Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride

“Maybe like the riders themselves, I didn’t want it to end.”“No bravado, no posturing. As a beginner female cyclist, I loved this book.”“How he had the nerve to get lost is mind-boggling; but gave him a colourful adventure.”Is it possible to cycle 1,000 miles across Britain in 13 days and still find the time to slow down and enjoy the ride? Twenty years after riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Alistair set out with his friends to repeat the adventure and quickly discovered that times have changed. Bike computers have replaced maps and thousands of cycle paths now criss-cross Britain. It didn’t help that he now lives in Australia and spends more time on a paddle board than two wheels. With little training and a borrowed bike, he set off from Land’s End, determined to enjoy every moment. Faced with so many natural distractions, he soon began deviating from the plan. With many miles to cover, along remote tracks, these diversions came at a price and something had to break. Would it be the bike, the camaraderie, or Alistair’s inquisitive nature? Along the way, he survived heatstroke in Devon, went in search of a lady called Daphne and braved wild storms in Glasgow. After a swim in Loch Ness, he found time to enjoy a beer in one of the remotest pubs in Scotland. Everyone who travels across Britain has a story to tell. This is Alistair’s. If you like travel books, you’ll enjoy this inspirational story, which shows that with luck, curiosity and perseverance, anything is possible.