American Pro The True Story of Bike Racing in America [Paperback]

American cycling has a long tradition of riding and racing on a shoestring and a prayer.Jamie Smith explores the domestic side of the worlds biggest amateur sport inAmerican Pro: The True Story of Bike Racing in America.

American Prorips away the thin veneer of professionalism among domestic racing teams to lay bare the heart and soul of a struggling sport. Smith traces the arc of one teams racing career to discover colorful personalities, scrappy racing action, humor and heartbreak.American Proshows what the sport demands: the scramble for contracts, the dynamics of team chemistry, the unending travel, the Herculean struggle to realize the dreamall for the love of bike racing.

With sharp humor and insight, Smith uncovers whats wrongand whats rightwith Americas broken bike racing system.American Prowill transform how you think of domestic pro racing through a five-season expos? of the sport we love.

• Like Phil Gaimons best-seller, Pro Cycling on $10 a Day, Smith traces the arc of one teams racing career.
• Reveals the struggles of U.S. bike racing teams in the post-Lance Armstrong era.
• Release timed with Paris-Roubaix and the beginning of the U.S. domestic racing and peak riding season.

In this underdog story of boy-meets-dream,American Prolays bare the heart and soul of bike racing in America.

Many cyclists start out whipping around city streets in small towns dreaming of making it bigits how I started racing.American Prodetails the heart, dedication, and sacrifice that one teams staff and riders go through trying to make it.FRANKIE ANDREU, former pro cyclist and Olympian

Selected Praise forROADIEby Jamie Smith and Jef Mallet

Everything youve wanted to know (and more) about a somewhat mysterious sport. Chicago Tribune

This witty primer offers lively insights&Get it for family members and friends.l³°