It is fair to say that writing a book takes up a lot of time. It’s also equally fair to say that once the writing has finished, marketing a book also takes up a lot of time. This is my excuse for not having posted to the website or produced many episodes of the podcast in recent weeks and months. However, it’s now over a week since Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda was unleashed from my protective shackles and I’m hoping to begin to return to the life of a blogging, podcasting cyclist. As for the book, it is now at the mercy of those who choose to read it and, perhaps, review it. So far, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and I am very grateful to everyone who has posted on social media or messaged me or indeed written a formal online review. To all those who have done so, thank-you.

Following on from the lengthy review written by Brian Palmer of The Washing Machine Post – read it here – a couple of additional reviews have been posted on Amazon. Another Brian – Brian Leach – has commented as follows:

“Another excellent read which, as in Andrew’s three previous books, really conveys the pleasures of touring with a bike. I am a good bit older than the author but fortunately am still able to do shorter trips in Northern France and Spain so in this book he travels through some area which I am familiar with and brings back many happy (and some not so happy!) memories.“

Brian Leach, Amazon.co.uk

You don’t have to be called Brian to review the book. Another review comes from J. Ellis:

“Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Really well written and very witty. It has definitely made me want to get my bike out more.”

J. Ellis, Amazon.co.uk

Thanks to both reviewers for their positive comments.

Some nice photos have also been sent via social media:

Thanks to John W, Katherine H, Murray L and Tony for sending those through. (And to the other people who have also sent photos.) There will, hopefully, be a beach picture sometime soon and perhaps a picture of the book in a far-flung location. Those always make me smile.

So, as the book continues its journey towards inevitable literary oblivion (hopefully for not quite a while…), I am now free to concentrate on the other aspects of my cycling life. Such as cycling to work in the sun:

That was yesterday morning. Long may the sun shine (although I suspect it may not last for long). The podcast is back on my mind. Yours truly was the star of the most recent episode (aided and abetted by master broadcaster Andrew Edwards who agreed to ask me the questions)…

…but normality will soon be resumed. I have a few ideas up my sleeve for future episodes and a handful of people are in the process of recording monologues. Hopefully episode 079 of The Cycling Europe Podcast should be out by the end of the month (but as to who it might feature, I’m still unsure.)

I’d love to get away this summer and take the opportunity of making more podcasts about places that I have visited. Planning for the summer of 2024 has very much taken a back seat in recent months (see excuses in paragraph one) but I am beginning to at least think about where I might travel with Wanda. Last weekend at the Cycle Touring Festival – in its now location of Coniston in the Lake District – I was provided with a few ideas. Watch this space but Shetland and Orkney seem to be very popular at the moment. Two friends are currently up there (independently of each other). My previous trips to Scotland on the bike have been at opposite ends of the weather spectrum. August 2014 was dreadful whereas August 2021 was wonderful on the Outer Hebrides. Here’s a reminder:

And what about 2025? Should I revisit the doomed plan to cycle the length of Japan? Who knows where I will end up. Perhaps just a few day rides in the Yorkshire Dales. If only I had a good book to read…

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