Two Wheels

If you only buy one national newspaper published letter compilation book this years make sure its this one! A veritable treasure trove of subjects, current events and opinons from the last year encapsulated in one magical book. Its the bees knees.

I feel rather unfaithful writing this, considering how much I enjoyed 'The Escape Artist', his first book, which I recommend to anyone who loves or loved riding their bikes. I'd rather write a review about that book but ten other people have already done that for me (damn!). I turned to this book for my next fix of Matt Seaton and, as you might already have realised, was a little disappointed. It collects his newspaper articles together and themes them into chapters, too few chapters I'm afraid, because there are too few themes explored. The articles build logically one upon the other but often he only expands on the central idea explored in the last article in the final few paragraphs of the next,leading to a slightly tedious read. His writing style for this book / newspaper was my other disappointment, I know comparing it with 'The Escape Artist' is unfair but having read this immediately after that book I'm afraid that's what I did. Don't get me wrong Matt is obviously a great writer but the breezy style adopted here simply pales in comparison to the emotionally charged prose of 'the artist'-I guess that newspapers for you. On a more positive note I really enjoyed his chapter on single speed and fixed wheel rides and the practical information on cycling and its respective pressure groups he signposts to readers is also useful.

Not an essential 'bikie' purchase then, unlike 'The Escape Artist', which I suppose I've sort of reviewed here anyway...(sorry Matt, but I'll probably still have a look at your other bike book).

This is a brilliant book for all cyclists. Whether you ride a bike to work, school, to the local shop, an enthusiatic mountain biker or Lance Armstrong; Matt Seaton has written this gem for cyclists of all types, ages and experience levels. Based on his Guardian Cycling column, which I've only recently noticed, this excellent book is made up of short, bite sized and informative articles that cover all aspects of cycling. As a gentle recreational cyclist this book furthered my appetite for cycling and more cycles in my garage!! It also opened my eyes to the quiet cycling revolution which is happening, right now, across the UK. Cycling in the UK has yet to have it's finest day and when it does; soon, the writings of Matt Seaton will be rightly establish him as founding father of modern British cycling. Buy this book, buy a bike, forget the Gym membership and diet, just get pedalling, lose weight and gain life. Simply the best book I've read in ages.