Endless Perfect Circles: Lessons from the little-known world of ultradistance cycling

by Ian Walker

A professional psychologist spent his entire life believing he had no ability or interest in sport. Then, in his forties, he became a champion ultradistance athlete before breaking the world record for the fastest bicycle crossing of Europe. This journey - made entirely alone and without any support crew - went from the northernmost point in the Arctic down to the very southernmost point in Spain. Averaging 377 kilometres each day and with up to 18 hours in the saddle at a time, the total distance of 6367 km was covered in well under 17 days, knocking more than two days off the previous record. It was a journey of ultimate self-reliance. Endless Perfect Circles is not just a tale of sleep deprivation and eating terrible food in supermarket car parks, it is also a celebration of how tough sporting challenges offer ordinary people a path to self-improvement. Weaving his own experiences together with psychological insights, Ian Walker demonstrates the rewards we can all find from setting ourselves difficult personal goals and working out how we will rise to meet these. "When I ride, my mind is both crowded and empty. The practical part of me churns, thinking all the time about navigation, shops, food, weather and lodging, seeking information about those raw essentials of life and planning dozens of contingencies. But when I look back on any given ride, even one lasting many days, I would struggle to tell you a single thought that passed through my head, because the rest of my mind has been liberated. All of life’s needs have been simplified by the pure act of riding."

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2020

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read a book that sums up how I feel when riding a bike. This book does it perfectly.

Endless Perfect Circles is an inspiring read that immediately made me want to ride my bike and plan a new a challenge. The book covers the extreme highs, the extreme lows and maddening concerns you have prior to going on a long ride. It however gives you the confidence to know that most of the time it's worth every second of hard work, preparation and sacrifice. The buzz of loving the process.

Ian provides honest commentary, genuine takeaways and cycling humour that will no doubt have you planning your next adventure.

A great read and some awesome achievements!

[Ildebrando Aires · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stuff dreams are made off…

[Matt Colley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing adventure, an incredible achievement, and a beautiful book.

I knew before I started the first page that the ride would come to end, but I was still genuinely disappointed when it did - Ian Walker shares insight into both his psychological & physical journeys, both of which are described with such clarity of description & emotion that you’ll feel as though as you were riding along side.

There’s a mixture of honesty, discovery and humility that (combined with the above) make this a fascinating & compelling book to read.

[Alwin Wiederhold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and inspiring tale of adventure. The story is told from the heart and you can feel Ian’s pain and exhilaration. The book contains excellent advice for anyone considering something similar.

Unfortunately the typography of the printed version let the book down, especially the useful footnotes.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have certainly learned lessons from this first hand account of competitive Ultra Distance cycling. I am reading as many books as I can around this subject and Endless Perfect Circles amongst the most informative and helpful so far. This book has certainly help influence my own preparation and training for my own ultra distance event later this year.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging read! Captured the quirks and beauty of ultracycling perfectly. Plus it includes some useful practical tips aimed at aspiring cyclists but can also be applied to life. Great book, well done Ian!

[Michael ONeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A really great read for anyone interested in ultradistance cycling. Written in a pure and subtle manner, there was no hint of bravado at all even at the end. A great insight into the physical, mental and technical aspects of these events.

[Rob Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you'd expect from a psychologist, this book is a perfect exploration of the mental aspects of preparing for and undertaking and ultra-endurance event. It's also nicely-written and engaging and a lovely read.

[Mr Howard Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

Written from the perspective of someone who still has pangs of self doubt, this is a remarkable and enthralling read that I couldn't put down. Brilliant and inspiring 🙂

[Anna Kukoja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the pace of the book and how involved I felt while reading it. It made me want to jump on a bike myself and ride to Latvia from Portugal, but Ian definitely is in much better shape than me. Never the less, it’s inspiring!

[Paul Poletes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know what it takes to become and succeed as an ultra-endurance athlete, this book explains how. Yet another great example of how even supposedly unathletic people can do amazing things and set world records if they work hard enough and really want to succeed.

[Rachelh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bike travel books espeacially those about racing or breaking records can become repetitive as so much time is spent on the road but this one is very beautifully written, entertaining, informative and inspiring.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book about Ian's journey from thinking he's bad at sports to breaking the world record for fastest cycle ride across Europe! Ian's writing style is very accessible and enjoyable, with a number of humorous moments throughout. What an impressive feat!

[Donald Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Excellent book written in an easy to read style , straight to the point and very interesting. Well worth the price

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Well worth a read. Really inspirational. Thank you!

[Jess Blaszczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey! Ian is so inspiring yet incredibly humble. His lessons got me through my first 5k run of the year yesterday 😅
Hope to read about a round the world attempt one day?!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, enjoyed every minute of it. Makes it sound oh so easy, it’s all in the head not the legs

[Trey Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invigorating and inspirational testimony and teaching about endurance running, cycling, and the existential and elemental dimensions of life.

[Suzanne Bevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting from the point of view of the achievement but I would have liked more detail. e.g. on the practicalities and logistics. Also on the physiological effects.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

How you move from doing no exercise to running to ultra running to ultra cycling and setting the trans europe record

[Simon Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. A compelling story of endurance.

Ian’s story is very motivational and well written (one of only a few books that I have read more than once). Not only does he paint a picture of the countries he cycled through and his experiences, he also has a great sense of humour and you really feel that you’re there with him. Highly recommended!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Much more than just a book about ultra cycling. Ian’s journey from thinking he’s not sporty to world record breaking is inspiring and he offers life lessons along the way