I'm after suggestions for a book for my birthday.

Probably cycling related, but open to suggestions. I have the RSF archive book, Fat tyre Flyer and I have Richpips one on order.



TIA

If you like his style of writing then Re-Cyclists:200 Years on Two Wheels by Michael Hutchinson is a great read. It's an irrelevant look at cycling from the very beginning and very funny and well written. To give you an idea these are from the Amazon listing

Somewhere in a German forest 200 years ago, during the darkest, wettest summer for centuries, the story of cycling began. The calls to ban it were more or less immediate.

Re:Cyclists is the tale of the following two centuries. It tells how cycling became a kinky vaudeville act for Parisians, how it was the basis of an American business empire to rival Henry Ford's, and how it found a unique home in the British Isles

just finished this. very good.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gironimo-Ridin ... 0224100157

This is excellent,:

Young Irish woman cycles to India solo in the 1950s.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms ... 60&bih=654

I enjoyed John Metcalfe's Dividing the Great:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dividing-Great ... B005U0OHTA

faustus wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:20 pm I enjoyed John Metcalfe's Dividing the Great:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dividing-Great ... B005U0OHTA

T'is a great read.

Also Journey to the centre of the Earth by the Cranes

Travis Cully's 'Immortal Class' is a fantastic read

techno wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:55 pm This is excellent,:

Young Irish woman cycles to India solo in the 1950s.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms ... 60&bih=654

^ everyone with an interest in bike travel should read this. It's excellent.

Lost Lanes (whichever area you like - South, West, Wales or North) by our very own Jack T.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Theres-W ... s+a&sr=8-1

Been recommended this but just waiting on the postman delivering it.

jameso wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 6:41 pm

techno wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:55 pm This is excellent,:

Young Irish woman cycles to India solo in the 1950s.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms ... 60&bih=654

^ everyone with an interest in bike travel should read this. It's excellent.

It's a gripping read and I found her truly inspiring. An proper adventure and a really warm, sympathetic person.
Also, I reckon she packed more adventure into that one trip than the majority of us get in a whole life.

sean_iow wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:24 pm If you like his style of writing then Re-Cyclists:200 Years on Two Wheels by Michael Hutchinson is a great read.

Highly recommendable. I really enjoyed that too

techno wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:55 pm This is excellent,:

Young Irish woman cycles to India solo in the 1950s.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms ... 60&bih=654

another full tilt fan here. a great read. there was gears on the bike but she fecked them off before she left. singlespeedin to india fair play

not bikey at all, but edward abbey - desert solitaire. first published in 1968 it documents his time as a park ranger in utah. that makes it sound sh!t but his descriptions, and thoughts on and connections with nature are brilliant. there was a before having read this and an after having read this for me. one of my faves!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Solitai ... lit&sr=8-1

Not cycling related but ‘Lost in the wild’ is a great book with 3 separate stories of people who got lost whilst out exploring the forests and rivers of North America https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Wild-Dang ... 904&sr=8-2

I’ve also read the Emily Chappell book recommended above, another good choice

shutupthepunx wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 10:16 pm not bikey at all, but edward abbey - desert solitaire. first published in 1968 it documents his time as a park ranger in utah. that makes it sound sh!t but his descriptions, and thoughts on and connections with nature are brilliant. there was a before having read this and an after having read this for me. one of my faves!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Solitai ... lit&sr=8-1

Second that choice for sure. A great read and a classic of the genre. The Brave Cowboy is a great fiction choice from the same author too.

I was given Graeme Fifes "Climbs of the Pyrennes/Alps" for my fiftieth. Love pouring over those ..might be harder to find

I'll suggest 'The Year' ... it's perhaps one of the most interesting cycling* books I've read and I've done my fair share.



*I do kind of think that it's as much about people and their spirit** than it is about cycling.


**Not in a hippy-dipshit kinda way.

"Free Country" by George Mahood - LEJOG, starting without any money at all. Or indeed bikes. Or indeed clothes either . Now that's ultralight bikepacking.

https://www.georgemahood.com/books/fr ... ritain/

Dervla Murphy obviously compulsory reading, and anything Crane Brothers: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (sorry just seen your tip voodoo), Bikes Up Kilimanjaro etc etc.. if you can find them

chris n wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:35 pm Lost Lanes (whichever area you like - South, West, Wales or North) by our very own Jack T.

Seconded. Great touring inspiration as I found / proved to myself a couple of weeks ago in Wales. Some really good rides local to here in the original / LL South book. Some of the routes in LL North look really dramatic. Looking forward to LL Scotland..

Thanks all, some excellent ideas. I have asked for Full tilt. No doubt I will refer to this list again for future xmas & birthday presents