Customer Reviews

Bicycle Across America

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went into reading "Bicycle Across America" by Barbara Siegert with expectations of a self-contained touring book that would give a detailed outline of 5 bike trips across the U.S. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I do not feel that it met my expectations adequately.

One of the first things that I noticed about this book was it's lack of detailed route information. Although it does outline some basic city-to-city day-to-day treks, it does not give you directions street-by-street, nor does it give you any detailed maps. The author admits for every route that "Distances are not always point to point. Some may include detours (voluntary or involuntary) and/or riding around within the tows at our starting point, en route, or at our destination." This sort of disclaimer does not do much for my confidence that this book will be there for me on a 70-plus day cross country journey.

What I DID like about this book was it's fun-to-read short stories of a couple's journey across the states. The book is laid out more like a travel-journal (or diary) than a travel guide. The author seems to open her heart and hold nothing back in passionately expressing the situations that she encountered and people she met along 5 trips across the U.S.

Another feature I liked about the book was it's "Details" section. It is written in a very personal common-sense style. It includes everything from what to bring and what to wear to where to wash your clothes, get your mail, and pay your bills.

If you are interested in reading an excellent narrative about a couple's adventures across America, this book is definately for you. If you are seriously considering a cross-country trip of your own, this book falls greatly short of what you will need.

I certainly admire greatly Barbara Siegert's spunk and initiative in starting bicycle touring at retirement age. That said, however, I don't share all the 5 star enthusiasm expressed for this book. Personally, I found it to primarily consist of fragmented, bits and pieces of observations and recollections. It's an interesting read, to be sure, but certainly not a really great book on cycle touring. The "Details" section toward the end does have some useful ideas and guidance. Sorry not to have been "wowed" by this book, but I just wasn't.....

Any book that gives you information about what really happens during a long tour is useful. This book would have been much more useful if Ms. Siegret found something to enjoy and less to whine about. I'm sure this is a question of writing style, no one could have done all those rides if they were that awful.

If the author didn't tell you the two of them went by bike, you might not know it. This is pure travelogue.

In my own case, biking 25 miles or so around home results in a "high" that I wish would never end. In reading Ms. Siegert's book, I can only imagine how great an experience it was for them to have ridden through this great Country of ours as they did. I can sense the optimism, enjoyment, and sense of accomplishment she and her husband must have felt as they pedalled along. How great it must be to have had this experience. Their story certainly brings out the wanderlust in this reader!

Ready Bicycle Journeys with Jerry instead, or read the first couple chapters and you get the idea for the rest.

Reading about this womans adventures was like listening to a senior citizen babble about her life. Every page is the same as the one before: Day 45 Today I had ham and eggs for breakfast, then we rode thiry miles. It was so hot. Then we found a place to sleep. Day 46 Today we had toast and eggs for breakfast then we rode for thirty three miles...and on and on and on.
There are no characters in the book. Even her husband who accompanies her is forgetable. There is nothing in the book that made me want to finish it - no struggles, no obsticles to overcome. She is not searching for herself or writing about whatever her mind wanders onto while she peddles all day.
It is a day by day account of how far she rode, what she ate, where she slept and riding conditions. She is probably an interesting lady and she probably has an interesting story to tell but the technical details of her travel are ovewrwhelming and make the book unreadable.

I found Bicycle Across America very helpful in planning my own bicycle trip down the Natchez Trace; from the "what to take" to a feeling of what it would be like riding, camping, and B&Bing it for 14 days. Bob Leavitt

I've read Bicycle Across America and I'm raring to go! What an inspiration Barbara Siegert is! Her emphasis is on fun and adventure. She encourages the reader to leave the humdrum behind and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Every day is a challenge to be met. Each morning she can't wait to get on her bike and see what lies over the next hill or around the next curve in the road - the small towns, the locals and their stories are the rewards of touring the country at 10 mph. Her practical information is A-one. I will pack my panniers only with the things she says I'll need - no frying pans or coffee pots hanging off my bike. I'll heed the advice of the guru of long-distance touring. I just can't wait to get on the road.....

I found this book inspirational. What fun people. Here they are retired riding back and forth across the USA. If back and forth isn't enough, they've done it up and down too! While the book is short and light, I found it a fun read. The beginning section on short trips to get going and see how you like bike touring was a good suggestion. I also found the mileage logs to be a nice additional detail. I was surprised she mentioned map sources for bike trips but left out Adventure Cycling, available on the Internet and a great source geared toward bikes, not cars. Mostly this is a book of short stories of this couple's experience on the road. I doubt she ever meant it to be followed as a route, just a telling of her travels. Her suggestions are generally sound. Who can argue with the success of going across the whole country by bike, twice! I hope she writes more books and takes more trips. I hope she includes more stories of the road next time. If I have a criticism of the book, it would be its brevity. Surely there was more to describe in such long trips. If you are longing for a bit more detail, try reading one of Josie Dew's books. Her trips are just as long and the book's are rich with description and adventure.