BIKE RIDE BOOKS
BY MIKE CARDEN
‘Warm, well observed, unpretentious and very funny‘.
The Bike Ride Books series tells the stories of cycle rides the length of England and the length of Scotland, plus the tale of a tour of the Lake District.
Each of the books is written by Mike Carden and you can read more on Mike’s Author Page at mikecarden.co.uk, where you can also find his new historical novels (no bikes involved!): Alfred of Wessex.
The Full English
Pedalling through England, Mid-Life Crisis, and Truly Rampant Man-Flu
“Covering 650 miles of England and twelve counties, the author struggles heroically with Mid-life Crisis, Man-Flu and also with Scott, a bike with a serious attitude problem. Cycling from the Dorset coast to Northumbria via Glastonbury, Ludlow, the Peak District, and the Yorkshire Dales, he indulges his passion for the history of England through its castles, abbeys and ancient towns.”
An ‘articulate and witty account of one fortysomething man’s quest to ride from one end of England to the other…‘ London Cyclist magazine
‘Mike’s relaxed and chatty style is never less than entertaining, making The Full English the sort of book that can put a smile on your face even when it is cold, grey Winter outside.‘ Dorset Life
‘This thoroughly enjoyable chronicle of one man’s ‘mid-life crisis’ is England’s answer to Round Ireland with a Fridge, by Tony Hawks – but without the fridge.‘ Ludlow Advertiser
‘Warm, well observed, unpretentious and very funny, this is the kind of cycle tour we can all imagine ourselves taking, though hopefully without the Man-flu.‘ Adventure Travel Magazine
The Full English is available on Amazon here.
A Bit Scott-ish
Pedalling through Scotland in Search of Adventure, Nature and Lemon Drizzle Cake
“The tale of a journey through Scotland, meeting locals and fellow travellers, delving into Scotland’s tumultuous history, surviving storm and wind, and discovering just how hopeless it is possible to be at Nature. And at finding the way. And at quite a few other things as well.”
‘With almost unquenchable good humour, the author takes on everything that Scotland can throw at him.‘ Velo Vision cycling magazine
‘A nice line in self-deprecating humour.‘ Stirling Observer
‘Witty. A light touch.‘ Cycle Magazine
A Bit Scott-ish is available on Amazon here.
A Lake District Grand Tour
Pedalling through Lakeland: The Challenge, The History, The Wildlife, The Scones
“Mike Carden visits all the lakes of Lakeland, pokes into its most distant corners, and cycles over every mountain pass (well, he attempts to). Along the way he tells the story of Lakeland. He sees where poets wrote and climbers climbed, he tells of ‘oond trailin’ and fell-racing, and he hunts for golden eagles and elusive ring ouzels.”
‘Relaxed and chatty with a ready wit.’ Cumbria Life magazine
‘For the armchair adventurer, cycling the Lakes with Mike is an enlightening experience‘ The North West Evening Mail
‘Charming and easily readable.’ Cycletourer website
‘Mike Carden’s easy style of writing, with its built-in gentle humour and his eye for detail that many of us would easily miss, belies the fact that he (and his 20-year-old son) have undertaken a serious tour.‘ Arrivee magazine
‘This is one hell of way to see the Lake District National Park! A great description of the grandest of Lake District tours. Get pedalling!’ Richard Leafe, Chief Executive, Lake District National Park Authority
A Lake District Grand Tour is available from Amazon here.
A Lake District Grand Tour also has its own web page at https://lakedistrictgrandtour.co.uk/
All the books are available as paperbacks and as Kindle e-books.
Amazon Kindle “Best Sellers in Cycling” December 2021
If you would like to contact Mike Carden, you can do that using:
mike @ mikecarden. co.uk
