The Cyclist and His Shadow: A Memoir - Paperback
$19.95
Skip to product information
The Cyclist and His Shadow: A Memoir - Paperback
$19.95
Shipping calculated at checkout.
by Olivier Haralambon (Author), Thomazeau François (Translator)
A philosopher and former racing cyclist examines how competitive riders lose their sense of self as they pursue perfect motion and mastery over pain
After ten years as a racing cyclist, riding in up to ninety races a year, Olivier Haralambon became a journalist and philosopher. In The Cyclist and His Shadow, he writes about the world of competitive cycling with rare honesty and self-reflection, exploring it not merely as a sport but as a spiritual and artistic practice, imbued with a mystical quality.In prose at once poetic and precise, Haralambon depicts the intensity of cycling as physical activity in which the rider's consciousness becomes inseparable from the instantaneous movements of limbs, the exertion of heart and lungs, and the marshaling and expenditure of energy. He describes riding as an ascetic activity always accompanied by pain that the cyclist can control but never fully eliminate. But cycling for Haralambon is not only suffering but also an addictively pleasurable activity in which the rider's sense of self dissolves and melds with the bicycle, mind and body exploring the vibrant solitude of the course and limits of human endurance. Engaging in the repetition of ascension and the endless hours immersed in an oceanic interior, cyclists are artists in the vastness of landscape, both interior and exterior.
Published in association with The Cycling Podcast (https: //thecyclingpodcast.com), The Cyclist and His Shadow offers an illuminating meditation on what drives cyclists to devote their lives and bodies to training, racing, and even doping. Drawing from personal experience, Haralambon presents cycling as simultaneously physical and creative, technological and mystical, torturous and ecstatic.
Author Biography
Fascinated by bicycle racing from the age of 13, Olivier Haralambon was a racing cyclist for ten years, riding in hundreds of races, after which he studied philosophy at the University of Paris XII. He is a sports journalist and author of four books.
François Thomazeau is a French sports journalist, translator, publisher, musician, and renowned crime novelist.
Richard Moore was a freelance sports journalist, former racing cyclist, and cohost, with Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe, of The Cycling Podcast. He wrote seven books on bicycle racing.
Number of Pages: 136
Dimensions: 0.5 x 7.6 x 4.8 IN
Publication Date: May 17, 2022
Details
This product is crafted with quality materials to ensure durability and performance. Designed with your convenience in mind, it seamlessly fits into your everyday life.
Shipping & Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
We are committed to ensuring a positive shopping experience for all our customers. If for any reason you wish to return an item, we invite you to reach out to our team for assistance, and we will evaluate every return request with care and consideration.
