Racing California

Evan Boroughs is a talented 18-year-old with an exciting future. He plans on going to college with his new girlfriend, Glory, after graduating, and pursuing an M.D. alongside her. His plans take an abrupt turn when his cycling prowess is noted by a newly put-together cycling team, who works with him during his winter break in Phoenix. Elated by this attention and excited about the possibilities before him, Evan signs the contract, much to the chagrin of his parents and girlfriend. What follows is an up-and-down dive into the world of professional cycling.
As a former cyclist (though certainly not pro), I enjoy reading about athletic endeavors and can even appreciate a lot of the cycling jargon that is thrown around extensively in this book. The story of the race and the technical aspects of being a pro-cyclist, therefore, were probably more absorbing for me than they might be for most. I can see how someone who is not into cycling or even sports could get lost amid the new vocabulary, and at times the story faded and it felt like I was reading a fictional rendering of a “how to be a professional cyclist” manual. Lynch delves into all of the various complexities of a cycling tour, including drug use, sponsorships, fandom, heckling, and the like. Naturally, there are several moments in the book that are exciting to read and bring back memories of my cycling days. However, the story did not have much meat to it. Evan I found to be arrogant and oblivious most of the time, with a confusing inner dialogue I couldn’t always follow. One second he’s devastated about a fight with his girlfriend; the next, he’s checking out some girl who acts interested. Some plot lines were predictable, and other incidents that occur are followed without full explanation (so, did Dash dope up or not? I was still unsure at the end of the book!).
Some terminology bothered me—it’s kind of strange to read a book by a woman from a male’s perspective, talking about a teenage girls’ “rack” and more. Not that it’s not necessarily an accurate portrayal of how some guys think; it’s just a bit unnerving. Overall, I think this book may appeal to some die-hard athletes or those who are interested in pro-cycling, but for me, it left much to be desired.