The Driller: Life Cycle

An interesting account of a life in racing from early days to top professional level. Bob's straight talking attitude shows through as it always has. A highly recommended read for anyone interested in a straightforward account of a career of a highly talented and hard working rider.

Could not put the book down after I started to read it . An interesting history of Bobs cycling career from the 60's and still at it in 2022. He was a team mate on thr Ron Kitching cycling team in the UK in the 70's.

This is a tale of suffering and extraordinary endeavour on the bike, all undertaken km after km with panache at high speed on a frame as heavy as a mangle, and with the horror of hard-man silly big gears that no one should have to fight against uphill. But there is something else readers should be aware of... the gaunt-faced, chiselled Bob Addy always looked so flippin' cool on his bikes... surely hewn from riding flat out for far too long. There are not many who look fast on a machine with centre-pull callipers (pre '68, there were no Campag side-pulls) or a Ron Kitching bike (what happened to Zeus?) ...but Bob did. Pouring over Cycling Weekly in the mid 60s to early 70s, as a schoolboy and junior, the photos of Bob always looked like the racer I wanted to be. Cycle racing was like a secret sect, permeated with style from the Belgians, French, Italians and Spanish. The Driller reminded me of those days and what it meant to get well under the hour on a wet windy 25 without equipment designed to minimise drag. This has Rule 5 written all over it.

Really good insight into the life of amateur and professional racing from the 1960s onwards with detailed accounts of the authors meeting and racing with famous cyclists.Amazing how tough a life it was and is…

Reading this book opened up many interesting stories and information of Bob’s cycling career.Well worth a read!When’s the next one?

Great honest read of life spent on two wheels, winning and then passing that on others 😃

Really just a lot of remenicences. I don’t know how many pages, but I read it in one evening. I’m afraid it’s not worth £19+

Very enjoyable book which amply demonstrates why Bob and his like are a different species to the rest of us. I am left with huge admiration for Bob Addy - what a man and what a life. As a small point, the proof-reading could be improved in some places and would help elevate the book into the realms of a cycling bio classic.

Bob Addy tells us, in detail, about what it takes to become a world class bike racer - the intense training that he describes is hard for most of us to even imagine doing.

Enjoyed the inside look at top ‘clean’ rider with strong ethics and work rate - liked the short story, chapter element. Would certainly recommend the book to both cyclists and non cyclist. Happy days