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Fabrizio · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 135 Location: Ham

Over the summer I discovered that Marco Pinotti, from BMC, had written a book. I bought it and liked it as finally it was just about cycling, life as a cyclists, as a pro and not the usual mea culpa confessions of late (there's a place for those too, I know).
So, since he somehow was following me on twitter (something to do with something I said on my blog that he liked), I contacted him and asked him if he had thought about publishing an English language version.
He said he had but it takes time and even though he was recovering from the crash at the Worlds, he would soon be too busy with getting back to training hard. I then suggested if he would be interested in letting me do it. So he sent me a couple of chapters, which I translated and sent back to him.
He liked it and the deal was struck!
I only had just over a month and with 56,000 words it has been tough.
Now it is finished and he's going to publish it as a digital edition on Amazon soon, maybe at the end of this week.
He's a very nice bloke, we skyped and he was very open in talking about the world of cycling and his life. This sort of thing it's impossible in other sports. I can't imagine Lampard striking a conversation with a fan about training techniques! In cycling most athletes still have a human touch, they really appreciate the passion of the fans as we are the ones who make the climbs and other efforts easier for them.
Back in June I even went around the Olympic TT course because Pinotti asked me if I could pass him some garmin data to check out the course before getting to London. I doubt they were of any use (6kg backpack, at 9pm after a day at work, having to go through Bushy Park's pedestrian gates, traffic, lights, no food on me and no dinner beforehand...oh and yes, I'm not that fast!) as my average speed stopped at 34km/h! But I'm sure it was more to see the type of undulation and turns on the course. That definitely doesn't happen very often to a 4th cat!
When I have the link of the book I'll post it here if anyone is interested.

andyedwards · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 2156

What a lovely story!! Very Happy

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Cath Wiggins: "There's Bradley my husband, who is proper good, considerate, patient, kind, brilliant with me and the kids … and then there's Bradley the cyclist, who is, well … a bit of a twat."

James W · Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 1487 Location: Wimbledon

Brilliant. Great story.

Hilltown_Ian · Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 414 Location: Hampton

+1 - great story, and agree completely re cyclists being a different breed with fans. The amount of autographs and pictures my little fella has with a who's who of world cycling bears testament to that.. They (generally) are brilliant, especially with younger fans.

emily.b · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 1421 Location: Isleworth

+2 Excellent post! Very Happy

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emily.b

hstiles · Joined: 15 Jun 2011 Posts: 250

Brilliant story. I hope he includes it as a Foreword in your translated version.

nickhussey · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 5149 Location: Wimbledon

Best story of the year Fab!
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I make cycling things for my website. They are nice:
http://www.vulpine.cc/

johnmightymac · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 358

+1 to the above. a great read. hope the book is as good! Smile

Richard R · Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Posts: 450 Location: Twickenham

+ another 1. That's brilliant. Very Happy

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Pain is a big fat creature riding on my bike

Fabrizio · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 135 Location: Ham

Thanks everyone, I'm finding it hard to adjust to the fact that I now have time to ride my bike and, well, think! Maybe I should start translating the forum in Italian Wink

andyedwards · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 2156

andyedwards · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 2156

Fabrizio - nice to see your story is covered in Cycling Weekly this week. Lovely write up!
_________________
Cath Wiggins: "There's Bradley my husband, who is proper good, considerate, patient, kind, brilliant with me and the kids … and then there's Bradley the cyclist, who is, well … a bit of a twat."

Fabrizio · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 135 Location: Ham

do you mean the one on the top left of page 14? I hadn't noticed at all Wink

ha ha, thank you

Fabrizio · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 135 Location: Ham

Pinotti's book is finally on Amazon, hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It's only in digital version

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cycling-Professor-ebook/dp/B00ARMQ4LK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356265160&sr=8-2

andyedwards · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 2156

Is it available as a PDF anywhere? I don't have Kindle.
_________________
Cath Wiggins: "There's Bradley my husband, who is proper good, considerate, patient, kind, brilliant with me and the kids … and then there's Bradley the cyclist, who is, well … a bit of a twat."