Book Review: "The World of Cycling According to G," by Geraint Thomas (2015)

Geraint Thomas is a very familiar face to the fans of professional cycling worldwide. One of the more colorful characters in the pro peloton, Thomas embodies the Welsh attitude to success - hard work coupled with a sense of humor. The humour is in display throughout his book (co-authored with Tom Fordyce) "The World of Cycling According to G."

The book is not a chronological account of G's career. Rather, it is like a stage race - a jaunt through the fast pavement, sunny skies, steep mountains, some rough weather and road, exhilarating downhills and the sense of accomplishment at the finish line, all combined into a soup and served with a healthy dollop of humour.

You know this book is different from the other somewhat serious chronicles when the very first chapter tackles the question of "bib shorts" (and why wearing underpants within is a serious faux pas - cycling or fashion wise.) Things get even more colorful when G talks about cafes (and Italian coffee), perfect rides, and rides which may not have started off perfectly, but ended on a life lesson. Being a Welshman, there is of course an entire chapter dedicated to rain - the perennial friend-or-foe for the rider in Great Britain.

G is undoubtedly one of the most popular riders in professional cycling, and the book also touches upon the various people that he thinks would be the most important to him personally - Brad Wiggins, Dave Brailsford, Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome, the behind-the-scenes staff (mechanics, chefs, soigneurs), the Fans, and Chris Hoy - probably the most influential rider who motivated the young Thomas to dream big. There are funny anecdotes galore - of how he got his nickname ("G"), the no-nonsense work ethic espoused by Cav (his roommate in the days of training for British Cycling -- the idea of fun-loving, goofy G sharing same space with the famously monk-like workhorse like Cav is, yes,  absolutely funny as it sounds), Froome's bike-handling (or more notoriously, lack of), and experiences riding in Europe in an Italian team.

There are also pointed chapters on how things are done, or should be done, when riding a pro-cycling race -- tales about famous climbs, the hurt on the cobbles, the joys of descending, and riding in breakaways or crosswinds, to name a few. The advise is always common-sense, peppered with wry observations -- If you cannot follow your teammates on a descent:

".. Failing that, follow guys riding Continental tyres. They will stick where others will not", 

or a primer on the continental roads - 

"You never trust an Italian road. The surface can go from dinner plate to sandpit in a few seconds. You dream of Swiss descents, the tarmac carefully manicured perfection. If not Swiss, German. If not German, French. But seldom Spanish, and never Italian."

Within doles of humor lies the very essence of G - humility and accessibility. It is easy to forget that G is one of the most successful and highly-decorated professional cyclist. To the world, he is a double-olympic winner, an OBE, multiple Classics podium placed rider, multiple world-record holder in track racing. In Wales, he is also a super star - a local lad who stood on the highest podium on the Champs Élysées, proudly draping the red dragon on his shoulders. And all the while, he remains "G" - the kid from Cardiff who loves a pint (or dozen) and dreams of riding the tarmac with his heroes.

Highly recommended!