Short Way Up: A Classic Ride Through Southern Africa - 5,000 Solo Miles on a 1950s Ariel

by Steve Wilson

When classic motorcycle author Steve Wilson planned his 6,000 mile ride through Africa, perhaps his last real run on two wheels, the journey sounded challenging enough. In this moving account Steve chronicles the entire experience including bike preparation, organization, mechanical mayhem, personal discovery and - one of the reasons for the trip - raising a check for $5,000 for a small school in Kawaza, Zambia.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 2011

Reviews

[Martin Hensley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are interested in a tale of how to absolutely NOT do a motorcycle trip, this is it! Take an antique, badly restored and unreliable motorcycle. Add a mechanically inept rider who may be well versed in the history of the bike, but knows nothing about how to work on it. Send both to the end of the earth where resources are sketchy at best. That is the makings of this story. It is a testament to a wide variety of people’s willingness to keep a madman from killing himself in the most foolish way possible. It’s an entertaining read, but not an educational one unless you want a checklist of things to avoid.

[Julian Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging and absorbing adventure trip, and a must for classic motorbike fans everywhere.

The author's enthusiasm for motorbikes is evident throughout and, despite not having selected the most reliable of steeds, he remains steadfastly attached to both his chosen transport and his belief in the journey.

Packed with interesting characters and lots of techy bike stuff (he even warns readers that a couple of chapters might be a bit too focused on this), this is an enjoyable tale nicely told.