The academic year must have been a difficult one as when the summer holidays arrived, secondary school teacher Andrew Sykes was happy to do as little as possible. But while sitting on his sofa watching the exploits of the cyclists at the Great Wall of China at the Beijing Olympics, he realised the error of his ways and resolved to put a bit more adventure into his life. Two years later, accompanied by his faithful companion Reggie (his bike) but only a rudimentary plan, Andrew set off for a trans-continental cycling adventure that would take him along the route of the Via Francigena and the Eurovelo 5 all the way from his home in southern England to Brindisi in the south of Italy. There were highs and lows, rain and shine, joy and despair and they are all recounted here in a light-hearted, brisk style. "Good Vibrations does exactly what it says on the tin. That's exactly what I felt when I read it. It'll entertain, amuse and inform a host of aspirant travelers and armchair explorers like myself." "The author writes with warmth and wit, and does an excellent job of capturing every emotion, every landscape." "If this book doesn't inspire the reader to jump on their bike and go....nothing will." "I must say it's really rather good" Darrell, Manchester. "I loved it!" Jennifer. "The author writes with warmth and wit, and does an excellent job of capturing every emotion, every landscape (good and bad) on his journey. Thoroughly recommended!" Mr J.M. Ward. "Entertaining, funny, informative , inspiring, a great read for the armchair traveller. It's a very good book indeed" Richard Moore, star of ITV's " Band of Gold, " McCallum" and "Emmerdale". "It's honestly really good" John, Yorkshire. "Half way through it, a really good read" Tony, The New Forest. "If it is inspiration that you are looking for, then look no further!" Alf, Newbury.
Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie
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Review
A truly inspirational read. --Amazon.co.uk review
I thought this book was brilliant, it almost made me wish I had learnt to ride. --Amazon.co.uk review
If this book doesn't inspire the reader to jump on their bike and go....nothing will. --Amazon.co.uk review
The author writes with warmth and wit, and does an excellent job of capturing every emotion, every landscape. --Amazon.co.uk review
"Good Vibrations" does exactly what it says on the tin. That's exactly what I felt when I read it. --Amazon.co.uk review
I thought this book was brilliant, it almost made me wish I had learnt to ride. --Amazon.co.uk review
If this book doesn't inspire the reader to jump on their bike and go....nothing will. --Amazon.co.uk review
The author writes with warmth and wit, and does an excellent job of capturing every emotion, every landscape. --Amazon.co.uk review
"Good Vibrations" does exactly what it says on the tin. That's exactly what I felt when I read it. --Amazon.co.uk review
About the Author
Andrew P. Sykes was born and grew up in the small town of Elland in the foothills of the Pennines in West Yorkshire. He studied for a degree in mathematics at the University of York and immediately after graduation went to work in London for a firm of city accountants. The world of auditing was not however for him and in 1993 he left the U.K to go and work in France, initially in the tourist industry and then for four years teaching English in the Loire Valley city of Tours. He returned to the U.K. in 1999 to train as a secondary school teacher of French at the University of Reading. He still lives in the town and can currently be found working as the Head of Modern Languages at a secondary school in South Oxfordshire. You may well spot him each morning and each evening during term time cycling to work through the picturesque countryside that lies between the Thames Valley towns of Reading and Henley-on-Thames.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By fatgazzer
Format:Kindle Edition
Just finished reading the book, at 4;00am this morning. I found the whole context of the book to be in the real world from the planning, or lack of, the meeting people and the comments on the places he visited and people he met. As someone who is too old to start,too overweight and hasn't been on a bike since last summer i am inspired. The bike lights are on charge as we speak and planning my first ever sponsored ride, in a word THANKS
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
The EuroVelo network covers just about anywhere you would wish to cycle in Europe. Out of the 13 routes, number 5 is the only one that gives a starting and finishing point but only a general direction in the middle. Providing you stick to the EV rules (see EV wiki) cyclists can pretty much do their own thing. That is the joy of this route and what clearly gave Andrew Sykes such a buzz. One can positively taste, smell, hear and touch his journey in his book 'Good Vibrations' (The title refers to the many cobble stones the bike and rider had to endure as well as the good vibes the trip brought about) Well done Andrew. If this book doesn't inspire the reader to jump on their bike and go....nothing will. It did me and although I was overweight, less fit and much older than Andrew, only one of those things applies now !
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Bristol Gog
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I take my hat off to anyone who does these long distance rides, so Andrew Sykes deserves congratulations on making the trip and putting the book together. And while the trip through safe, prosperous, France, Switzerland and Italy is unlikely to be as exciting as, say, Mark Beaumont's crossing of Iran on his round the world trip, I have to say I did find this book a bit uneventful in places. As others have commented, the references to the bike as a person grew a bit thin by the end, and a bit more colour along the route would have helped.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Felt every bump in the road with them
A story of one man and his long suffering bike, written in a way which made you feel like every mosquito bite and every cobblestone touched you too. Read more
Published 3 days ago by pamela
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational Stuff
This is an excellent read and which works well on a couple of levels. Firstly the descriptions of the people & places Andrew and Reggie encounter are both well-written and... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Mr. John A. Hilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reggie is the real star in this tale of tyres
I wasn't expecting to enjoy a book written by an ex-accountant and a.....how do I say it .....a .....teacher! but hey live and let live and all that...... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Monty Carlow
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dust your bike down!
When reading this book you will want to dust your bike down and get moving! When I started reading I wondered if I had made the wrong decision to buy it, but very soon I was... Read more
Published 17 days ago by D. A. Strachan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Judith Birkby
A very good and well written book, am looking forward to the next one. Good luck on any future ventures.
Published 26 days ago by J Birkby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Excellent story very entertaining and topographically interesting for anyone travelling through these countries. I can recommend this book for cyclists and travellers.
Published 1 month ago by grannyjan uk
3.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant read
A light hearted account of a bicycle tour from the UK to southern Italy - 'light' being the operative word. Read more
Published 1 month ago by G
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great, inspiring and funny read
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read from the moment you pick up the book. From the ride planning, apprehension and excitement, plus the doubting friends and colleagues, you can... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cornish Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars
A truly epic adventure and book
Feeling inspired from the amazing feats of the Great Britain team at the Beijing Olympics, Andrew Sykes felt it was time he challenged himself and go on a more unconventional... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Armchair cycling doesn't get better than this
Andrew Sykes is a language teacher, an admirable profession that to do well, I assume, must have some empathy with the countries and people who live and speak those languages. Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. P. Thompson
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