Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - It'll get you through, but...
I rode E2E using this book as a guide, and there are some useful tips as I am/was a novice cyclist. It's compact, consise and wont weigh you down.

However, the consise'ness' of this book does give it a rather flimsy feel, and it does leave information on the preparation stage rather thin on the ground - I can recommend getting The Long Distance Cyclist's Handbook for a lot better detail on how to properly prepare.

My other grievance about this book is the route. If you follow the route in this book prepare to be lonely for long sections as most of the other E2Eers will be following a more scenic (and in some places a lot less dangerous) route; especially in Cornwall and in Scotland.

Given my critisisms of this book, following the instructions and the route, it got me there, and in reasonable time without too many mishaps along the way...

...oh, and, like the other reviewers have said, the photos are truly awful!

---

Rating: - Very basic and of limited use
I can't help but agree with the other 2 star review for this book. I'm only in the planning stages of my LEJOG trip at the moment, but find it difficult to gain a great deal of direction from this book. As already stated, its small (which is fine) and has some truly awful photos that do more to detriment the book than enhance it.

The advice at the start of the book is aimed towards the complete novice, and seems to be an too little detail to really be helpful. For example, there's a section on publicity and sponsorship that fails to answer my most basic questions - when, where and how to gain corporate sponsorship. The directions seem as though they would be helpful, but I can't help but think a quick printout from Google Maps would be vastly more indicative of the route. There is no route map in the book.

Overall, I can only recommend this book to those with no experience who expect to complete the feat with little or no planning. Those as meticulous as myself when it comes to planning will find the book mostly redundant. Using the internet and cycling forums will provide much more helpful information, and will allow you to form your own custom route. Save your money.

---

Rating: - Very good guide book

This book is a good dependable guide and has been written by someone who has obviously set out to help other people complete it. That alone deserves respect. To write a review such as "Boingey John" did whilst simultaneously admitting to never having ridden it is quite frankly ridiculous.
Had "Boingey John" actually ridden the route he would have:
A. Discovered that the book is very good and worth every penny.
B. Had more chance of being hit by a truck.

Have I made myself clear?

---

Rating: - GOOD CONCISE BOOK
Obviously the first reviewer of this book had not cycled the course. How can someone review this book without having cycled the route. One needs a concise and non bulky book when doing this challenge. I did this cycle in July 2007 and found the book to be the perfect partner. The author wrote the book from direct experience and did not do the journey to beat any records.
I found this book and all its contents to be very precise and plenty of detail. The top tips were excellent and bed and breakfasts on route were spaced out correctly for distance and the safety tips were good advice for everyone. The route text in large print helped immensley. Highly recommended.

---

Rating: - Excellent Book
Previous review I assume is by a non cyclist. As someone who has followed this book and its route to the letter and completed the ride, this is the best guide that there is. It covers all the important points without any superfluous details, you can follow every mile and should you find a complicated section along the route - just refer to the book and it will in a sentence put you exactly on track. The best book for those seriously intending to tackle this journey.