Draft Animals

By: Phil Gaimon

Narrated by: Phil Gaimon

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Like countless other kids, Phil Gaimon grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete. But unlike countless other kids, he actually pulled it off. After years of amateur races, hard training, living out of a suitcase, and never taking "no" for an answer, he finally achieved his goal and signed a contract to race professionally on one of the best teams in the world.

Now, Gaimon pulls back the curtain on the WorldTour, cycling's highest level. He takes listeners along for his seasons in Europe, covering everything from rabid, water-bottle-stealing Belgian fans, to contract renewals, to riding in poisonous smog, to making friends in a sport plagued by doping. Draft Animals reveals a story as much about bike racing as it is about the never-ending ladder of achieving goals, failure, and finding happiness if you land somewhere in-between.

©2017 Phil Gaimon (P)2017 Tantor

I’m a fan!

I do have to admit I’m a fan of Phil’s. That being said, it’s not from his riding. I’d never heard of him until I stumbled across his YouTube channel. But his story, personality, and writing style have made me a fan. To me everything he puts out resonates with me. I truly like his stuff and the sense of humor with which it’s delivered.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great listen. Narrated by the man himself.

Great anecdotal insight on the multiple issues of (barely) making it as a pro cyclist. Gaimon is funny and articulate, and it is obvious that the book was written by himself. Nothing like other ghost-written cyclist books (namely Armstrong's, Hincapie's or Hamilton's), this one was well worth the listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

a great book read well

I will admit I'm a little depressed having now finished Draft Animals. Running out of pages of a good book always sucks, but also Phil paints a bleak but I'm sure honest and realistic picture of the pro cycling scene. I'm bummed for him and how he ended up, but also proud that he didn't succumb to the pressures to cheat or the pressure to lie and say it was all a cake-walk.

I was plleasantly surprised with his reading of it too. Usually author-read books are terrible, but Phil does great and I even think the jokes turn out better with him reading them then they would just in my head.

Great Listen!

I thouroghly enjoyed every bit of this book. Very cool for amateur cyclists to get a sense of the politics that goes with being a pro. Phil's dry sense of humor is hysterical.

Great book Phil!

Captain Smart Ass does it again. Three in a row I couldn't put down. Cookie!

Excellent and Funny Book on Pro Cycling

Phil’s honestly and sense of humor were so good that I finished this binge listening in one day at the beach. I hope he writes another book because he’s very good. Life after cycling would be a good read.

Phil Gaimon does not hold back

Phil doesn't hold back in this story of chasing his dream. At times it comes across as sad, maybe even depressing and could almost be a cautionary tale. Yet there are also times you get the sense of what it's like to be part of a team, almost a bad of brothers type story. It may not be a uplifting story of overcoming adversity, but it's a brutally honest take and a must read for an aspire athlete.

Enjoyed hearing the ups and downs

Phil did a great job going through his ups and downs as a pro cyclist. As a weekend warrior it gave me a realistic look into the reality of pro cycling. Thanks Phil for the uncensored reality that is pro cycling in the post doping era.

More Please

Listened to Phil’s book to and from work and physical therapy after a recent knee surgery. Gobbled it up in only a few monster sessions. His performance and prose take me into the world of cycling and bike racing. I appreciated his honesty regarding his feelings of disappointment regarding his Pro career. I assume Jonathan Vaughters doesn’t like this book...lol.

I’m now a big fan of Phil and his YouTube channel. Check it out.

Hey Phil, from the words of Charlie Sheen you’re “Winning.” Oh, and you have “tigers blood.” Well done.

Awesome and Inspiring

I’m new to competitive cycling and have only come to know who Phil Gaimon was through his Worst Retirement Ever YouTube channel. I came to enjoy his YouTube videos and collaboration with other PodCast YouTuber’s. I’ve been training for the upcoming race season and was looking for cycling related audio books to get me through the winter trainer sessions when I discovered this.

I did not have any expectations leading in, so I was surprised that I was hooked and engaged as he recounted his success and failures. It was also touching to hear the passion he shared for his father and commitment for Joanna.

Great book, I’m a new fan and hope that he continues to produce content. His writing and story telling is great.