The Chainlink

The Immortal Class (book) by Travis Hugh Culley

OK - new thread here.

Many (most?) of us have doubless read this book (I've read it at least 4-5 times);
but every time I encounter something unique on my early morning commmute
downtown (from Humboldt Park) I am drawn back to this book and its stories.

What were others' reactions to the book ?

I think author is a very perceptive; insightful who posseses an excellent ability
to put it all down into words a very readable way. (Is he still around, btw ?)

Today's insight was this : Getting squeezed between a tour bus (one of those red monsters) and a long line of cars stopped at a red light is a bit unnerving - the windows are *SO* high no one can see you. You basically need to wail on the side
iof the thing with your U-Lock (I didn't ; but almost did). The backs of those things
radiate a ton of fumes and heat too ! ugh.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Travis Hugh Culley on July 16, 2009 at 8:55pm
PS. JG, I asked you to Edit the book, and you agreed. Besides you know as well as I do that the only reason that you admitted being part of the anthology discussion (at all!) was because I pointed it out to the Sr. editor of the Reader. Otherwise, you would not have shared that information either. Maybe you should apologize to the others who feel I miss-represented them, because you clearly miss-represented yourself (and me).
Permalink Reply by UV Metal Arts - Powder Coating on July 16, 2009 at 9:51pm
See what I mean by controversy daniel. You should start a thread limited to the book and not Travis. The book is worth it. It is what it is. It will never be resolved, or forgotten.
Permalink Reply by Travis Hugh Culley on July 16, 2009 at 10:34pm
The fact is that JG's article is based on the same Advanced Reader's Edition that he edited. I made changes based on his comments. Then "Shoot the Messenger" came out, in time for the book's release, same week, so these opininions conscerning my book spring from the same Advanced Reader's Edition that he mentions. He tries to punch holes through the same book he made changes in. From my point of view, that is the contraversy.

I hope this has been illuminating.
Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on July 17, 2009 at 10:59am
John Greenfield said:
Folks,

Here's the text of "Shoot the Messenger," the Reader article I wrote about
Travis' book: http://collegeofcycling.org/media/greenfieldtravis.html


I just read John's Reader article and it had me wanting to read the Immortal Class again. Not quite sure what the lasting controversy over the article or the book is. I think the article portrayed similar exciting drama that is found in the book. It also seemed to balance different perspectives, good, bad and otherwise, really pretty well.

To me it seems like it must have been a good marketing piece for the book at the time it was released. Like I said, it had me wanting to read the book again.
Permalink Reply by Travis Hugh Culley on July 20, 2009 at 9:59pm
I would have spared you the story about how I lost a friend.
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 20, 2009 at 10:43pm
still haven't gotten my book! Don't ruin the ending for me:)) Apparently I only ordered it 6 day ago but it feels like a lifetime!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 22, 2010 at 11:14pm
Hey all, Border's is having a 33% discount tomorrow (September 23) with this coupon. Enjoy. Maybe you can buy this book or anther bike book.
Permalink Reply by David on September 23, 2010 at 8:14am
I don't know about others, but I'm getting "Page Not Found" on that link. Maybe you need to be logged in, or maybe they took it down due to the massive chainlink traffic ;-) (chainlinked!).

This appears to be the same article on the Chicago Reader site though. I'd agree with Bikefreek about the contents. To an outsider it doesn't seem to be any kind of attack piece or anything, just a fairly typical long, somewhat rambling Chicago Reader PR piece for the book's release with viewpoints from all sides. I suppose it reads differently if you were actually personally involved in the events back then.

The end of the article really bothered me, though. "Culley is literally bouncing off the walls with excitement".

Literally? Really? O tempore, o mores.

John Greenfield said:
Folks,

Here's the text of "Shoot the Messenger," the Reader article I wrote about
Travis' book: http://collegeofcycling.org/media/greenfieldtravis.html

Just to clarify, I didn't edit the book but he did give me a bound advance
copy to read. At the time I noticed a handful of factual errors and pointed
them out to Travis. Theses errors were corrected in the first published edition
of the book.

After I read the advance copy, I started working on the Reader article,
with Travis' cooperation. I also spoke to about 20 other people for the piece,
including all the early contributors and a bunch of other messengers who appear
in the book.

That's when I heard about the additional examples of factual errors and
misquotes that appeared in the first published edition, as well as the issues of
borrowed material from the contributors, that I discussed in the article.

Thanks,

John Greenfield
Permalink Reply by Justin K Prim on September 23, 2010 at 2:50pm
I've read this book a few times now, once when I first started delivering and then again when I first moved from College town, Indiana to Chicago. Both times it has gotten me really excited about biking and about being in a city. I really liked it a lot because I could really related to Travis' perspective especially at the beginning of the book. That sort of "Fight Club"..., the world is doomed or at least fucked because of where modern culture has taken us... idea. I was really right in that mind set when I first read the book and I think I especially love it because of that.

A good read for sure.

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