| ||||||||||
This guide, like all other Lonely Planet guides, contains the essentials you need to know about Britain before travelling, as well as essential facts for cyclists, including many specialist cycling organisations and contacts. It is good also to see sections dealing with cycling specific health and safety issues, as well as a basic but thorough, and easy to understand, guide to bicycle selection and maintenance. The bulk of the guide is dedicated to the multitude of routes that can be traversed in Britain's regions. It should be pointed out that these routes are mainly aimed at those seeking to do touring cycling and is mainly based on road and light trails. Those in search of more strenuous off-road biking might be disappointed, although advice on off-road cycling and mountain biking is given throughout the book and some off-road routes are included. The maps and directions for the routes are clear, and advice is given as to which OS maps correspond to the routes. There is also information on places to stay, places to eat, natural history (always a bonus when you are spending too much time in the landscape), planning, and importantly, advice on how to get to and from the ride. For the serious cyclist this will make a good addition to the library, a quick reference for the various rides, routes and accommodations available in an area. For the less experienced, perhaps holiday cyclist, this guide will be a essential packing for the pannier, providing, as it does, everything you should know before embarking on a ride. -Iain Robinson While Britain is one of the world's most densely populated nations, with a bicycle it's easy to leave the crowded main roads behind and find yourself in an idyllic country setting. The country maintains an astonishing complex of minor roads that links thousands of cities, towns, and villages. It's only a short pedal to the nearest pub, café, or guesthouse. Britain is also a land of many hills but few mountains, which makes it easy to take in the graceful scenery and rich history or meet the locals. As Britain claims to be the birthplace of the bicycle (a Scottish blacksmith built the first self-propelled bike), you can also visit several collections of bicycle memorabilia. The Lonely Planet guidebook has a wide range of itineraries and tours for riders of all abilities, with detailed maps and excellent directions for each, from a Sunday ride past London's best-known sites to a ten-day journey through the Highlands, islands, and quiet roads of Scotland. Lonely Planet provides in one book all the information a cyclist will need for a tour of Britain, including Wales and Scotland. "Facts for Cyclists" provides practical information on when to ride, a checklist of what to bring, information on buying or renting locally, a list of cycling events, and Internet resources. There's a detailed introduction to the British cycle-touring scene, with tips on how to get to and from Heathrow Airport and how to use the excellent rail network to cover more of the island. There are tips for senior, disabled, and gay and lesbian cyclers, and those riding with children, as well as lists of which airlines are bicycle friendly and how to pack and transport your bike. The "Health and Safety" chapter explains the British rules of the road, and gives tips for getting and staying fit. It discusses treatments for common ailments on the road, and even explains how to avoid the "bonk." As well, there's the usual information on where to stay, what to eat, and what to see, and photographs (though the latter are on the small and skimpy side). With the inclusion of a chapter on bicycle maintenance and repair, this is one excellent, all-purpose guide. Be sure to make room for it in your pannier. -Lesley Reed |
Weitere Infos oder Bestellen bei Amazon