A Bike Ride: 12, 000 Miles Around the World
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in A Bike Ride: 12,000 miles around the world for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
AN EX-HEADMISTRESS, A BIKE, AND 12,000 MILES
Product Description
When ex-headmistress Anne Mustoe gave up her job, bought a bike and took to the road, she couldn't even mend a puncture. 12,000 miles and 15 months later, she was home.
Her epic solo journey took her around the world, through Europe, India, the Far East and the United States. From Thessaloniki to Uttar Pradesh, from Chumphon to Singapore, she faced downpours, blizzards and blistering deserts, political turmoil and amorous waiters - alternated with great kindness from strangers along the way.
A Bike Ride is the first in the series of Anne Mustoe's successful and inspiring travelogues.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have lived with this book ever since it came out in paperback in 1992. I have read it now seven times, and I never weary of it. It is a wonderful book, to inspire, occasionally to sadden, but most of all to inspire with the idea of a shared humanity. I have read the other reviews with genuine interest, and the one area where, as someone who has read a great deal of travel writing, I want to take issue is with the suggestion either that there is too much history, or not enough personal material. Anne Mustoe gets the balance exactly right. We are always with her as she cycles into town, usually thanking our lucky stars that we don't have cockroaches or other unmentionables under OUR beds. Incidentally, the original Virgin paperback did have a photo of Anne on the cover; and there are photos of her in the other books. She is a handsome woman; but she is also a wise woman, and a writer of great skill.
Buy and cherish this book. It took me a few years after reading it to pluck up courage to organise a solo holiday (in Japan) without going down the package route. We all have our levels of bravery, I guess; and Anne Mustoe's is exponentially higher than mine. But without her book, I don't think I'd have even done that!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was an inspirational book, written by a historian. I enjoyed the book.
However, I was disappointed with the book in one way. The author speaks mainly as a historian, taking the reader on a historical tour of all of the places she visted on her bike. Even by the end of the book, we know very little about the author herself, or her personal feelings. There are several very poor, black-and-white photos of places she visited, but there is not even one photo of her! I would have preferred one photo of her, with her bicycle, anywhere, than all of the other photos she included in the book. I would also have liked her to share more of her personal life with the reader, which she seems to have purposely avoided (In the chapter where she travels through the American Midwest, she comments that Americans seem to discuss their personal problems even with strangers, but indicates that she feels that is an oddity. I found that an interesting comment on American culture, and probably very true, when compared with other cultures, especially the British culture.)
This one issue aside, I found the book inspiring, for a woman of her age, and poor physical condition (at the outset) to have cycled around the world. I read with great interest her descriptions of the people's behavior (both toward her and toward each other) in various places. I was quite surprised by her descriptions of Pakistanis, Indians, and various Americans (as an American myself). I was both surprised and not surprised by her travels across America--it being the hardest place because of the vast, empty distances (particularly in the West).
Disappointingly, the author shared only a few minor details of her life. I am quite a history buff myself, but this book rather overdosed on history. Nevertheless, I did pick up a few interesting historical tidbits. For example, I found it quite interesting that her cycling through Italy was far easier than many other places (in spite of the mountains) because the Romans constructed their roads in such a way as to try to never give up height before reaching the highest point. Therefore, the route gradually climbed, whereas in newer areas (such as America), modern roads repeatedly climb and fall, making it much harder on a cyclist.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mrs Mustoe wasn't very fit or very young when she decided to embark on her adventure around the world. She wasn't even sure if she would make it, but was certainly going to give it a go. As a result, I have thought "well, if she can cycle around the world, I can cycle a country" and am looking forward to doing so this year. This book gives you an insight into the history of the various areas visited as well as a glimpse of the wonders of human nature along the road. Truly an inspiration and should be read by anyone who is even beginning to think "Oh, I don't think I'm capable of adventure anymore!"
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best cycle touring book ever
I read this book twice and referred to it several times over the years. It has inspired me to cycle 2000 miles from London to Istanbul. The best book ever.
Published 1 month ago by Fatim
A wonderful story
It took me a few chapters to get into this book but I did eventually start to enjoy it. The author brings the book alive with history relating to Alexander the Great's journey and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lesley_Redd
God Bless you Anne.
I was impressed by Anne having the courage to just up and go.
It is a very nice read, full of timeless information.
This is how such a journey should be done. Read more
It is a very nice read, full of timeless information.
This is how such a journey should be done. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Brian Jackson
Want to love it but I never do
I have tried to read all of Anne Mustoe's books because I have a huge admiration for what she's achieved and her tenacity in doing so. However, time and again I am disappointed. Read more
Published 15 months ago by N. Bolton
You know what.......................................
I liked this book and actually find ALL of Anne Mustoe's books good reads. Moreso as I will own up to being a little ignorant historically. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by I. Roberts
Fascinating view from the saddle
Anne Mustoe writes honestly and frankly about her courageous bike ride round the world. Her knowledge of classics makes the Indo-European adventures fascinating and informative,... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2006 by Woodpecker
Inspirational
I found this book to be really inspirational.
Whilst i found it hard to get into, after the first couple of chapters I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2006 by "gemmajones7"
Yes a little too much history.
Found this book on the shelf in summer let in Andalucia. While I was gripped enough to avoid the midday sunshine and found her experiences inspiring, I too could have done with... Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2005
Superb...
This is one of the best books I have read. I almost felt I on the journey round the world.
Entertaining, Educational, Excellent.
Can't wait to get the others.
Entertaining, Educational, Excellent.
Can't wait to get the others.
Published on 20 Jan 2005
Amazing Feat, But Disappointing Read
What an amazing feat. A cyclists dream, but one which is getting more and more difficult to attempt due to all the world unrest. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2003 by "cgooderham"
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
