It’s Millar Time – Book Giveaway

I enjoy being sent books for review but this time when the publisher called about the new US edition of David Millar’s autobiography “Racing Through the Dark” I said I’d already reviewed the book when it came out in Europe so there was no point getting another review copy.

Instead they offered to send three copies to give away to readers of the blog. This was impossible to refuse so here’s your chance to win a hardback copy of the book. It’s the US version and includes extras that weren’t in the Euro edition.

Question
What was the type of first bike race David Millar rode:

  • A) time trial
  • B) mountain bike
  • C) BMX

Rules: post your answer in the comments section, don’t email or send a tweet.

Feel free to use a pseudonym and you don’t have to leave your email in the field before leaving the answer. I’ll send the book airmail to anywhere on the planet.

I’ll pick the winner at 9.00am Euro time on Monday 6 August so get you entry in by then. If there’s a tie I’ll use a random function to select a winner.

226 thoughts on “It’s Millar Time – Book Giveaway”

  40. Sounds like a great read. He started with mountain biking, but I also like the anecdote about him later on waking up early to ride the busy roads of Hong Kong before the traffic started. I love how the dedicated always find a way to make something happen. Yay bikes!

  65. Am I the only non British reader here? I simply can´t help wondering if you (Inrng) would also support the book sales of Jan Ullrich´s Ganz oder gar nicht, LA´s It´s Not About the Bike, Vinos up comming memories in kazakh about a tough child hood, the Stages of light and dark by Bjarne Riis or not to forget We Might As Well Win by “Mastermind” Bruyneel.

    Q: Why the comparison? Millar is obviously a nice (detoxed) bloke compared to the other bandits mentioned.
    A: By buying (in your case supporting) their books and letting them tell their stories, they will succeed in leaving the impression that cheating pays off – big time).

    Some what hypocritical, not?

    Don´s buy the books if you support riding clean – it shouldn´t pay off any more.

    • Yes, but by reading it you’re also understanding (in Millar’s case, that is) more of the environment that led those guys to cheat. Isn’t that precious information? From a writers point of view but also from a fan perspective?

      • Felipe, off course I am not against selling, buying, reading, writing or publishing cheat biography’s – people can decide for themselves – it is more the hype from Inrng supporting some riders for others – from equal categories (cheats), although (s)he remains anonymous.

        • I’m not sure Inrng is making a distinction between the two; from what it says above they were simply offered 3 free copies to share with us. Fair enough, I say. I would love to read the other books you mention; do you know if there are translated versions available? If there are, and a similar offer was made to this blogger, I’m sure the outcome would be the same.

          My answer is B, a MTB race

        • The guy/girl got given some free books to share I see no harm in that.

          Cheats are not born with cheating engraved in their subconscious there usually is a story behind it sometimes an interesting one. And the thing I like about David Millar’s book is that he wrote it himself and not used a ghost writer which is a rarity in the cycling autobio world.

    • @INRNG: My answer is: B) mountain bike

      @Lotte: If we never hear from the cheaters after they’ve re-emerged from their bans, how are we to learn anything? INRNG reviewed Riis’ book fairly recently, and as he says, he’ll review any book he’s sent a copy of. If you were a long-time reader of this blog, you would know that INRNG is an open-minded writer, sharing both sides (or many sides) of a story, allowing us, the readers, to decide for ourselves. Also, those who blog on here are from many countries around the world.

      Your answer to your own question is quite shallow. For any of us, by buying/supporting any or all of these books does not make the writer (the cyclist) successful in making us believe that cheating pays off. Does being stripped of GT titles, stages and races make these cyclists feel good about themselves? Does being banned [and labeled a cheat] from the sport they love help their reputation? Does coming back from being banned make it easy to find a new team to sign with? What about salary loss during their ban?

      In Armstrong and Bruyneel’s case, the books you mention were written long before the current USADA investigation. These books will potentially become kindling for a bonfire if they are found guilty of this conspiracy/cover-up. Johan’s book will be laughable if the “mastermind” who guided Lance to 7 TDf titles and Contador to 3, whoops, NO 2 TdF titles (?) is slapped with a lifetime ban.
      If Lance loses all seven TdF titles, do you think he will feel that cheating paid off?

  103. Hi, first time poster – in fact on any forum – but I’ve enjoyed this blog so much over the last month that I thought I would register my thanks to you and all the folks who comment with such passion! It has become a daily read for me.

    I’ll have to go with the majority, and say mountain bike,

    Cheers and long may it continue.

  118. Sounds like that question would favor those who have the book. Doesn’t it defeat the purpose?
    I’ll say moutain bike despite not having read the book.

  132. INRNG – thoughts on the Philip Hindes controversy?

    The badminton decision seems to set a precedent for the IOC disqualifying athletes who do not compete their best to gain an advantage later on.

  149. Answer: Egg and spoon. He later tearfully admitted the egg was glued to the spoon but in the end it was all someone else’s fault and he hasn’t touched glue since.

  160. A mountain bike.

    At least that’s what Wikipedia seems to suggest. And yes, checked the wikipedia article’s history too, to check for tampering 😉

  190. Mountain bike!

    By the way, the portrait on the front of this book is by Nadav Kander, a fashionable London portrait photographer. A friend tells me that a huge version of it is currently on display in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh and it looks amazing. If anyone sees it, can they post a snap here?

  205. BMX. He was a junior champion, then his BMX got stolen. This theft was the first step on the path to doping, had he stayed in BMX he would be a monster energy and vodka swilling x-games lout. Instead BMX was a gateway drug to MTB which saw him onto harder stuff like road racing which in turn led him to EPO…..

  212. Pingback: inrng: david millar, bmx rider

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