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Turning the Wheel: Ireland to India by Bicycle
The humble bicycle, I am convinced, is a vehicle that can return us to our true nature .
At thirty years old, against all sensible advice, I dropped a successful business in website building and pedalled from my back doorstep in Ireland to the Himalayas. My route took me across Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India. A commitment to pedalling every overland inch of the way resulted in eight thousand miles of chaotic highways and tranquil country lanes, of freezing winter-bound mountain passes and steaming tropical jungle paths, of endless empty desert crossings and the streets of densely packed third world metropolises. As I typically found myself in places well off the tourist radar, I often stayed at the mercy of local inhabitants; with Kurds in goat-hair tea-houses, with respectable Iranians and their opium loaded Shisha pipes, with Afghanis in dirt-floored desert roadhouses and even in the luxurious palace of a desert king and ex-Pakistani president.
The endless solo hours of contemplation brought fierce challenges to my conditioning. Breathing draughts of fresh air into expanded lungs, pedalling the bike day after day, my old ideas of who I was gradually crumbled and I began to feel more awake and alive than ever before. With no capsule around my senses, from the saddle I got to know the world and its people in intimate ways. For me, the journey was a time to be reborn, a nine-month gestation period during which I learned to trust the human soul, no matter in what colours it came decked
. This book is for anyone interested in real-life adventure, long-distance bicycle travel and the search for unconditional freedom.
At thirty years old, against all sensible advice, I dropped a successful business in website building and pedalled from my back doorstep in Ireland to the Himalayas. My route took me across Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India. A commitment to pedalling every overland inch of the way resulted in eight thousand miles of chaotic highways and tranquil country lanes, of freezing winter-bound mountain passes and steaming tropical jungle paths, of endless empty desert crossings and the streets of densely packed third world metropolises. As I typically found myself in places well off the tourist radar, I often stayed at the mercy of local inhabitants; with Kurds in goat-hair tea-houses, with respectable Iranians and their opium loaded Shisha pipes, with Afghanis in dirt-floored desert roadhouses and even in the luxurious palace of a desert king and ex-Pakistani president.
The endless solo hours of contemplation brought fierce challenges to my conditioning. Breathing draughts of fresh air into expanded lungs, pedalling the bike day after day, my old ideas of who I was gradually crumbled and I began to feel more awake and alive than ever before. With no capsule around my senses, from the saddle I got to know the world and its people in intimate ways. For me, the journey was a time to be reborn, a nine-month gestation period during which I learned to trust the human soul, no matter in what colours it came decked
. This book is for anyone interested in real-life adventure, long-distance bicycle travel and the search for unconditional freedom.
- GenresNonfiction
302 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2017
21 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 26, 2021
Bicycle tour full of adventure
I enjoyed reading Simon’s account of his cycle ride from his hometown in Ireland all the way to his dream destination in India. There are some very exciting moments described in detail relating to the final stages of his trip in India and Nepal which are well narrated and accompanied by stunning pictures. I love reading books about long-distance cycle trips and this one didn’t disappoint.
I enjoyed reading Simon’s account of his cycle ride from his hometown in Ireland all the way to his dream destination in India. There are some very exciting moments described in detail relating to the final stages of his trip in India and Nepal which are well narrated and accompanied by stunning pictures. I love reading books about long-distance cycle trips and this one didn’t disappoint.
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July 7, 2023Humour and adventure are apparently great mates and this book did not fail in either.
Simon Loughlin narrates his amazing adventure of cycling from Ireland to India and Nepal with a sense of humour which ensures that the reader is not bored reading about the travails of the lone cyclist.
He gets philosophical too, a result possibly of being alone. An excerpt -
What is this fear of nothingness? Here it is extreme. I ponder holy . men who intentionally go long periods into deserts to commune with God, where all there is to observe is the mind and its own creations. Here my imagination grows unhindered, into what appears like living things, alive until my mind releases them.
A seed of energy takes root, and suddenly I am where I am and there are no questions or commentaries, there is a sudden explosive blooming of infinite possibility, a nameless energy that adores the nature of everything. Whatever is born in this shining void of mind, be it a memory, a hope, a projection - my mind runs with it, runs with every possibility of it, my blood fills with wild excitement.
Overall an extremely readable book that might even persuade the armchair traveller to get up and get going!
Simon Loughlin narrates his amazing adventure of cycling from Ireland to India and Nepal with a sense of humour which ensures that the reader is not bored reading about the travails of the lone cyclist.
He gets philosophical too, a result possibly of being alone. An excerpt -
What is this fear of nothingness? Here it is extreme. I ponder holy . men who intentionally go long periods into deserts to commune with God, where all there is to observe is the mind and its own creations. Here my imagination grows unhindered, into what appears like living things, alive until my mind releases them.
A seed of energy takes root, and suddenly I am where I am and there are no questions or commentaries, there is a sudden explosive blooming of infinite possibility, a nameless energy that adores the nature of everything. Whatever is born in this shining void of mind, be it a memory, a hope, a projection - my mind runs with it, runs with every possibility of it, my blood fills with wild excitement.
Overall an extremely readable book that might even persuade the armchair traveller to get up and get going!
February 21, 2026
Interesting read
It's always interesting to read Bout people doing something that you cannot do yourself. I cannot imagine the physical hardship that Simonn Loughlin went through on this ride. It turns out he teaches meditation now which explains why this book is just a little wifty fifty for me. Still, an interesting read.
It's always interesting to read Bout people doing something that you cannot do yourself. I cannot imagine the physical hardship that Simonn Loughlin went through on this ride. It turns out he teaches meditation now which explains why this book is just a little wifty fifty for me. Still, an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews