It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life - Hardcover

Armstrong, Lance; Jenkins, Sally

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399146113 ISBN 13: 9780399146114

Publisher: Putnam Adult, 2000

Synopsis

The world-champion cyclist recounts his diagnosis with cancer, the grueling treatments during which he was given a less than twenty percent chance for survival, his surprising victory in the 1999 Tour de France, and the birth of his son. 125,000 first printing.

About this title

Review

People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. Armstrong is a thoroughgoing Texan jock, and the changes brought to his life by his illness are startling and powerful, but he's just not interested in wearing a hero suit. While his vocabulary is a bit on the he-man side (highest compliment to his wife: "she's a stud"), his actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. There's serious medical detail here, which may not be for the faint of heart; from chemo to surgical procedures to his wife's in vitro fertilization, you won't be spared a single x-ray, IV drip, or unfortunate side effect. Athletes and coaches everywhere will benefit from the same extraordinary detail provided about his training sessions--every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living color. It's Not About the Bike is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike. --Jill Lightner

About the Author

Champion cyclist Lance Armstong's Tour de France victory has been hailed as "one of the most memorable moments in sports history during this century" (USA Cycling magazine). In 1996 he established the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a charity to aid the fight against cancer.
Sally Jenkins is the author of one book, Men Will Be Boys, and the coauthor of three more: Reach for the Summit and Raise the Roof (both with Pat Summitt), and A Coach's Life (with Dean Smith). She is a veteran sports reporter whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and Cond Nast's Women's Sports & Fitness.

About this edition

• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0399146113
• ISBN 13: 9780399146114
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288