Round The World On A wheel

Round The World On A Wheel is the story of when John Foster Fraser, along with two others, cycled around the world. They set off in 1896, when the British Empire was at its height (Empire features much in this book) and the world was a very different place than it is today. Record-breaking ride … Read more

The Book of Trespass

The Book Of Trespass, by Nick Hayes

Right from the outset, you need to know that this book isn’t (directly) related to cycle touring. Alongside that, you need to understand that The Book Of Trespass, by Nick Hayes, is probably the most important book in the UK. That’s a very bold claim, but once you read the book (and you really, really … Read more

One Man And His Bike – Mike Carter

When Mike Carter was cycling to work in London, following the bank of the Thames, he had a thought. What if he simply kept going, keeping the water to his right? He’d end up cycling to the coast, then follow the coast all around Britain, to eventually end up back in London. From that simple … Read more

Life Cycles – Julian Sayarer

When Mark Beaumont set a new round-the-world cycling record, he managed to get corporate sponsorship to finance his record attempt. One London cycling courier saw that as an affront, and was determined to set a new world record on a self-financed, shoe-string budget. That courier is Julian Sayarer, and Life Cycles is the book that … Read more

A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe

In 1983, the head teacher of a posh girl’s school in Suffolk was on holiday in India. Out the window of the tour bus, she saw a cyclist, and instantly decided that she wanted to cycle not only across India, but around the world. This was Anne Mustoe. In 1988, she finally quit her job, … Read more

Potholes and Pavements, by Laura Laker

Potholes and Pavements: A bumpy ride on Britain's National Cycle Network, by Laura Laker

I must confess a few things I thought before reading this book:1) Laker is a journalist, and British journalism is probably at it’s lowest, and least trustworthy, ever. As a result, not knowing Laker’s work very well, I was seriously apprehensive.2) I’ve written about Sustrans and the NCN before, so thought there wouldn’t be much … Read more

Le Grand Tour – by Andrew P Sykes

I’ve a confession to make, right from the outset: I’ve read all of Sykes’ books, and I’m a big fan of his work. Why am I starting a book review with this disclosure? Simple: this will be a positive review. However, it’s a positive review because it’s a great book, and not because of his … Read more

Book review – Wild Camping the Wild Atlantic Way

Wild Camping the Wild Atlantic Way - a book about cycle touring the Wild Atlantic Way

Every traveller’s journey is unique to them, and is a snapshot in time. This book tells the story of when I cycled the bottom half of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. If I had to cycle exactly the same route today, I’d end up with a completely new, and different experience. This is my adventure, and … Read more

This Road I Ride – Juliana Buhring

This Road I Ride, by Juliana Buhring

In this world, very few people truly get to be trailblazers. Juliana Buhring is one of those few people. This Road I Ride tells the story of Buhring’s record-breaking round-the-world bike ride. If you’re a man, you may not like me saying this, but Buhring is an exceptionally tough person – likely far tougher than … Read more

Book review – How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way

How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way - by Lorraine Lambert

How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way is a book about cycle touring across Canada, written by Lorraine Lambert, who also has a blog here, and I suggest you go read that. The Wrong Way? Like just about anywhere on earth, Canada has prevailing winds, and those mostly blow from west to east. Lambert cycled … Read more

Coffee First, Then The World

Coffee First, Then The World, by Jenny Graham When you read stories by people who cycled around the world, you quickly learn that doing so is an enormous achievement. When it is done solo, it becomes an even bigger achievement. When done as a woman, riding on her own, unsupported, it becomes monumentous. Finally, when … Read more

Book review – All Downhill From Here

All  Downhill  From  Here,  by  Paul  Waters This book tries to be both a “hilarious” account of the author’s JOGLE (John O’Groats to Land’s End) ride, as well as a “How to” guide, for those aspiring to do the same. Waters’ writing style will be enjoyed by some, but I’m not in that crowd. Instead, … Read more

Book review – Miles From Nowhere, by Barbara Savage

Miles  From Nowhere,  by Barbara Savage The very short version is that this is a book about a round-the-world bike ride. That description, while true, doesn’t come remotely close to doing this book justice! Published in 1983, it tells the story of how Barbara Savage and her husband Larry Savage, set off to first ride … Read more

Book review: The Slow Road To Teheran

A WillCycle book review of The Slow Road To Teheran, by Rebecca Lowe

The  Slow  Road  To  Teheran,  by  Rebecca  Lowe I’ll freely admit I absolutely love books that tell the tale of daring, long-distance cycling adventures. A good book like that tells the story of a fantastic cycling adventure. A great book like that tells the story in such a way that cycling, though central to the story … Read more

Book Review: Travels With Rosinante, by Bernard Magnouloux

If you cannot go on an amazing adventure, such as spending five years cycling around the world, then at least you can share in the adventure others have had, by reading a book they wrote about their adventure. This is what makes cycle touring books so brilliant to read: we get to share vicariously in … Read more

Book Review – Signs Of Life, by Stephen Fabes

Signs Of Life tells the story of when Stephen Fabes quit his job as a medical doctor to cycle around the world. Like any good travel journal, Fabes doesn’t simply give a blow-by-blow account of the journey, which took him six years to complete. In fact, there are entire countries he cycled through that almost don’t … Read more

Book review: Along The Med On A Bike Called Reggie, by Andrew P Sykes

I’ve reviewed two other books by the same author before – his 1st book, and his last book. This review is for his second book, which I only fairly recently purchased and read. Sykes is on Twitter as @CyclingEurope, so give him a follow and he has a podcast, with full details available at his … Read more

Book review – Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle, by Dervla Murphy

In 1963, Europe had one of the coldest winters, and 1963, during winter, was when Dervla Murphy set off to cycle from her native Ireland to faraway India. Along the way, she kept a diary, and this book is the result of that diary. The world was a totally different place in 1963, as you’d … Read more

Book Review: Pedal Power, by Anna Hughes

Pedal Power is a very unusual book, from the pen of the very talented Anna Hughes. I reviewed an earlier book of hers, Eat Sleep Cycle before. What makes this book unusual? It’s non-fiction, but that’s not unusual. The unusual part is it tells the stories of over 80 people who were pedal powered, and … Read more

Book review: Spain To Norway On A Bike Called Reggie, by Andrew P Sykes

I’ve reviewed one of Andrew P Sykes’ books before – the first book he published, but for some reason or another didn’t get around to reading any of his other books. Since my last review, he’s published several more books. He’s on Twitter as @CyclingEurope, and he has a podcast, with full details available at … Read more