaton , GuardianHas the rare quality in any sports-writing of propelling the reader into the intensity of the sporting moment itself
—— David Horspool , Times Literary SupplementSometimes painful, often hilarious... One of the most insightful and entertaining accounts of the cycling world to make it into print
—— Cycling WeeklyConstantly absorbing, very funny... Michael Hutchinson pulls off a real blinder
—— Daily TelegraphHe is likeable and builds up the tension...with some skill
—— MetroFull of marvellous anecdotes about aching leg muscles, the drive to win, defeat and pride - the essence of competitive cycling
—— le MondeWilliam Fotheringham's translation is, like Fignon himself, elegant and vivid
—— GuardianIn this sympathetic portrait he comes across as clever, warm and witty man
—— Independent on SundayA revealing account of friendships, rivalries and doping scandals from one of the giants of modern cycling
—— Cycling WeeklyA fine account of a sparkling career in the saddle
—— Sunday Business PostA fine account of a professional sport on the verge of fundamental change
—— Times Literary SupplementA gripping insight into an unrelenting hard world
—— IndependentA stylish, whimsical and ultimately tragic jaunt through one of cycling’s golden ages
—— Daniel Friebe , Outdoor FitnessLaurent Fignon gives cycling fans a fascinating glimpse of what really went on behind the scenes of this epic sport
—— Cycle SportBright and breezy ... it reflects on a lifetime watching football matches big and small and of bumping into all the heroes of the game
—— Sunday ExpressStrangely compelling memoir by one of the best-known sports commentators of his generation. If you cannot remember what colour shirts Newcastle United wore in 1972 when they were drummed out of the FA Cup by Hereford ... this is the book for you
—— Financial Times 'Books of the Year'Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time with humour and honesty.
—— Oxford TimesFilled with a multitude of detail about Motson's background and the sporting times he lived through ...Motson is one of the most intelligent and accomplished commentators in history, a voice that has conveyed the best (and worst, depending on your allegiance) moments in the recent past of the game. His book offers a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of football broadcasting, as well as a trip down memory lane for many supporters. A must-read for any football fan.
—— Sunday Business PostThe voice of the sheepskinned sage and cult hero John Motson will doubtless be heard at the 2010 tournament, and he reminisces on his career to date in the amusing Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box
—— Independent on Sunday 'Books of the Year'
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