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One Man and His Bike: A Life-Changing Journey All the Way Around the Coast of Britain Paperback – 7 Jun. 2012

by Mike Carter (Author)

3,459 ratings

in Cycling History & Biography

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What would happen if you were cycling to the office and just kept on pedalling?

Needing a change, Mike Carter did just that. Following the Thames to the sea he embarked on an epic 5,000 mile ride around the entire British coastline - the equivalent of London to Calcutta.

He encountered drunken priests, drag queens and gnome sanctuaries. He met fellow travellers and people building for a different type of future. He also found a spirit of unbelievable kindness and generosity that convinced him that Britain is anything but broken. This is the inspiring and very funny tale of the five months Mike spent cycling the byways of the nation.

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[Carter is] a likeable and self-deprecating guide, the gentle comedy of his endeavours conceal[s] a vivid portrait of a Britain rarely seen by many city dwellers ― Financial Times

A breath of fresh air ― Nicholas Crane

A lively road trip round the periphery of Britain that goes to its heart. Wonderful -- William Fotheringham

About the Author

Mike Carter grew up in Birmingham and now lives in south-west London, from where he commutes to his freelance shifts at the Guardian and Observer on a bicycle. Although still married to his motorbike, the capital's traffic jams, speed cameras and bendy buses have somewhat cooled the relationship.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ebury Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 7 Jun. 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0091940567
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0091940560
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.29 x 20.32 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 10,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 4 in Cycling History & Biography
- 14 in Road Bikes (Books)
- 74 in Travel Writing (Books)

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3,459 ratings

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Mike Carter

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Mike Carter grew up in Birmingham and has spent most of his adult life in London, working in advertising, as a film location manager and then as a journalist. Mike has written for many national newspapers and magazines, but primarily for the Guardian, the Observer and the Financial Times, writing mostly travel. He now lives halfway up a hill in the glorious Black Mountains, Wales. His first book, Uneasy Rider, was The Oldie's travel book of the year. His second, One Man and His Bike, won Caught by the River's travel book of the year and is a regular Amazon No 1 best-seller. His latest book was All Together Now?, charting a 340-mile walk Mike undertook from Liverpool to London - through England's post-industrial heartlands - in May 2016, just weeks before the EU referendum. It is a book about how 40 years of neoliberalism have destroyed the lives of ordinary people and communities. Christopher Eccleston called it "A vital and powerfully moving book", while the Observer said "this important, disturbing and frequently heartbreaking book should be read by every politician in Westminster".

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3,459 global ratings

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Customers find this travel book engaging and well-written, telling the story of cycling around Britain with wit and humor. They appreciate the thought-provoking content, with one customer noting how it restores faith in everyday people. The book receives positive feedback for its portrayal of interesting people met during the journey, and one review highlights its detailed descriptions of beautiful places off the beaten track.

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Readability Humor Thought provoking Writing quality Adventure story Personality Nature Travel content

295 customers mention ‘Readability’295 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read, with one customer particularly noting how it captures both the highs and lows of the journey.

"...And as Mike observes, we really do live in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth...." Read more

"I enjoyed the whole book and was disappointed when I turned the last page and saw no more script...." Read more

"...writes in a way which you can feel and see the vistas and the beauty of Britain...." Read more

"I bought this for my dad who is a keen cyclist himself. He absolutely loved the book and found it hard to put down. Great buy!!!" Read more

195 customers mention ‘Humor’195 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with many noting it has lots of moments that make them laugh out loud, and one customer describing it as a light and fun read about non-professional distance cycling.

"...I admire his ability to see the humour in situations and his obvious writing skills...." Read more

"...Enjoyable read, I didn't want the journey to end." Read more

"...One of the most inspiring, funny and inspirational books I have ever read." Read more

"...The book was a really enjoyable read. To start with its written by somebody who can actually write (ok he does it for a living)...." Read more

161 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’158 positive3 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and enlightening, providing wonderful insights into the author's thoughts and experiences, with one customer noting how it restores faith in everyday people.

"...Overall though this book is well deserving of 5 stars. An uplifting book and a wonderful tale of travels through Britain." Read more

"Rarely right reviews but resonated with the journey. One of the most inspiring, funny and inspirational books I have ever read." Read more

"...I love the fact that Mike added interesting details for each place he went through...." Read more

"This is such an inspiring and thought provoking book. I love Mike's sense of humour...." Read more

125 customers mention ‘Writing quality’123 positive2 negative

Customers praise the book's writing quality, describing it as eloquently and fabulously well written, with a relaxed style that makes it easy to read.

