If you had to make a required reading list for cycling, what would you put on it? I'm thinking training oriented, but I'm open to any suggestions, both from the canon and newer additions.

Thanks!

The Rider, by Tim Krabbe, Dog in a Hat by Joe Parkin (as well as Come and Gone, also by Parkin, but not quite as good IMHO), the Bicycle Wheel by Brandt, The Cyclists Training Bible by Friel...

Just finished "in search of Robert Millar" which was entertaining. "Rough Ride" by Paul Kimmage is excellent as is the "The Rider" (already mentioned by Bill). I recall "French Revolutions" by Tim Moore being very funny too.

Of course none of these are training related exactly. Although the Millar book provides an excellent insight into the kind of singleminded, selfish determination required to succeed at the highest levels.

Yeah, I want to read the Millar book, haven't gotten to it yet, and good call with "French Revolutions", enjoyed it.

"Put Me Back On My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson" by William Fotheringham

One of the most heartbreaking stories of a promising rider who's life is cut short by drugs. I put this book forward every time somebody says, that they don't mind doping in cycling and these guys are professionals they know what they're getting into. I think this book makes the case that riders don't know what they're putting in their bodies, and that they cannot know the risks because of the extremes of the conditions they put their bodies through.

I second "the Rider" and "Dog in a Hat" but I don't think "Come and Gone" was worth the paper it is printed on, kinda loses the thread about halfway through and just peters out. At least Dog in a Hat has a narrative arc of going to Belgium and coming back.

I haven't read it, but I am looking for a copy if anybody has one I can borrow "One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers" by Tim Hilton

Ooh, sounds good, thanks for the recommendation! I actually agree about Come and Gone. I like him so much (and loved Dog in a Hat) that I wanted to like it, actually got a copy for review and didn't write anything about it, because I didn't want to say anything negative, and am not a good enough writer to figure out how to talk my way around it.

The best training book I know of is "Training and Racing With a Power Meter" by Hunter Allen and Andrew Coggan:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934030554/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1931382794&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ZBH2A0Q0ZCANS00WPAZ

I like to use it in conjunction with Friel's "The Cyclist's Training Bible," which I mostly use for the training-plan-construction worksheet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934030554/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1931382794&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ZBH2A0Q0ZCANS00WPAZ

This DEFINITELY looks like a must-read!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/slaying-the-badger-recalls-1986-tour-de-france

I have mixed feelings about the book "The Death of Marco Pantani" but ultimately it was a worthwhile read

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT_REVIEW&ARTICLE_ID=2172&QUERY=marco%20pantani&RETURN=review%20search%20for%20%27marco%20pantani%27&RETURNLINK=%2Fza%2FCCY%3FPAGE%3DPRODUCT_REVIEWS%26QUERY%3Dmarco%20pantani%26RETURN%3Dmain%20reviews%20page&PRODUCT_REVIEW_PAGE=&SEARCH_NAME=&QUERY_BRAND=

Though it was just snippets of interviews, I loved "The Peloton" by Timm Koln

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT_REVIEW&ARTICLE_ID=4041&RETURN=search&RETURNLINK=%2Fza%2FCCY%3Fsort%3Dpriority%2Basc%252Cscore%2Bdesc%26OPTION%3DSOLR_SEARCH_PRODUCT%26PAGE%3DSEARCH_SOLR_RESULTS%26q%3DThe%2Bpeloton%26y%3D0%26x%3D0%26facet.field%3Dsite%26facet.field%3Dbrand%26facet.field%3Dproduct_type%26facet.field%3Dcomponent_type%26facet.field%3Dapparel_type%26facet.field%3Daccessory_type%26facet.field%3Dgender%26facet.field%3Dsize%26facet.field%3Dreview_type%26rows%3D15%26start%3D0

Training books
Bicycle Road Racing by Eddie Borseywicz
Greg LeMond's Complete Book of Bicycling
The Training Bible by Joe Friel
The Lance Armstrong Performance Plan by Peter Nye
Training and Racing with a Power Meter by Hunter Allen and Andy Coggan

The Eddie B book was the first good training advice I ever read. It was before heart rate and power, and some of the nutritional and equipment advice is a bit bizarre, but overall, gives a good structure to training.

The LeMond book is pretty wide-ranging, but the structure to the training week and some of his advice on sprint progressions and setting your bike position is still excellent.

The Training Bible is also a must-read, even though I think it is unnecessarily complex. I also think his advice on training hours is something you can only evaluate after having ridden and recorded your training for a few years.

The LA book has way too many trademarked names of intervals. It's ridonkulous. But I think it offers a simplicity that Friel could benefit from. And the simplicity makes it easier to go out and do the workouts.

If I recall correctly, the Eddie B book tells you to eat horse meat, so you can be "strong like horse."