More often than not, you’ll find me with my nose in a great book! And I love nothing more than reading about self-powered adventures on two wheels. Whether it’s taking on the challenges and seeing the sights that Great Britain has to offer, or pedalling off to the far-flung corners of the world, I just can’t get enough. The books are a great way to escape and relax, to enjoy adventures from the comfort of my own armchair and, most importantly for me, to inspire me when planning my next challenge.
Here are eight of my favourite cycling adventure book authors so that you can add some fantastic reads to your bookshelf. I’ve separated them out into different categories to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. There are British adventures, world journeys, and even a suggestion for those of you who aren’t too bothered by cycling but love travel and animals! You don’t need to be a cycling enthusiast to love any of these books. They are not technical and are far more about travels, adventures, seeing new places and meeting new people.
Great British adventures
Mike Carter
In One Man and His Bike: A Life-Changing Journey All the Way Around the Coast of Britain, Carter tries to do just that, cycling as close to the coastline as he possibly can for 5,000 miles from London, all the way back around.
He mixes humour with fascinating stories of people he meets along the way, providing you with a real sense of some of the quirks of British life. Unlike many ‘funny’ travel books, his humour is never cruel or degrading, and I promise that you’ll finish the book wanting to get on your bike and head for the seaside!
George Mahood
Years ago, when I was preparing for our John o’ Groats to Land’s End ride, I read a blog about two men who decided to cycle it too. They began at Land’s End, wearing just their boxer shorts, with no money and, most bizarrely of all, no bikes. Their plan was simply to rely on the kindness of people to help them out along the way.
Will they make it to John o’ Groats? Will they even make it out of Land’s End Car Park? Will they find bikes to ride? Will they find some clothes? Or get arrested before they have the chance?
Find out in George Mahood’s lighthearted and kindhearted read, Free Country.
Riding the Rest of the World
Anna McNuff
Winner of the 2020 Amazon Kindle Storyteller Literary Award, Llama Drama tells Anna’s tale as she, and her friend Faye attempt to ride top to bottom of South America, looking for llamas, nature, the very best of human beings, and adventure.
She writes in a friendly, positive style but isn’t afraid to share the downsides, challenges and human frailties that come with a journey like this.
There’s plenty more from Anna too, but I haven’t gotten round to reading these yet. As soon as I do, they’ll be reviewed and on the list!
Tim Moore
I was recommended Moore’s first book, French Revolutions, by a friend and, from the moment I picked it up, I was hooked! It describes his attempt to go from amateur (and very occasional) cyclist to a man who takes on the entire route of a Tour de France, albeit not quite as speedily as the pros.
It’s extremely funny, but you also find yourself really rooting for him as he goes from someone who, in the early stages of the ride, misses out the bits he feels are a little pointless and spends much of his time pushing his bike up big mountains, to someone who can proudly say that he has conquered some of the Tour de France’s biggest challenges.
His subsequent books, Gironimo, about his attempt to ride arguably the hardest Grand Tour race ever, the 1914 Giro D’Italia, on a bike from the same period, and The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold, that details his bonkers 5,500-mile ride along the border of the Iron Curtain, the border of the former USSR, on a Soviet-era, East German shopping bike, are just as good, if not better.
I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing more inspiring than a story where a seemingly ordinary person takes on the extraordinary. It leaves me desperate to get planning my next big challenge!
Chris Pountney
I just love this guy!! His zest for life, child-like exuberance and energy for adventure, ability to show us all how to live simply and his kind, gentle nature make for wonderful story-telling.
His writing style and humour are less nuanced than Moore or Carter’s, who could both be termed ‘professional travel writers’, but that’s what is so endearing about Chris Pountney’s books. You get a real sense of his personality and character, and it draws you beautifully into his world and the challenges of cycling such huge distances, being far from home in foreign lands, the desire many of us have to live a life that is not just ordinary, and the quest to find someone to share that life with.
His book series will take you all over the world, from seas to summits, Europe to Asia, Australia to South America. If you want to get a feel for how to live life on two wheels, you just can’t go wrong with his three books, No Wrong Turns, Into the Sunrise, and Different Parts of Everywhere.
Mark Beaumont
Mark Beuamont’s cycling book series stand apart from the rest of the books here. If you’re after someone trying to push themselves to the limit and set crazy records, Mark is your guy.
I remember watching the TV series about his first around the world journey. It was captivating, seeing him ride through what are often considered some of the most dangerous places on Earth, yet being met with friendship and kindness at every turn. I was also fascinated by his Ranulph Fiennes-like approach. He aggressively goes after his goals and struggles at times to contain his emotions because of the fatigue he faces.
So, when I found his book, The Man Who Cycled the World, for sale in my local bike shop, I bought it and went on to devour it and every subsequent book he has written back-to-back. Here’s a summary of the different challenges:
The Man Who Cycled the World: His first around the world attempt.
The Man Who Cyled the Americas: 15,000 miles top to bottom of continental America, climbing the two highest mountains at either end.
Africa Solo: His Cairo to Cape Town world record attempt. There’s something about cycling through Africa that seems even wilder and more remote than his other attempts, so this was truly fascinated me.
Around the World in 80 Days: This one, his second around the world ride, is truly mind-bending! Having lost his record to various riders since his first attempt, he goes all out to try to win it back and post a time few could ever contemplate. He just needs to ride 225 miles a day, for 80 days to achieve it!
Something For Everyone
Dean Nicholson
Nala’s World can be enjoyed by anyone: cyclists, non-cyclists, animal lovers, travel and adventure lovers, and anyone who likes kind people!
Dean’s story begins as a round-the-world cycling adventure with his friend, but they don’t get on so well and he ends up carrying on alone. Alone, that is, until he bumps into a four-legged friend high in the mountains of Eastern Europe. Not wanting to leave the cat to starve, he rescues her and the rest, as they say, is history.
Dean’s Instagram page goes made with feline-friendly followers and Nala, as he names her, becomes the star of the show. A book that will make you grin like a Cheshire Cat!!!
And Something Especially For Children
Alastair Humphreys
This wonderful chap has all sorts of books, about all sorts of adventures! But, one of his real gems, The Boy Who Biked the World, is designed especially for youngsters. It’s fun and engaging with plenty of pictures and activities to break up the reading. That makes it really easy to read in bitesize chunks and keep kids engaged, entertained, and inspired to get out and be more active themselves. A winning formula by my reckoning!
Plus, there are more books in the series if you find your kids really love them!