"...I admire his ability to see the humour in situations and his obvious writing skills...." Read more

"...The author writes in a way which you can feel and see the vistas and the beauty of Britain...." Read more

"...I loved all the stories he heard especially about Stevie who pedalled to Hawaii, yes Hawaii!..." Read more

"...To start with its written by somebody who can actually write (ok he does it for a living)...." Read more

85 customers mention ‘Adventure story’79 positive6 negative

Customers find this book to be a fascinating journey, thoroughly enjoying the story of traveling around Britain on a bike, with a sense of adventure on every page.

"...An uplifting book and a wonderful tale of travels through Britain." Read more

"Reading this book is a lovely way to vicariously travel the coast of Britain...." Read more

"Rarely right reviews but resonated with the journey. One of the most inspiring, funny and inspirational books I have ever read." Read more

"...However, it soon becomes clear that he has researched his route thoroughly and has organised stop offs along the way, with a varied group of..." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Personality’23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of the British people, highlighting the author's warm and friendly interactions with strangers throughout his journey.

"...His encounters with such a wide range of interesting people - most of them friendly and helpful and only a handful of them not so reflect my own..." Read more

"...and has organised stop offs along the way, with a varied group of interesting people...." Read more

"...for completing the journey, as it showed you that the people of the UK are friendly and helpful to fellow travellers...." Read more

"...I admire not only the physical feat of Mike's ride but the mental strength it must have taken too. How many of us would undertake such a challenge?..." Read more

22 customers mention ‘Nature’19 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's nature content, with one customer highlighting its highly descriptive accounts of the scenery, while another notes its exploration of wonderful places off the beaten track.

"...seeded with humour, fact and figures as well as highly descriptive accounts of the scenery, weather, roads and idiot drivers...." Read more

"...the simplicity of appreciating the forgotten beauty of this green and pleasant land, Mike captures the remaining kernel of adventure I'm sure is in..." Read more

"...It is also one mans guide to our coastline and seaside resorts, warts and all...." Read more

"...He is a gently humourous man who clearly respects humanity, nature and the tools of his trade, knowing how to get the most out of everything because..." Read more

18 customers mention ‘Travel content’18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the travel content of the book, describing it as a great travelogue that provides brilliant insight into traveling around the coast of Britain.

"...both one of my favourite books read in 2011 and one of the best travelogues about the UK, ranking up there with Paul Theroux's "The Kingdom by the..." Read more

"...as it showed you that the people of the UK are friendly and helpful to fellow travellers...." Read more

"...An excellent read for anyone involved in cycling and anyone with a love of personal travel and the beauty of the UK coast." Read more

"The book takes you around the coastline of the country , with narration that is entertaining, informative and easy reading ...." Read more

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Duncan S
Heart warming book and a very entertaining read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 October 2018
Verified Purchase

It is quite rare that I enjoy a book so much I feel compelled to write a review, but this is one such book. As a cyclist with aspirations to go on a long tour I found Mike Carter's story inspirational. As someone who often despairs at the number of Britons who constantly berate their own nation and talk about it so negatively I found Mike's experiences a wonderful antidote.
His encounters with such a wide range of interesting people - most of them friendly and helpful and only a handful of them not so reflect my own experiences. And as Mike observes, we really do live in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth.
I read a few negative reviews based on the fact the the majority of the book covers the first half of the journey, and Wales, the West Country and South Coast don't get the same level of coverage as the East Coast, Scotland and the North-West, but this is well explained in the book by the author himself, and it is quite clear that his best experiences were in the first half of the journey and by the time he got to Wales clearly was getting tired or the trip (not a good time to be in that frame of mind given the fact that the worst hills of the journey are going to be in Wales and the South-West.
Perhaps Mike should try the journey again but going the other way around! Although as someone who has also cycled some of those hills in Devon and Cornwall ..... he could definitely be forgiven for never wanting to do them again.
Overall though this book is well deserving of 5 stars. An uplifting book and a wonderful tale of travels through Britain.

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G.G.
I'd give it six stars.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2023
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I enjoyed the whole book and was disappointed when I turned the last page and saw no more script. I've done a bit of long distance cycling myself and fully understand Mike's need for food and eating whatever is available, I understand his feelings about the generosity of strangers and counting the pedal strokes up long and steep hills. I admire his ability to see the humour in situations and his obvious writing skills.
I too would like to have a go at a round Britain trip but I've a wife that needs to see me with some regularity and although Mike could do the trip in five months I think it would take me a tad longer.
It is the first book in a long time that I picked up in every spare moment.. I bought my copy off Amazon as a second hand book but the condition was "as new"

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5 people found this helpful

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Majid Hussain
Spectacular and courageous account of journey around Britain
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2023
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Reading this book is a lovely way to vicariously travel the coast of Britain. The author writes in a way which you can feel and see the vistas and the beauty of Britain.

I learned alot about the various places and landmarks,the accents, the fuel/food a cyclist will come across,the hospitality of the folk of Britain and Written with humour and inspiration.

As some one who cycled indoors from class room to class room during my school days (I'm talking about myself (the reviewer of this review)on a tricycle with a huge baskglet on the back and a timid bell), I'm happy to hear the Author's cobalt blue bike takes it's rightful place against the racing bike.

Enjoyable read, I didn't want the journey to end.

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Jess
Super book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2025
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I bought this for my dad who is a keen cyclist himself. He absolutely loved the book and found it hard to put down. Great buy!!!

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Thelisterman
some are talkers…some are doers!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 January 2025
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Rarely right reviews but resonated with the journey. One of the most inspiring, funny and inspirational books I have ever read.

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Jim
Biking Home
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2011
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This was both one of my favourite books read in 2011 and one of the best travelogues about the UK, ranking up there with Paul Theroux's "The Kingdom by the Sea" and Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island". (Actually, on reflection, it's better than either of them.)
It's hard not to envy Mike Carter's ability to be able to say one day, "Sod this", as he biked through a rainy London to his work, and decides to jack it in to follow the temptation to just keep cycling on along the Thames to the coast before turning left to circumnavigate the whole of the British coastline on his bike. Nice idea, and nice to be in the position to do it too!
The bookshelves groan with the weight of a lot of these kind of travelogues, with people lighting out on their journey to find whatever it is they're looking for. Carter keeps the interest because he actually interacts with quite a few people that he meets and manages to colour these characters in quite well, and he keeps the balance between people and places quite nicely. You get the feeling that he has some quite strong opinions about the state of both Britain and Britons, which sometimes poke through the narrative, but the interesting thing for me was that the book looks on the bright side because that's what the author experienced on his trip. It would be quite easy, and no doubt enjoyable, to slag off a lot of the places Carter visits on his travels, but he resists the temptation for sarcasm and slander because, you feel, although it was part of his experience it was nowhere near all of it. We've all been to the utter run-down dumps that sit on our seashore, and we could all have a good go at laying into them for the states they are in because of the people, the politics or the poverty, but it's an easy target. Probably a dispiriting one too, and this bike ride is certainly not that.
Carter was gutted when his journey ends back in London, and I was disappointed too - that the book was ending. I wanted to know what Mike did next. Did he settle down? Did he set off somewhere else? Has he still not found what he is looking for? I looked him up on the net and was surprised to see I'd read another of his books, "Uneasy Rider", about a fairly rubbish and discontented motorcycle tour through Europe. It seems, as Mike often attests in this book, there's no place like home.

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mike
An enjoyable read, with lots of information on some of the less visited areas of our coast.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2021
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I really enjoyed the book. I gained a lot of information about areas of the Coast that are not the usual tourists haunts.
The author did annoy me somewhat in that he sets off rather impulsively, to the extent that he has to call in at a petrol station to buy a map! However, it soon becomes clear that he has researched his route thoroughly and has organised stop offs along the way, with a varied group of interesting people.
I have walked much of the British coastline, but I am inspired to visit some of the less well known areas.
A good read.

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libro di cicloturismo.
Reviewed in Italy on 22 August 2019
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ottimo libro, ben scritto belle avventure e viaggi. io ho letto tutti i libri di quest' autore.

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Andrew stephens
Couldn't put it down.
Reviewed in France on 14 April 2019
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Absolutely great, couldn't put it down. I wanted to stretch it out and make it last but ended up reading it over 1 weekend.
Would highly recommend this book.

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Sam
A fun adventure. If you can't or won't ever make ...
Reviewed in the United States on 26 September 2016
Verified Purchase
This is an interesting book on many levels. A travel adventure, a bit of learning about British history and an update on the current state of the economy in various parts of Britain. Plus a how-to of off-the-beaten-path travel while cycling and camping, with a few gems of mostly undisturbed scenic places. And a bit of a meditation on the difference between people from the big city, London, versus those living in small towns. The author bicycled around the entire coastline of the UK which is much father than you might first think, because of all the bays and inlets - 5,000 miles he says. Along the way he encounter untold numbers of characters and lots of kind and helpful people.

It's well-written too, the author is a professional journalist ( the Guardian ). A fun adventure. If you can't or won't ever make such a trip yourself this will give you a good feel for it.

