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The Man Who Cycled The World
On 15 February 2008, Mark Beaumont pedalled through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 194 days and 17 hours previously, he had set off from Paris in an attempt to circumnavigate the world in record time. Mark smashed the Guinness World Record by an astonishing 81 days. He had travelled more than 18,000 miles on his own through some of the harshest conditions one man and his bi...more
Paperback, 572 pages
Published
May 22nd 2009
by Bantam Press
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I have to say that after the first 110 pages, which detailed the first leg of Mark's journey around the world, I was still not sure that I was going to enjoy the book. Apart from what you would expect from a 18000 mile cycle ride (tiredness, aches etc) I initially felt that I was getting very little out of reading this book. For me the joy of reading travelogues is to get a bit if an idea about the places that the writer is travelling through, but this was more about the mechanics of such a jour...more
I throughly enjoyed reading this book about a young Scotsman who in 2007 set off to ride his bicycle around the world in search of breaking a world record for such an event. He started from Paris and cycled alone through much of Europe and then onto Turkey. From Turkey he rode into Iran, Pakistan and India. He continued through Southeast Asia and from there across Australia and then the length of New Zealand before starting again in California. He crossed the U.S. in the dead of winter heading t...more
This collection of anecdotes that fills out the bare bones chronology of a circumnavigation of the world by bicycle leaves you with an unexpected insight into the shared generosity of humanity. The responses Mark receives to his world record attempt also highlights the different reactions to adventure, pushing the limits and bicycles in general within and between the varied cultures on our planet.
This isn't great literature, the best book you'll ever read or any of that usual hyperbole. It is a...more
This isn't great literature, the best book you'll ever read or any of that usual hyperbole. It is a...more
As somebody who has only recently come back to his long-lost two-wheeled love, this book jumped out at me off of a bookshelf on my last visit to the library. Looked interesting enough and I honestly can't think of any interesting bike books, so this seemed worth a spin. (Ouch. Bike pun.)
I enjoyed this book but wouldn't necessarily recommend it. But if you're interested in travel or athletic pursuits, you might like it.
Beaumont's quest to break the world record for fastest time biking around the...more
I enjoyed this book but wouldn't necessarily recommend it. But if you're interested in travel or athletic pursuits, you might like it.
Beaumont's quest to break the world record for fastest time biking around the...more
Simply written, but very engrossing. Although the travel commentary was enlightening, I most enjoyed reading about what was going through his mind and spirit. As a cyclist myself, I felt as though I was flying down the road with Mark, reliving some of my own long-distance challenges, although they were nothing compared to his. What is missing here, unfortunately, is an epilogue. What happened in the three and six months after the race ended? What was the recovery like, both physically and emotio...more
Looking forward to reading my Christmas present. Just need to wait for the wife to finish with it!
Interesting but I got annoyed with his dislike of the US. He had one bad experience (should never open a motel door to someone you don't know, especially when it sounds like a drug deal is going bad in the parking lot. Duh.) He was so intent on meeting his daily goal to beat a world record that he rarely took the time to enjoy any of the scenery or people around him. Oh, he beat the record by 2 MONTHS, so a few minutes each day wouldn't have affected the outcome! I'd really like to meet his mom...more
A gift..... not my usual thing as biographies / auto biographies don't usually float my boat, but let's give it a try.
Inspirational. I felt like I was slogging along beside him. Unlike the dreadful '127 hours' this a man who is not full of resentment, self importance or delusional about his social position. Mark Beaumont told the story as it was and in many senses was a fascinating travelogue rather than being about 'him'. Indeed so much so that I was sorry that it simply stopped at the finish l...more
Inspirational. I felt like I was slogging along beside him. Unlike the dreadful '127 hours' this a man who is not full of resentment, self importance or delusional about his social position. Mark Beaumont told the story as it was and in many senses was a fascinating travelogue rather than being about 'him'. Indeed so much so that I was sorry that it simply stopped at the finish l...more
A great easy-reading book for anyone interested in monster solo challenges, bicycle touring, or seeing the world from the vantage point of a slow traveller. Really found myself living the journey with him. Left me inspired both on the rising to a personal challenge front and on the getting-out-and-seeing-the-world properly point of view: as slowly as possible, meeting the people, living their lives. None of these city-break weekend trips to tick a place off the list!!
Tail of one mans epic adventure around the world on a bycycle. He started in Paris and cycled 100 plus miles every day for just over six months. Vis europe tukey paskistasn, india, tiland, across Austrailia USA and back to Europe via libourn spain & Franch. The power to just keep goig every day was just amazing.
It is amazing to think that this guy was riding basically 100 miles a day every day for seven months. I've never ridden 100 miles in a week and if I even got close it would require some major time to recover. An inspiring story and an interesting perspective since he is Scottish and views the world he rides through very differently than an American would.
Aug 20, 2009
Neil
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants to gain an insight into the mind of an adventure cyclist
For anyone who has watched the BBC documentary, the book offers a greater insight into the thoughts and experiences that Mark Beaumont encountered on his epic journey around the world. The story is gripping, real, honest, and, at times, very humbling. You won't be able to put this one down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the journey. Divided into seven sections it take you through each leg of the journey narrated by Mark. Absolutely incredible journey and very inspirational. Fantastic read
Interesting to read his progress through the challenge but became repetitive in his descriptions of how sore he was, how tired or exhausted he was, what he eat, where he slept or made camp, and how many miles he completed. Stories other than these basics were too rare. His generalized views of the US were disappointing.
I was very inspired by his story of perserverance, and it gave me a new perspective on riding my bike.
Two people I knew read this and thought it was boring. I thought it was amazing.
very engaging. his cycle through America provided an interesting perspective.
Jul 26, 2011
Corleen gallinger
added it
a whole new insight that you just can't get from the documentary.
Reads a bit like one of my own travel diaries - observations about the world and the wierd and wonderful things in it tempered with frustrations about language barriers, culture clashes, being ripped off for being a foreigner and fears of not finding anywhere to stay in the remote place you've just arrived in at midnight. Oh, and he does a lot of cycling too. Loving it.
Am I the only one who couldn't stand this guy and how self-absorbed he is? He cycled around the world to chase his 15 minutes of fame
I really loved this book. I'm a cyclist myself, although I'm lucky if I cover 100 miles a week rather than almost every day for 195 days.
Truly inspiring and makes you want to go out and do something daft!
Truly inspiring and makes you want to go out and do something daft!
Fascinating and inspiring story of a cyclist's race around the world to beat the Guinness World Record.
Inspiring book and a gentle holiday read
While I am thoroughly impressed with the feat of riding over 18k miles inless than 200 days, the read was about as monotonous as the ride seemed to be. I learned a bit about some places I'd like to visit, and I learned that 18,000 is a very big number indeed. The book deserves a good skim.
Nice easy read charting Mark's amazing race around the world. I thought it amusing that he managed to cycle through supposedly dangerous areas of Iran, Pakistan and South East Asia without major incident, but was both run over and mugged in a single day in the US
Oct 27, 2009
Zooworld
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves a good anecdote!
Shelves:
biographicals,
travel
This book is a quite humorous look at the anectdotes that can be accumulated by cycling round the world! It documents every stage of his journey, revealing many realities that are not acknowledged by the popular press along the way.
Not the best book I ever read, but it wasn't a bad read by any stretch. I would suggest it to a friend who enjoys cycling.
Well written and totally lacking any arrogance, despite the achievement
A quick engaging read, I enjoyed it.
May 19, 2013
Bob Taylor
added it
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