Review: Britain’s Best Bike Ride by John Walsh and Hannah Reynolds

In a radio weather forecast a while back, the host started with a question. Did you know that there is only one named wind in Britain?’Yes! ‘ I replied. “I read about it last night!” This is a nice little detail you get in John Walsh and Hannah Reynolds’ book Britain’s Best Bike Ride. There are also a number of more useful ones that may be suitable, or at least inspirational, for running the length of the UK.

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I don’t know if it’s “The Ultimate Thousand Mile Cycling Adventure From Land’s End to John O’ Groats” as the subheading claims, but the book is certainly useful, informative, and inspiring. A cycling guide. Lejog.

First, there are maps for every stage of the journey, and I love maps. Additionally, they can all be downloaded as .gpx files. It’s not a book I want to carry around, so it’s a little big so it’s convenient.

The journey is divided into 30 stages, so if you have the time, you could make the trip over a month (I had a neighbor who took three weeks to travel from Land’s End to Carlisle). , with four or more stages. This depends on your fitness and how quickly you want to complete the ride.

Conveniently, John and Hannah provided some ideas for three different itineraries.

There are obviously many different routes to get from the foothills of Cornwall to the top of Scotland. For example, John and Hannah landed on the Ride Across Britain version, which departs from his end in a completely different direction. .

> Deloitte Ride Across Britain: Done

In Britain’s Best Bike Ride, their route begins along Cornwall’s north coast and later heads inland, but I’m already addicted to it as I miss the challenging Cothelstone climb at RAB’s Quantock. I’m here. (However, like RAB, it still includes Recht and Glencie, who are in back-to-back tough stages in Scotland.)

The book begins with some general information about the journey and what to expect from the various regions (the stages themselves are grouped into nine regions). It’s well written in a conversational style, but I have to blame the author for saying you’re “easily in Avon” in the Somerset area (Avon no longer exists as a county, but I pedant).

You’ll also see “Best Stage” suggestions for views, climbs, meals, etc., as well as a table listing the stages and their various stats. I thought there was a cumulative mileage column here, but you can get that in the profile for each stage next to or above each map.

There’s also useful information on how to get to Land’s End, where to stay, where to eat, and a corresponding chapter at the end explaining how to escape from John O’ Groats…

As for the stage chapters, each begins with a brief overview, giving details on its length and amount of climbing, suggestions on where to stay, where to eat, where to buy supplies, and nearby bike shops, if any.

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You also get a very detailed description of the route for that particular stage, broken down into smaller chunks, and directions to follow. To be honest, I don’t know why the author included directions here unless you really take this book with you on your journey. (But it’s always good to have the paper version).

For example, Stage 8 Chew Stoke to Tintern: Does it help to know that “After Easter, Compton splits into Pilning train station”? please.

It can be very useful if you don’t use a GPS computer. Is this what touring cyclists used to do in the old days? – but either carrying a lot of extra weight or taking lots of pictures with your phone before you go…

There are also some general observations in these sections – the spooky warnings of the Wye Valley, the correct way to pronounce “Scone” Palace (and neither of the two ways you might think), and various A note on historic places – and I can. John and Hannah would have been better off sticking with the directions rather than including them, unless the directions were also downloadable. For example, Jack Thurston’s Lost Lanes books don’t bother you with step-by-step directions, but crucially they are downloadable so you can save them to your phone or use them wherever you need them. (Admittedly, it’s more of a one-day route than a 30-stage journey), in case you really don’t know which way to go.

Again, if you carry a book with you for nighttime reading, it can be a good way to prepare for the day ahead (wye valley spooky tales aside…).

But actually, I consider this book to be much more inspirational than a step-by-step guide to the route. That’s what maps are for. (Feel free to discuss it in the comments.) And I’m already wondering if I’ll be able to take three weeks of vacation this year…

By the way, the eponymous wind is called the Helm Wind, which blows over Great Dunfell, said to be the highest paved road in England, but fortunately it does not climb the LEJOG route. Apparently it’s “Scone”.

verdict

A practical, inspiring and comprehensive guide to this iconic journey – with downloadable maps