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Suggy
The story creeps into your thoughts during various points of the day
Reviewed in Canada on 17 April 2020
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I stumbled across this book by searching “biographies.” I enjoy reading about the journey much more than the trophies awarded at the finish line. A further preference is to read about the average person, not the famous. This book looked like it would fit the bill (and it did).

By coincidence I am a touring cyclist. I generally avoid cyclo-touring books because of the poorly written focus on technical detail and often the purpose of the book is to try and convince the reader about the importance of the finishing trophy. Downloading and reading the sample of this book hooked me. It became clear that this book has little to do with cycle touring or riding a bicycle for that matter. Another reader might disagree. To quote from the book: “I’m sure that anybody who loves their bike will understand what I mean.”

The book is well written. The story is compelling and provides the perfect framework to examine the struggle that many face. The (real life) characters, including Mike Carter, offer something to ponder. Mr. Carter’s sense of humor allowed me to laugh at the seriousness of the human condition without dismissing same.

At the suggestion of another review, I grabbed my phone and followed Mike around “the island.” Stopping from time to time to read about the location and its history and look at photos offered on various web sites.

To quote one of the characters, Stevie: “You can enjoy the first step and the last step and every step in between. They are all just as important.” I did!

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Tom Ivar Horvei
Just clever at first, then brilliant
Reviewed in Germany on 7 September 2016
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This book seems - at first look - to fit into the category “man is unsatisfied with life, takes on challenging journey to discover the meaning of it all”. And yes, there is a bit of that, but thanks to the fact that the unsatisfied man is Mike Carter, respected columnist of The Guardian, this is quite a bit more. I will get back to that.

One tends to compare a bit when reading travel books, and in this case, Andrew P. Sykes comes to mind, especially his “Crossing Europe on a bike called Reggie”. In there, it is demonstrated well that sharing the clumsiness of a debuting bicycle traveller, making all the mistakes of packing too much and so on, strengthens the relationship with the reader, and shows more of the human behind.

Mike Carter also shares how he packs way too much. (He took a blazer for the evenings!) And he describes it cleverly. All in all, this books starts a little too cleverly. With superior writing skill, Mike Carter tells the story of how his journey begins. But as a columnist, he is used to write with a certain distance, the observer, rather than the “Gonzo”, as he is in the book. This somehow fails to engage.

This reader hung on, though, and softened up as Mike Carter reached Skegness. In an encounter with a fortune teller, the clever columnist steps back, and the person known as Mike Carter bleeds through the pages. And from here, the only way is up.

In Whitley Bay, just north of Tynemouth, Mike Carter encounters Bill Scott, and stays in the B&B he runs. The conversation between the two men is so amazingly described, it is as Bill Scott rises through the page, and stands before you. Portrayal of people is certainly a great skill of Mike Carter.

Well, it has to be said, mostly men. Almost only men. The two women I can remember from this book, would be the fortune teller. And a lovely girl cycling by Mike Carter’s side for a couple of miles, before inviting him to stay over at her place. Mike rejects.

Regardless of that, the way Mike Carter bicycles around Britain, talking to people, and portraying them in this wonderfully vivid way, makes this book a unique piece of litterature. The portrait of a country, simply. And in between everything one wants to read in a travel book, how life on the bicycle swings between divine and horrific, how sometimes he just wants to go home, and how the journey changes a man.

This reader hopes Mike Carter will continue to share people’s stories in this way. This is a good read, and still, years after it was written, stands as a must read for anyone wanting to understand Britain. And it becomes clear why more than one bicyclist and traveller has named Mike Carter as an important source of inspiration.

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One Man and His Bike: A Life-Changing Journey All the Way Around the Coast of Britain Paperback – 7 Jun. 2012

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5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming book and a very entertaining read

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it six stars.

4.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular and courageous account of journey around Britain

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book!

5.0 out of 5 stars some are talkers…some are doers!

5.0 out of 5 stars Biking Home

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, with lots of information on some of the less visited areas of our coast.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars libro di cicloturismo.

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun adventure. If you can't or won't ever make ...

5.0 out of 5 stars The story creeps into your thoughts during various points of the day

5.0 out of 5 stars Just clever at first, then brilliant

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Heart warming book and a very entertaining read

I'd give it six stars.

Spectacular and courageous account of journey around Britain

Super book!

some are talkers…some are doers!

Biking Home

An enjoyable read, with lots of information on some of the less visited areas of our coast.

libro di cicloturismo.

Couldn't put it down.

A fun adventure. If you can't or won't ever make ...

The story creeps into your thoughts during various points of the day

Just clever at first, then brilliant