Ghisallo: In Conversation with Patrick McCurdy
You’re invited to the North American launch of Ghisallo: The Heart of Cycling at Whistler Public Library on Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. The launch event will feature translator Patrick McCurdy reading a few short, anecdotal cycling stories from the book, giving you a taste of the vibrant history and stunning visuals captured in this coffee table edition. Patrick will discuss Ghisallo with Program Coordinator Jeanette Bruce, followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Registration is encouraged – email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up! Copies of Ghisallo: The Heart of Cycling will be available for purchase at the event courtesy of Armchair Books.
About the speaker & the book:
Patrick McCurdy graduated from the University of Western Ontario and embarked on an 11-year adventure across Europe. His studies took him to Switzerland, where he learned French, followed by work stints in Denmark and Germany, picking up the local languages along the way. Spanish was added through night school.
After his studies and entrepreneurial success in Europe, Patrick returned briefly to Canada before heading to Florida to study for his 6-passenger Yachtmaster’s Charter license. In 1982, he founded the Atlantic Sailing School in Fort Lauderdale, which he later sold.
Just before Expo ’86, Patrick settled in Whistler and launched Whistler Chalets, a vacation rental business. Years later, with more time on his hands, he began pursuing his passion for cycling. He started with WORCA and, in 2009, after some encouragement from close friend David McColm, took up road riding. Five consecutive Whistler GranFondos were just the beginning, followed by GranFondos in Italy, including Il Lombardia, Colnago Cycling, and the Prosecco GranFondo.
Patrick’s love for Italy and cycling inspired the purchase of an apartment in Bellagio, along with a Colnago road bike and regular Italian lessons both at home and in Italy. Conveniently, the Museo del Ciclismo, Madonna del Ghisallo, Italy’s iconic cycling museum, is just minutes from the Bellagio apartment.
Together with his wife and soulmate, Hannah, Patrick began volunteering at the museum. During his time there, Executive Director Antonio Molteni asked him to review a freshly translated English copy of their bestseller. The translation was clunky—more “Google English” than readable prose. Patrick volunteered to rework it. Fourteen months and 60,585 words later, the final English version was meticulously fitted into the original Adobe layout.
The book is a curated collection of Italy’s finest cycling journalism, chronicling anecdotes from races in the Golden Era of Cycling. These stories have never been translated or published outside of Italy before.
Endorsements have poured in from cycling legends like Bradley Wiggins and Tao Geoghegan Hart, as well as Canadian champions Monique and Chris Wilberg. Especially flattering was the written support from award-winning author Herbie Sykes, whose cycling novels captivate thousands.
