Escape by Bike: Adventure Cycling, Bikepacking and Touring Off-Road

by Joshua Cunningham

A practical and inspirational guide to planning every kind of off-road cycling, from nearby “microadventures” to global itineraries, drawing on the author’s own epic journeys From wilderness treks to weekends spent following local coastal paths, adventure cycling combines cycle touring, mountain biking, and camping to open up new and exciting possibilities for adventure on two wheels. Cycling writer and photographer Joshua Cunningham spent eleven months cycling from London to Hong Kong, a journey that spanned twenty- six countries and 13,670 miles. During his journey, he captured thousands of photographs of the landscapes―many barely touched by humans― and acquired a wealth of invaluable experience, from arranging travel and selecting the best bike to what to pack for each climate and terrain, and how to choose and navigate your route. Part travelogue, part practical guide, this exhilarating account divides the stages of Cunningham’s tour into five chapters, each focusing on a geographical forest, desert, mountain, tropical, and urban. Packaged in a travel-friendly format, this combination of practical text and inspiring photography will appeal to every bike adventurer. 220+ illustrations, 200 in color

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 2018

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tries to simultaneously be a practical guide for bicycle touring (choosing gear, how to camp, etc.) and a stunning photographic album of the landscapes bicycle touring can show you. Unfortunately, while Joshua Cunningham did take some amazing photos during his cycling across Europe and Central Asia, he is only one man who did only that one trip. The advice here is therefore rather basic and based on that a single route, but there is a whole world out there that a person could cycle in. Thames & Hudson’s typesetting emphasizes the pretty visuals above useful, detailed information and there actually isn’t all that much text in this book.

I would therefore strongly recommend Trailblazer’s Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook above Cunningham’s book, because the Trailblazer compiles the experience of a large number of well-respected tourers with experience all over the globe.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here.
The book is an interesting hybrid of biketouring advice and travel photos, taken during the author’s own trip from England, across Europe and into Asia. The organization is a bit rough – the sections are geographical, but also touch on specific biking topics, from urban riding to cycling in mountains, forests, the tropics, and deserts. Within those sections are about six related topics to ensure your trip is successful, from budgeting and safety to choosing whether to cycle solo or with a companion. Each topic is addressed in one or two pages. As a result, about one-fifth of the 250 or so pages is a how-to-guide; the rest is a descriptive narrative loaded with full-colour photos, which explains its C$40 price tag. It’s so personalized that it lacks the depth I was seeking, beyond the how-to basics, so I would argue the subtitle is a bit misleading. My thanks to the Grand Forks & District Public Library for obtaining a copy for me through interlibrary loan.

[theladiesfromhades · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photography in this book is stunning, just absolutely gorgeous. There's a fairly even split between photos and the fascinating write-up of the author's cycle from the UK all the way to Hong Kong across mountains, deserts, tropics, and snowy winters, even across countries most people haven't heard of. And after your wanderlust is sufficiently ignited, there's plenty of informative sections peppered throughout on how to go on your own bicycle tour (whether that's for a weekend or a year+) , what you should know about bikes, repairs, planning, packing, etc.

Finally and most importantly for me in travel books, Joshua Cunningham doesn't come across as arrogant or douchey, unlike some other travel writers who think they're the only person to have an impressive adventure (*cough*Paul Theroux*cough*).

So yeah. I'm really, really taken with this book. It was just such a fun, interesting read. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes travelling, bikes, or coffee table books.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great pics and some good info.

[Morganel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with lots of great info

[Laura P]

Beautiful photos of an incredible adventure journey.
Lots of handy tips and info. Some nice quotes thrown in.

[Samuel Peatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very lovely

[Juraj Holub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fotky krásne. Informácie základné. Každopádne, nech už sme tam a šlapeme Pamírom.