7-Eleven: America's Greatest Cycling Team is the first book to tell the full story of America's first and greatest pro cycling team. Founded in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz and Olympic medalist Eric Heiden and sponsored by the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores, the team rounded up the best amateur cyclists in North America and formed them into a cohesive, European-style cycling team. As amateurs, they dominated the American race scene and won seven medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. As professionals, beginning in 1985, the team went to Europe and soon received invitations to the Tour of Italy and then the Tour de France, putting Americans on the podium in landmark victories that would change the face of American cycling forever. Prepared with the enthusiastic cooperation of the team members and co-authored by the team's founder, Jim Ochowicz, 7-Eleven is not only the most important missing piece in the story of American cycling, but the book that American cyclists have been waiting for ever since the 7-Eleven cowboys snagged that first yellow jersey. Geoff Drake is the former editor of Bicycling Magazine and VeloNews , and has covered cycling events worldwide including the Tour de France and Olympic Games. During his tenure at VeloNews , he covered Team 7-Eleven during it most important years. He also writes regularly for national motorcycle magazines and is the author of Smooth Riding , a motorcycling book. He is an avid cyclist, a Category II road racer, and an Ironman triathlete. He lives in Aptos, California. Jim Ochowicz is a two-time Olympic cyclist and former speedskater who cofounded the 7-Eleven cycling team in 1981. He managed 7-Eleven through 1990 and its successor, the Motorola Cycling Team, through 1996. He served six years as president of the board of directors of USA Cycling, and is currently the manager of the BMC Racing Team. He was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1997. The first complete history of America's first professional bike racing team Released in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the team's formation Written with the enthusiastic cooperation of the team's founder and riders By Geoff Drake with Jim Ochowicz, forwords by Eric Heiden and Eddy Merckx Hardcover, 320 pages, 6 1/2 x 9 1/2"