Come and Gone by Joe Parkin


Come and Gone
Title : Come and Gone
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1934030546
ISBN-10 : 9781934030547
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 208
Publication : First published January 1, 2010

“There's something very approachable about the underdog, the guy who works as hard as anyone, but never achieves the stardom we all chase. Joe's candor is refreshing to read and entertaining as hell.” ― PezCycling News Come and Gone is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Joe Parkin’s Belgian cycling classic, A Dog in a Hat , bringing Parkin home to the nascent American bike racing scene that would give rise to Lance Armstrong and the homegrown sport of mountain biking. After five years of gritty, blue-collar bike racing in Belgium, Parkin flies back to the United States with empty pockets and no contract. He joins the elite Coors Lite road team as a key member, but the adjustment to domestic racing, with small crowds, rookie teammates, and poorly promoted events, is a letdown after the glory of racing in the European peloton. Disillusioned, Joe is ready to hang up his cleats when he is offered a contract with a pro mountain bike team. The freshness of mountain biking proves to be an Joe's career blossoms and he rediscovers his love of the sport. Come and Gone is a rare, frank, and intimate sports memoir about the lifestyle of the pro scene during the heyday of American mountain bike racing. “The race descriptions are so realistic, you’ll need a heart-rate monitor.” ― USA Today “A fun, barebones adventure through the eyes of a professional cycling journeyman.” ― VeloNews “An unflinching look at the grueling and often mundane world of professional cycling. Dirt geeks will appreciate the historical context as Parkin races in the blossoming mountain bike scene of the ‘90s and competes against legends such as Ned Overend and Tinker Juarez…An engaging coming of age story on the bike.” ― Dirt Rag

Come and Gone Reviews

  • Tim Blackburn

    If you ever suffered pedaling a bicycle up a tough climb while singing AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top" as loud as you can - then you will love this book. The tough life of a pro biker poised below the elite riders of the Tour de France is described in fascinating detail. The hardships of rides for not much money. The author raced thru most of the 90's until 1998 and the most money he made in a calendar year was just south of $30k. A pro at this level, although faster than 99.9% of the bicyclers in the world, races for the love of racing. A thoroughly entertaining and informing read.

  • Judge

    Good follow up to 'A Dog in a Hat' book. I forgot Joe Parkin raced for DBR and that he was in Chainsmoke.

  • Gpickle

    A book about bike racing, this is a sequel of sorts. It stands alone, but his first book covered his time racing in Europe, this picks up where that ended and covers his time as a pro bike racer in the US. After the first book I was expecting / hoping for more. The book was interesting, yes, and I read it in 2 sittings, broken only by a good night of sleep. For anyone (like me) who once thought they were probably the most gifted rider in the world - destined for tour de france glory, it is a good peek at what a "glamorous" life the strong bike rider lives. The fact that he was racing as a pro when I was wanting to be one just means I remember all the teams, races, and most of the riders he mentions. But as a writer he had to make choices as to how to tell his story and his choices left me wanting more from the book. He seems bitter about the last few years of his career, keeps referencing his past strong ride at the tour de Suisse, and puts a lot of effort into recapping how fast he was, but how it was not enough due to bad luck, crappy teams, high altitude. But I think he could have turned the tone of the book on it's head and focused on how fast he was, and how he had some great results in his career, but it is a hard life, everyone out there wants to kick your butt and will do you no favors, and he had a good time until it was time to stop. Maybe the reason I can suggest it but he couldn't do it is because being a pro really made him bitter, but the book did not seem to make up it's mind about much, including why he was writing it. I guess it is okay to look back at your career and just be confused, and if that is where Joe is I think he wrote a fine book to detail it, but he won't get more than 3 stars out of me for it.

  • Michael

    His first book, about his cycle racing in Europe, hung together better and was more interesting overall. He didn't express so much of his anger (at failure, I guess) until further along in the book.

    Not too many folks write about professional cycling from a first person point of view so one can't be too picky.

  • Nick

    Loved this book!

    Joe's writing style is very easy to get sucked into. Finished the bike in three days. This book is the continuation of his first "A Dog in a Hat" and follows his transition to a professional mountain biker during the sports infancy. It follows Joe through his late twenties and his eventually burning out of the sport. Very good read.

  • Leonardo Campos-moya

    great sequel to dog in a hat

  • Josh Christensen

    It is well written and tells some interesting tales but reading about slogging away on the domestic mountain bike circuit is not as interesting as struggling to make it in Belgium.