Ten Points | Bill Strickland | Honest and Accessible

Ten Points | Bill Strickland | Enjoyable read, an insight into cycling

books:

Ten Points

	Ten Points Bill Strickland Hyperion, 2007 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 20 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Of the eight million dedicated cyclists in this country, just 32,044 own amateur racing licenses. There?s a reason for that: Racing is not only incredibly difficult, it?s downright excruciating, with the possibility for public humiliation never more than one pedal away. So when Natalie, Bill Strickland?s preschool-aged daughter, asked him if he could win ten points during one racing season -- the bicycling equivalent of taking an at-bat against Randy Johnson or going one-on-one with Lebron James -- a sensible man would?ve just said no and moved on. Instead, Strickland decided to try.

In the process, he discovered that he was racing toward the loving home life he cherished and, at the same time, trying to get away from something far worse -- his legacy of horrific childhood abuse. Strickland?s memoir is filled with lyrical insights on training and dedication, racing scenes packed with nail-biting suspense, and powerful reflections on the meaning of family. Because for Strickland, it?s definitely not about the bike.

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Honest and Accessible

I really loved this book. The honesty was moving. The blend of cycling, athletics, and family relations made for a personal story that I could relate to. I have shared it with friends who loved it as much. Really good writing and written with humility. Thanks Bill.

Enjoyable read, an insight into cycling

I enjoyed the book. Gave it only 4 stars because it was not one of the best I have ever read. I give few 5 stars. The author tells a good story. I'm a cyclist, so I don't know if non-cyclists would enjoy the book as much. The book shares insight into the arena of competitive cycling, but not too much so.

Course the story has a couple of subplots, which are not about cycling, but tie into the story. I don't want to say too much and ruin the story for anyone.

It's a quick read.

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startling

A very good insight into the world of crit racing from the amateur perspective. Also, goes deeply into the world of child abuse, disturbing at times, but ends well.

Moving- In more ways than one.

I'm a novice bike rider - but experienced at life's difficulties- I see them everyday. This book takes you on a real ride through Bill's races as he tries to achieve a level of points amongst his peers. However, it's his real life story that takes you for a ride you won't forget. It's not your typical personel success story in the end, but it's a real life story that any one of us can relate to in some way or another if you've lived to see it all. In the end, it's Bill's understanding that is his true achievement.

Beautifully written. This is no "Million Little Pieces" prose, it reads more like a bike ride through, over, up and down life's rolling hills.

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Not for cyclists looking for a book about racing

As a racing cyclist, I was looking for a book about racing stories - prehaps something along the lines of the Tim Krabbe book. This book is the story of Strickland's childhood and his abusive father, with short scenes of local races thrown in here-and-there. I enjoyed the cycling scenes, but I did not really need to read the childhood flashback scenes. The other big storyline involved his 5 year daughter. Those scenes were cute enough, but still not exaclty what I was looking for. I got a feeling that this book was more of a demon clensing therapy for the writer and less of a story aimed toward the reader. DO NOT get this book just because you ride bikes or race, as that is not the true focus of the story. Also, be warned that this book has an excessive amount of foul language throughout - enough of it that it could be a turn off to a lot of readers. Like another reviewer said, I don't think I'm glad I read this book. If Strickland were to write another book that focused more on cycling I'd be willing to give it a read, but I won't be picking up this book again, and I definitely won't be recommending it to any of my team mates or other cycling buddies.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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