Then reality hits you and you come up with all the reasons why you can't do it. But why not? Anyone who has ever owned a bike will understand that need for adventure. All it often needs is a piece of inspiration. Good Vibrations - Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie is just that.
For schoolteacher Andrew Sykes his came from watching Nicole Cook winning gold in the women's cycle road race at the Beijing Olympics. Land's End to John O'Groats did not seem as attractive as riding between the fields of sunflowers and past rows of vineyards. Two years later the man who admits he is really a commuter cyclist not an endurance cyclist, set out on his adventure from Reading to Brindisi in southern Italy to stay with friends.
He started writing a blog about his plans which drew attention from people living along the Eurovelo 5 route. Many invited him to stay if he was passing and those short visits paint a glorious picture of hospitality in France and Italy, providing a humorous snapshot of their daily lives with good food and wine in abundance.
His 30-day 3,000kms journey is not just about riding his beloved bike Reggie - named Reggie Ridgeback after the brand of bike he is much to the amusement of the schoolchildren - but the characters he meets. Add in a piece of history, geography, maths, foreign languages, cookery and dancing and every aspect of the school curriculum is there written in a light-hearted and warm way.
Each country threw up surprises and so did this most entertaining, informative read. Everyone who has a sense of adventure should read this.
