Baby Got Books

I Blame Phil and Paul

I only thought that things were going to pick up around here after the Fourth. I had forgotten that for me the month of July is given over almost exclusively to cycling via non-stop Tour de France watching. Reading comes to halt. Home maintenance goes on the back burner. Shaving drops off dramatically. I’m a mess for 21 days a year. Luckily I’ve gotten my wife into it, or I’d be in huge trouble.

This is the first year that I’m enjoying the tour with the magic of TiVo. I’m able to come home and watch the live coverage and then switch over to the prime time “expanded coverage.” It’s a sickness really.

I’ve been a huge pro cycling fan since seeing the movie Breaking Away (1979) as a kid. If you haven’t seen it, run, don’t walk, to your DVD rental store/online rental service ASAP. (It is a New York Times Top 1000 film.) Greg LeMond’s victories in the Tour de France followed shortly after the film’s release. I was hooked for life. The recent doping scandals have taken the luster off the sport somewhat, but this year’s Tour has been thrilling and it’s only the first week.

The British announcers that call the action on television are a huge part of the draw for me these days. I could listen to Paul Sherwin and Phil Liggett talk cycling for days on end. And I do. Their cycling catch phrases have become legend (in cycling circles), and they’ve even inspired a Phil and Paul ~~drinking~~ Bingo game. Last night Paul breathlessly noted that a breakaway group needed to “dig deep into their suitcase of courage” to hold off the peleton. It’s beautiful. Check them out of you get a chance.

UPDATE: BGB’s Flavawheel followed the dream this year and has joined a San Franciso-based cycling team. He’s been blogging about their races. You can read his latest adventure here.

Paul Sherwin and Phil Liggett – best announcers in any sport

Since I won’t be doing anything in July, let me tell you about some people who are being productive this month. The hardworking gang at The Wren’s Nest are starting their own publishing company. They are my heroes. Their first publication will be a literary journal that will feature the talent of local high school students. The new journal will be published and sold at the upcoming Decatur Book Festival. Check out the details here.

Books | Tim | July 12, 2007 7:00 am

By Damien, July 12, 2007 @ 8:11 am

I couldn’t imagine a cycling event without Phil Liggett’s voice commentating. He makes the event complete.

July is always a tough month for me with the live coverage in Sydney starting at 10:30pm and finishing around 1:30 – 2:00am. By week 3 I’m having trouble getting up at my usual 6:00am to go to work. But I wouldn’t give it up for the world. You’re spot on, it’s a sickness.

Vive le Tour — Allez Robbie — Allez Cadel. (That about exhausts my French)
By Beth (The Toronto One), July 12, 2007 @ 10:17 am

Yet another addiction for you – the cycling and books.
Both quite healthy ones but you’re on a slippery slope if “reading comes to a halt” because of watching the cycling!
By patricia, July 12, 2007 @ 10:58 am

I’m not much of a cycler, but I LOVED the movie ‘Breaking Away’. Such a delightful, uplifting movie. I remember as a teenager that all the cool guys totally fell in love with everything Italian and cycling-related after watching that movie. I didn’t fall in love with cycling after that, but I sure developed a few crushes on the cycling boys in my high school!
By DJ Cayenne, July 12, 2007 @ 11:31 am

Damien: Robbie’s ride on Day 1 was incredible. Glad to hear that someone shares the sickness.

Beth: Maybe halt is the wrong word. In the cycling parlance, my reading becomes “tranquilo.”

Patricia: I need to pull out my DVD to watch it again. Fantastic.
By Rae Rae, July 12, 2007 @ 4:51 pm

I heart “Breaking Away”. A very sweet and funny movie. My family quoted the ‘-ini’ food line for ages…

Vive le tour!
By DJ Cayenne, July 12, 2007 @ 4:54 pm

My favorite line is when the dad wakes up in the hospital and his first words are “REFUND!”
By Arukiyomi, July 13, 2007 @ 8:44 am

I’m watching the tour too via downloads every night. Great stuff.

have you read Armstrong’s “It’s not about the bike” ? I’ve got it on my shelf here but haven’t started it.
By DJ Cayenne, July 13, 2007 @ 9:46 am

I have read Armstrong’s book. I enjoyed it. It’s fascinating and inspirational all at once.
By flavawheel, July 17, 2007 @ 7:24 pm

GAAAAAH! Damn it. Missed the Tour talk, the Simpsons avatar fun and being namechecked in one week. Sorry, but I, too, have been in a deep state of Tour tune-out. Anyway, thanks for the props and enjoy my latest 3000+ word screed over at DV.

Vini — he’s the man. Deep into the suitcase indeed.