Brian Robinson: Pioneer: The Story of Brian Robinson, Britain's First Tour De France Hero

A very good account of a pioneer , many came after him but he did it in a time not long after the war when the English channel was as wide as an Ocean . Graham Fife captures the magnitude of this and also how Brian Robinson adapted to a very difficult job in what then was almost an alien world . An excellent book about cycling , history , but most of all about life . Paul Turnbull . Gourin France

Gave insights into the UKs first TdF stage winner. Much of the book though seems to be just embellished translations of accounts written about Brians TdF performances, but scant on other events he may have ridden.

As an avid but, not so successfu, racing cyclist in the past, I found this life story wonderful.The title "Pioneer" sums up what he achieved for British cycling - following in the footsteps of Charles Holland and setting the example of those that came after Brian - from Tom Simpson to the present day Sky Team.A great read.

I started racing in 55 so this was a very good read for me.

A very enjoyable and interesting book about someone who laid solid foundations for future generations of British cyclists, but who until recently has remained largely unknown to sports fans. Brian Robinson deserves all the accolades which the recent Grand Depart has brought his way and remains to all who enjoy cycling an example of what can be achieved as well as how to remain true to your roots.

Brought back memories of cycling days with. The Penine cycling club and Ellis Briggs cycles.I rode with a number of the persons mentioned In the book. many thanks.

The fact is Brian owed his career to the British League of Racing cyclists who brought Continental racing to the UK in 1942. For 9 years the cycling establishment in the form of the backward looking National Cyclists Union vigourously opposed this reform until forced to change their mind by the UCI after the BLRC promoted the first enormously popular Tour of Britain. Brian was a Union man who jumped ship to compete in the '52 Tour which opened the door for him to compete abroad in 1955 with the UK Hercules team, giving him a full year of experience racing against the world's best, all expenses and salary paid. Without the work of the BLRC he would have spent his cycling life as a relative unknown racing in the UK on closed circuit.As it turned out, Brian was a talented and determined rider who kept going on the continent when others gave up.Shame then on ghost writer Graeme Fife --- the only comments he makes on the BLRC are critical. He hasn't bothered to check his facts on the history of road racing. For me this scars an otherwise good book.

Brian Robinson was one of the first British cyclists to enter into continental professional racing. His successes in the 50s made him a cycling hero. His biography was keenly awaited. However this volume contains multiple errors of fact and cannot be recommended.