John Peel

A Very Unlikely Bicycle Tourist

Trying to write my first, and maybe last book. Something for the grandchildren and anyone with an interest.

It's a true story about a working class disabled 55 year old husband and father, with a dream of cycling as far as he could or wanted to. An athlete he’s not, and he rarely rode a bicycle.

Lifting heavy things in the gym and working physically and heavy in the building trade for most of his life, he was built like a brick shithouse at 1.8m (6ft) tall and 159kg (350lb) in weight, and the prospect of cycling for hours every day was quite frightening, yet seriously exciting.

His medical conditions included Situational Anxiety and PTSD, asthma, hypothyroidism, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), very high blood pressure, nerve damage throughout the whole of his right side and permanently damaged spine, elbow, shoulder and neck after being pancaked by a truck. Conditions which would likely make such an adventure a huge challenge, and still there’s more, as will be revealed while you progress through these pages.

Despite all of those challenges, he set out, solo, self-financing with no support network and no bicycle maintenance experience, on this incredible journey in 12 countries, heat and humidity, monsoon rains, freezing cold nights, and all manner of hazards and setbacks that would have had many able bodies people throwing in the towel very early on.

This is a story of determination and adventure, filled with super high points with smiles from ear to ear, and the lowest of low points. Tears of joy and tears of frustration, along with experiences that you would struggle to get from any other form of travel, and experiences that will stay with him for the rest of my life.