End to End: The Lands End to John o' Groats Cycling Record - A Tale of Obsession, Hallucination and Happiness

by Paul Jones

What would compel someone to ride the length of Britain against the clock?

Paul Jones goes in search of the unusual individuals who have, since as far back as 1880, challenged themselves to do just that; braving unforgiving terrain, British weather and all manner of hazards from wild dogs to sleep-deprivation induced hallucination.

Genres: Cycling

303 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2021

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply sublime. "The journey is everything" indeed.

[Jack Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

End to End is a wonderful, well-researched and very funny book that will delight cyclists and lay readers alike.

[Robbie Peal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was funny, heartwarming, full of charming stories about what makes this challenge so unique and how it inspires so many people. But it was also an unexpectedly personal story and Jones's own journey is as inspirational as any of the record breaking rides recorded alongside it.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read quite a few books concerning cycling, but this is one of the best of them. I think it was the writing that elevated this one, where the author manages to engage you in the tales of the cyclists who’ve raced from Land’s End to John O’Groats and established records in doing so. This is interspersed with his thoughts on his own journey as he tries to complete the trip in stages, always aghast at the superhuman efforts of those who managed the journey, non-stop and almost flat out, in around 48 hours. The book is about these often unsung heroes of the road, and the author manages to meet and interview many of them, trying, and succeeding, to give an impression of their character and what drove them to attempt the “End to End” road race.
My only criticism is that I felt the book was about fifty pages too long and, like the final miles to John O’Groats, drags on a wee bit at the end. But the interest that the author arouses in his subject kept me going and I was glad that I finished it, full of admiration for the men and women who populate the pages. I think this is what the author wanted to achieve, to make these people real and thereby put their incredible races into perspective. They didn’t do it for the fame or the money, but to prove to themselves that they could, and I feel this book is a fitting tribute to them.

[T.R. Ormond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book about the End to End bicycle ride from Lands End in Cornwall to John o' Groats in Scotland and the various record attempts that have been made on it. It covers every major successful attempt to ride the route since the 19th century. It is researched thoroughly and many of the participants were interviewed directly.

What makes this book stand out is its juxtaposition of the stories of super athletes with the author's attempt to do the same ride at a more sensible pace. His motivations for doing the ride and for writing the book are to overcome depression and a midlife crisis. In this way, Jones demonstrates the physical and the psychological challenges of making such a long ride. He also demonstrates that some people have much more psychological weight to overcome than others. It is a book that bridges the gap between feeling empathy for the suffering of others and celebrating the big wins of the superhuman.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the first book I have read on the marathon rides done by English cyclists, especially the marathon ride from Lands End in Cornwall, in the southwestern corner of England to John O' Groats in the northeastern corner of Scotland. About one-third of the chapters are about Paul Jones attempt to do the 842 miles of the End to End over a year, while the remainder of the book brings out the lives of different men and women who have brought the time taken to complete this mammoth trek from about 4 days down to less than 2 days. He captures all his insecurities and failures well in a very funny and self-deprecating fashion. The stories of all the men and women who have attempted to break the records are told very well. He also brings out the amateur sense of bicycle riding contests in Britain very well. I do enjoy riding my bike but I have never raced one, but I found this book to be a very enjoyable book about it.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful book. It captures timeless stories of effort, endeavour and challenge and threads them alongside honest reflections around mental health from the author. Cyclists will relate strongly to much of the book, from the vivid descriptions of winter riding on grizzly wet A roads to the things we learn from riding our bikes a lot. Much like a great cycling route, I’ll visit this book again.

[Dave B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy cycling and have done some rides of over 125m in a day, but this books takes it to a whole new level. The author is struggling with his own mental health and lack of resilience, and so does the end to end over a period with the support of his mother. But he also speaks to those pioneers of the challenge and looks at the history. An enjoyable book for keen cyclists only.

[Douglas Kirkham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to ‘hear’ from some of the historical riders, helpers and participants. A positive reflection on what a great enduring community cycling can be. You can sense the pain, suffering and isolation involved and the sheer bloody mindedness of the riders. Enjoyed it, thanks.

[Khattiya Homthong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good memoirs to describe someone who obsess with The Land’s End to John o’ Groats 842 miles . I’ve experienced with ultra trail running and trekking around 7 day but my favorite hoppy is always riding to somewhere . Here is remind me how I should do next .

[Max Deacon-Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great retelling of both the history and what the journey means to do a LEJOG. Also tempting to give it (another) go...

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in my youth quite a keen cyclist, but purely functionally – it got me to school, university, work and elsewhere, with the occasional longer ride, but I never remember anything more than about 50km in a day. As a result, I see the appeal of cycling but don’t get the appeal of riding from one end of the England to the far end of Scotland (Land’s End to John O’Groats), and especially not non-stop. It’s outings of that kind that convince me that sports fans are a uniquely weird lot). Paul Jones however is a bit of an obsessive, and sets out to make this ride – although certainly not in one non-stop go. He spreads it out over several months.

This then is an entertaining cycle travelogue of that trip, written with a convincing blend of incredulity at even trying it, and relief at having, eventually, made it. What sets it a step about many of other sports books of his kind I have seen is that he interweaves his tale with stories and in some case short biographical essays those who’ve done it before – from the earliest successes on the ‘Ordinaries’ (aka PennyFarthings) through key women riders who’ve made the journey and others.

He writes well, it’s an engaging story with a strong sense of self-deprecation with insight into a particular subculture most of us remain unaware of. He also makes good use of interviews with some of the key mid-20th-century figures. Well worth adding to a summer holiday reading pile for sports fans.

[Steve Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read very much indeed. I bought this on a whim in Bristol in the autumn of 2023. I picked it as I suspected it might have something to say on a passion near to my heart. I was not disappointed. My passion, in recent years has become walking long distance paths. I completed the mighty SWCP in 2023, for example. I wanted to understand a little more about the point of it all and Paul's beautiful writing helped me make some sense of making personal journeys and the glorious pointlessness of these endeavours.

What I wasn't expecting was to learn so much about some of the true unsung heroes of sporting achievement. A friend of mine has done the LeJog ... he took around 14 days. The current women's record is just over two days and the mens under two days. Astonishing.

A truly superb book which gets the highest of ratings from me.

[Umar Nazir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerising accounts of trail blazers

I like how the author juxtaposes his own interior journey in life and the hallowed End to End accomplishment by greats who have broken records in the process. Has further motivated me to start preparing for my intention to do it next year, trust the process, enjoy the journey and use it as fuel to surmount other impossible-looking barrier in life.

[Steve Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good description of the highs and lows of putting yourself to the ultimate cycling test. It is not an account of an End to End, as the author does it in stages, often separated by quite large timescales. It is though very insightful, about what makes people take on such challenges. It highlights why the End to End is as much about the mental challenge as the physical. A great read.

[Niall Cooling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and amazing coverage of the LEGOJ cycling record, intertwined with the authors own personal journey. Probably a bit niche but if you want to understand human endeavour its a good read.