Over the year of interviewing adventurers for my Grand Adventures project, I chatted to lots of folk who’ve written books about their cycling journeys.
If you’re planning a trip of your own I recommend you dipping into some of these before you go.
Any other good ones I’mve omitted? Please do have your say in the comments below.
- Leon McCarron: The Road Headed West
- Tom Allen: Janapar (the film Janapar is excellent). Also the author of http://gearforcycletouring.com/
- Mark Beaumont: The Man Who Cycled the World
- Anna Hughes: Eat, Sleep, Cycle: a bike ride around the coast of Britain
- Alastair Humphreys (sorry for shameless plug!): Moods of Future Joys / Thunder and Sunshine / The Boy Who Biked the World
- Dom Gill: Take a Seat
- Jason Lewis: The Expedition
- Rob Lilwall: Cycling Home from Siberia
- Helen Lloyd: Desert Snow – One Girl’s Take on Africa by Bike
Also recommended:
- Thomas Stevens – Around the World on a Bicycle
- Tom Kevill Davies – The Hungry Cyclist
- Tim Moore – French Revolutions
- Anything by Josie Dew, Anne Mustoe and Dervla Murphy – three prolific cyclists and authors who should totally refute the myth that solo cycle touring is only for boys
Helpful Resources
- The Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook – Stephen Lord
- http://gearforcycletouring.com/
- UK: http://www.ctc.org.uk
- USA: http://www.adventurecycling.org/
- http://bicycletouringpro.com
- The On Your Bike Section of the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/on-your-bike
- The Cycle Touring Festival
My new book, Grand Adventures, is out now.
It’s designed to help you dream big, plan quick, then go explore.
The book contains interviews and expertise from around 100 adventurers, plus masses of great photos to get you excited.I would be extremely grateful if you bought a copy here today!
I would also be really thankful if you could share this link on social media with all your friends – http://goo.gl/rIyPHA. It honestly would help me far more than you realise.
Thank you so much!
Grand Adventures from Alastair Humphreys on Vimeo.
For a different take on bike touring
Crane Brothers: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?page_id=134003
Great book!
Journey to the centre of the earth by the crane brothers is a favourite of mine, makes ultralighters look heavyweight
I would add Barbara Savage’s book Miles From Nowhere to the list. It is
an around the world trip before cell phones and the Internet.
There is a Dutch cycler / writer called Frank van Rijn who published 12 books. One of his books is published in English called ‘Pilgrims and Peppers’ [ebook]
Miles From Nowhere by Barbara Savage is number one on my list.
The Long Road From a Broken Heart
One Man and his Bike by Mike Carter, a brilliant description of his tour around the coast of Britain.
The Longest Climb by Dominic Faulkner, combines 5000 miles cycling with climbing Everest.
Breaking Loose by Dave Cook. Highly literate description by Dave who gave up his job as National Organiser of the British Communist Party in order to ride to Australia to go rock- climbing. Brilliant.
I would add Cycling to the Ashes by Oli Broom. In 2009 Oli cycled from London to Brisbane, playing cricket in some unexpected places on the way.
toms
Sorry, I know I’m a year late but try Julian Sayerer’s ‘Life Cycles’ – the London cycle courier who got round the world in 6 months.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is my favourite too … still have original hardback from 1987 !
Mark Jenkins – off the map
Might this book interest your readers?
At 62, Maxine Jones, journalist, stand-up comedian and mother of three sons, decides to up sticks. She cycles into a glorious European summer, destination unknown, gigging on the way. She ends up in Turkey, in a climate of uncertainty.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-East-Istanbul-Maxine-Jones-ebook/dp/B0BF5T5G7X/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=HYPVWB6PIRW1&keywords=maxine+jones+cycling+east&qid=1663223863&sprefix=%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-2
I hope you can give it a mention.
Best wishes,
Maxine
Great list! Here’s one e-book readers might be interested in; it’s an up-to-date (2022) take on extended bikepacking cycle touring journeys: Bikepacking & Off-road Cycle Touring guide