Touring - Any good books?

I have so much time at work to read now, so im looking for a good touring book to keep me awake in my free time. Has anyone read any good touring books lately?

Joe, you're not just a reader, you're a mind-reader. I'd thought just yesterday evening of starting a thread on good cycling books!

One book on touring I've enjoyed immensely is Over the Hills, by Dave Lamb, a correspondent for the Los Angeles Times who, at age 54, decided he hadn't had a proper mid-life crisis, and determined to ride cross-country from his home in Alexandria, Virginia, to the sunny shores of California. The book's a riot, and an inspiration to those of us, like me, who do not possess world-class cycling skills. (Within the first half-block from his house, Dave almost fell over with his fully laden touring bicycle.) His description of riding up ever-steeper hills, with virtually no preparation for that kind of activity, kept me up late night after night. I finished the book full of admiration for the guy.

Highly recommended! It may be out of print, but your library will, I hope, have it.

Hi Joe, good thread!

Try On the Trail of Marco Polo by Brady Fotheringham, about a ride from China to India
and Catfish and Mandala by Andrew Pham, cycling in Vietnam.

I havn't read the last one yet but it should be interesting.

There is a really neat used book store behind my office that has a couple of books I thought I would mention in case someone is looking for or interest in one of them. One is something like "Bicycling the Pacific Coast". The copyright was 1990 so it may be a little dated but in very good condition. The other is something like "Bicycling to the Ends of the Earth" by David Duncan. I forgot to check the copyright. One was $3 the other was $4. There is another on the Pacific Crest Trail that is backpacking oriented, but I thought I would throw it in. If anyone is interested in any of these, let me know, and I will buy it to send to you. They have some other basic books on riding, racing, commuting, touring. I have looked through them (I stop by at least once a week), but they didn't offer anything I hadn't already read. They run $3-4. All are in very good to like new shape. The shop doesn't buy or sell anything that is not in good condition.

Heck, if anyone is looking for any book, let me know and I will see if they have it.

This is not a book on cycling but I recommend "Temple" by Matt Reilly. I think he is from Australia and the type of book is a techno/adventure/miltary style. Interesting action and his previous book "Ice Station" was a best seller.

Joe, I just thought of another good book called The Crossing, I can't remember the name of the author, but maybe you could do a search for it. It's about a ride from the west coast of the US, to Maine.

Cool, i actualy just purchased the metal cowboy (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891369105/qid=989258084/sr=1-1/ref=sc_b_2/102-6815641-3540937) Tales from the Road Less Pedaled book. I have read a few of his short stories, and his articals in the bike magazines... Decided to give the book a try :)

Joe you beat me to it! I was just going to make another post recommending the Metal Cowboy. I've read it and it is good, not in the detailed descriptions of the rides in most cases, but more in the human interest sense.

"Miles from Nowhere" Barbara Savage (?) Great read. She and her husband loaded up ten speeds (!) for a trip around the world back in the 80's.

Unrelated to biking but by far one of my favorite light readings: "A Walk In the Woods" Bill Bryson. Hilarious.

"Metal Cowboy" is a good one. Magazine artical length and funny.

"The Cycling Adventures of Coconut Head" Ted Schredd. A guy needs a change, convinces someone to sell all their stuff and ride with virtually no money from BC, down the west coast and circumnavigate the US. Diary style with interesting cartoons.

Happy reading!

A couple of books are out, written by Josie Dew, a tiny Londoner who has toured extensively in Europe the States and Japan

Can't remember the names. last one was something like "Riding in the land of the rising sun"

I have a book on order that is about cycling Europe 6 years after World War 2. I think this may interest those people that may have a military historical interest when it comes to what it was like in Europe shortly after such massive devastation.

I still want to return to Europe and do a tour of many WW2 war sites, especially the Canadian war memorials situated in Europe.

'Bicycling and the bush', whose author I can't remember.

This seems to be in most public libraries in Australia.
This looks at the early years in cycling in Australia(1890-1900), and the overlanders that would travel on 3000-7000km trips through the middle of Australia, covering about 200 km per day travelling in the scrub, without roads, water or food available for hundreds of km at a time.

Spokesongs- Willie Weir. it rocks (Thanks, BB!)