Joe Parkin's New Book Chronicles the Rebirth of American Pro Bike Racing

Joe Parkin's New Book Is the Sequel to His Highly Praised Memoir, A Dog in a Hat

Boulder, CO, USA - April 9, 2010 - After a grueling five-year education in bike racing (A Dog in a Hat), Joe Parkin describes his return to the U.S., his struggles with the nascent American bike racing scene, and the birth of mountain bike racing. Parkin's new book Come and Gone: A True Story of Blue-Collar Bike Racing in America is the sequel to his widely praised memoir A Dog in a Hat. Come and Gone is now available in bookstores, bike shops, and online.

After five years of racing in Belgium, Joe Parkin said goodbye to Flanders knowing he might never go back. He never did. Parkin flew back to the U.S. with empty pockets and no contract. For several years, he was unable to watch a Belgian spring classic without tears in his eyes, and seeing his former teammates race the 1992 Tour de France was torture.

Eventually, Joe landed a spot with the Coors Light cycling team. After the years in Europe, though, racing in the U.S. was too strange a transition. That's when Joe started racing mountain bikes.

Come and Gone follows Joe through three hardscrabble seasons chasing wins on the U.S. road racing circuit before he changes course and tastes victory as a mountain bike pro. A gritty, authentic, and heartfelt personal memoir, Come and Gone is also a chronicle of the rebirth of professional bike racing in America.

Come and Gone: A True Story of Blue-Collar Bike Racing in America by Joe Parkin
Paperback with color photosection
6" x 9", 208 pp., $21.95, 978-1-934030-54-7

"Parkin shows you life on the edge of the peloton. We know the great champions' stories, but Parkin's experience is far more illustrative of what a 'pro cyclist' really is." - PodiumCafe.com

"Have a seat in the middle of the peloton ... See what Joe sees, breathe what he smells ... Struggle with him as he strives to get out in front of it all. Parkin's words weave a colorful tapestry about living life on the bicycle racing circuit ... Yet that tapestry is soiled and tattered because of the true cutthroat nature of bicycle racing and the absolute grit in the stories Joe relives for us." - Dirt Rag magazine

"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

Joe Parkin's life has not been without adventure. He has been a professional cyclist, stunt pilot, motorcycle racer, and sharpshooter. He represented the United States at the World Cycling Championships and the World Cyclocross Championships. Parkin is the editor of BIKE magazine, blogs at 6YearsInARainCape.com, and contributed to Versus.com.

Media review copies, excerpts, author interviews and events:
Dave Trendler, Marketing and Publicity Manager, (303) 245-2138, dtrendler@competitorgroup.com

Distributors and specialty retailers, please visit velopress.com for order info or contact:
Jen Soulé, Sales Manager, (800) 811-4210, x169, wholesale@competitorgroup.com

VeloPress Announces Its 2010 Spring Book Releases

VeloPress has announced its spring 2010 book list and has released its new spring catalog. Please visit velopress.com to see new cycling, triathlon, and running books and to download the Spring 2010 VeloPress catalog.

The VeloPress spring list includes updates of the best-selling women's triathlon book, Sally Edwards's Triathlons for Women, 4th Ed., and of the cutting-edge power meter reference, Training and Racing with a Power Meter, 2nd Ed. from Hunter Allen and Dr. Andy Coggan.

Cyclists will be thrilled to learn about the American edition of Mark Cavendish's book, Boy Racer. The U.S. edition will include Cav's gripping descriptions of his 2009 victories and his expectations for the 2010 Tour de France (available June).

In his highly anticipated sequel to A Dog in a Hat, Joe Parkin returns from Belgium to race for the Coors Light team in the U.S. Come and Gone is a true story about the birth of pro cycling and mountain bike in America.

17 Hours to Glory will inspire triathletes and sports fans with 17 compelling stories of sheer athleticism and true strength of character during the Ironman(r) World Championships in Kona. Triathletes will never have to miss a workout again thanks to One-Hour Workouts.

Runners will learn how to train by feel using Run: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel, Matt Fitzgerald's follow up to Brain Training for Runners. Run explains how to craft the most customized and adaptable training experience by learning to listen to the body.


VeloPress is an endurance sports and fitness publisher with training books that help both serious athletes and beginners build skills and fitness. VeloPress authors are trusted authorities on training, gear, and nutrition. VeloPress also publishes historical and biographical books that take a closer look at the celebrated athletes and personalities in our sports. VeloPress is the book publishing division of Competitor Group, Inc., publisher of VeloNews, Triathlete, Inside Triathlon, and Competitor magazines. Competitor Group, Inc. also produces Elite Racing Rock 'n Roll marathons and half-marathons and the Muddy Buddy series of adventure races.