Vélo
Vélo
by Paul Fournel
Vélo is a unique look at the bike. Through a series of short essays, Paul Fournel beautifully evokes the experience and spirit of all aspects of cycling. From the glorious moment of first learning to stay upright on two wheels, to the joy of riding with friends, from the delight of good days to the hell of bad days, from the Tour de France to tours of landscapes discovered while out riding.
Accompanied by illustrations from Jo Burt, these pieces are the story of a love affair not just with the bike, but with everything it represents. It was published in 2012 and is now out of print, this edition is now regarded as something of a collectors item. The orignial Vélo was a reworking of Paul’s original text ‘Need for the Bike’ [‘Besoin de Vélo’] yet it also featured added new work from Paul’s columns he wrote for Rouleur magazine from 2006 to 2012. It’s since been republished without the illustrations.
“To ride is an enchantment – in the true sense of the term”
– Paul Fournel
“For me, road maps are dream machines. I like to read them as one reads adventure stories”
– Paul Fournel
“Joyous. Destined to become a classic”
“Cycling writing at its best”
Special Edition
“Two hours and four coffees later I found myself finished nearly every story in this gem of a book that I couldn’t put down”
“An enjoyable take on what it is to ride a bike”
Special Edition
About the author
Paul Fournel is a French writer and author who lives in Paris. For a long time he was an editor (with Ramsay and Seghers among others). He has been president of the French writers’ association Société des gens de lettres. He has managed the Alliance Française in San Francisco. He has been a cultural attaché in Cairo and in London. He is now a full time writer, and a cyclist for the rest of the day. His third full time occupation is as president of French writing group Oulipo.
Among his works, the novels Un homme regarde une femme, Foraine, Chamboula; the novellas Les petites filles respirent le même air que nous, Les grosses rêveuses, Les athlètes dans leurs têtes, Les manières douces de Profane Lulu; for the theatre: Foyer Jardin; essay collections Guignol, Poils de Cairote, Besoin de vélo (translated into English as Need for the Bike and, in an updated translation with new material, as Vélo); poetry, Toi qui connais du monde, Terines d’amérique.
Published in 2012 by Rouleur Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN 978-0-956862-41-9