It's not about the bike : my journey back to life

The internationally bestselling autobiography of world cycling superstar, Lance Armstrong - cancer survivor and seven time winner of the Tour de France.I want to die at a hundred years old with an American flag on my back and the star of Texas on my helmet, after screaming down an Alpine descent on a bicycle at seventy-five miles per hour. I want to cross one last finish line as my wife and ten children applaud, and then I want to lie down in a field of those famous French sunflowers and gracefully expire: the perfect contradiction to my once anticipated poignant early demise.'A slow death is not for me. I don't do anything slow, not even breathe.'In 1996 twenty-four-year-old Lance Armstrong was ranked the number one cyclist in the world. But that October the Golden Boy of American cycling was sidelined by advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. His chance for recovery was as low as twenty per cent. Armstrong embarked on the most aggressive form of chemotherapy available and underwent surgery - including brain surgery - to remove cancer that the treatments could not reach. Five months after his diagnosis he resumed training under a cloud of uncertainty.Armstrong returned to competitive cycle racing in 1998 when the United States Postal Service team invited him to join them, and from there he trained himself to victory in the 86th Tour de France in 1999.Although scarred physically and emotionally, Lance Armstrong considered his cancer a 'wake-up call', one that crystallised for him the blessings of good health, family, friends and marriage. Since 1996 he has dedicated himself to fighting cancer and supporting the cancer community, establishing an educational and fundraising foundation in his home town of Austin, Texas.This is the story of a journey, from inauspicious beginnings through triumph, tragedy, transformation and transcendence. Filled with the physical, emotional and spiritual details of his recovery, It's Not About the Bike traces the remarkable journey of this great athlete to a singularly inspiring appreciation of life lived to the fullest. 'A slow death is not for me. I don't do anything slow, not even breathe.' In 1996, 24-year-old Lance Armstrong was ranked the number one cyclist in the world. But that October the Golden Boy of American cycling was sidelined by advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. His chance for recovery was as low as twenty per cent. Armstrong embarked on the most aggressive form of chemotherapy available and underwent surgery-including brain surgery-to remove cancer that the treatments could not reach. Five months after his diagnosis he resumed training under a cloud of uncertainty. This is the story of a journey, from inauspicious beginnings through triumph, tragedy, transformation and transcendence. It is a story of early success, near fatal cancer, survival, recovery, victory in the 1999, 2000 and now 2001 Tour de France, the Sydney Olympics, marriage and first-time fatherhood. Filled with the physical, emotional and spiritual details of his recovery, It's Not About the Bike traces the remarkable journey of this great athlete to a singularly inspiring appreciation of life lived to the fullest. 'Armstrong's story is both inspiring and uplifting. It might not be about the bike, but it's one hell of a ride.' - Perth Sunday Times 'This is not just a cycling book. It's one of the most heart-rendering accounts of an athlete's struggle against cancer.' - Rupert Guiness, Australian "I want to die at a hundred years old after screaming down an Alpine descent on a bicycle at 75 miles per hour. I don't do anything slow, not even breathe. I do everything at a fast cadence: eat fast, sleep fast." At twenty four, Lance Armstrong was already well on his way to becoming a sporting legend. Then, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with stage four testicular cancer. When lesions appeared on his brain and in his lungs, doctors gave him a 40% chance of survival. On that day Armstrong's life changed forever and in typical fashion he met the challenge head on - this was one fight he was determined not to lose. As he battled against the cancer invading his body and the chemotherapy that threatened to sap his soul, a tremendous sense of commitment emerged, to his training and to the people around him who never gave up on him. Just sixteen months after he was discharged from hospital, Armstrong entered the Tour de France, a race famed for its gruelling intensity, and won, in the fastest ever time. Just a few months after that, he became a father. It's Not About the Bike is the story of one man's inspirational battle against the odds, charting his progress through triumph, tragedy and transformation. This is an awe-inspiring tale of immense courage and will. At twenty four, Lance Armstrong was already well on his way to becoming a sporting legend. Then, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with stage four testicular cancer. This was one fight he was determined not to lose. This book tells the story of one man's battle against the odds, charting his progress through triumph, tragedy and transformation.