Just the Two of Us: A Cycling Journey Across America [Paperback]

Melissa Norton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Riding a bicycle 4,622 miles across the United States in 63 days is not that unusual, and it has been written about in such books as Stan Purdum's Roll Around Heaven All Day and Barbara Siegert's Bicycle Across America. What is unique about this trip is that it was accomplished by a wife and husband in their fifties. Using a journal format, Norton writes about the couple's trip from Astoria, OR, to Bar Harbor, ME, covering the grueling mountain climbs, whom they encountered, what they saw, where they stayed and what they ate (primarily at upscale inns and restaurants), the personal relations between husband and wife, and some useful tips on bicycle touring. Each chapter covers one leg of the journey and begins with a small map and itinerary. The black-and-white photographs are too small to be of any value, and the author is not a writer by trade (she is instead a retired math and computer science teacher), which, unfortunately, is evident. Still, Norton does keep the reader's interest, and the book has the potential to appeal to both the bicyclist and the armchair traveler. For all public libraries. John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Chandler House Press (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886284679
• ISBN-13: 978-1886284678
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #711,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by Richard L. Nolan, February 18, 2002

By 

Richard Nolan (Lexington, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just the Two of Us: A Cycling Journey Across America (Paperback)

Review of Just the Two of Us

This is simply the best book I have read on cycling. From first-hand experience, Melissa Norton captures the essence of cycling: why people do it; how they do it; and what the experience is all about.

Just the Two of Us describes the process of a husband and wife team getting into cycling, building their cycling skills and experience by cycling over weekends. Weekend cycling extends to week long trips, and then to the ultimate: biking across the United States.

Bikes are unpacked at Astoria, Oregon overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The adventure begins with the thrill of watching fisherman reel in 4 foot sturgeons at the mouth of the Columbia River. Norton makes the reader feel as if they are vicariously biking along with Dave and Melissa: seeing what they see, working up the hills, and coasting down the slopes at exhilarating speeds. Each chapter is introduced with the cities to be visited and the miles to be rode for the week. From the sunrise on June 15, the reader cycles with the Norton's along the Pacific Ocean, over the Cascades at McKenzie Pass, through the rich agricultural fields on the high plateau of Oregon, over the Rockies, trekking the long expanse of the plains of the Midwest, into the finger lake region of New York, and returning to familiar New England. Finally, we triumphantly ride with them into the Atlantic Coast town of Bar Harbor, Maine.

By vicariously cycling with the Norton's, the reader meets the local people in the cities, their history, and the way they are. During the course of the trip, the reader learns a lot about cycling such as maintaining the bike, carrying gear, and safely riding among traffic. The pictures embedded in the book enrich the telling of the journey: landmarks are included, geographical perspective is integrated. I especially like the picture of the 13 percent grade sign shown on a steep "hill" in Vermont.

Just the Two of Us is an exciting read. I highly recommend it. And, I hope that this will be just the first book from author Melissa Norton in sharing her experiences and thoughts about a most accessible and enjoyable sport.

Richard L. Nolan
Lexington, Massachusetts
February 2002

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for adventurous souls of any age, February 14, 2002

By 

"ccbb66" (Central New England, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just the Two of Us: A Cycling Journey Across America (Paperback)

I loved reading Melissa Norton's account of traveling by bike across the US, while staying in luxurious bed & breakfasts, inns and hotels along the way. The book is chock full of unique and fun places to see and explore, as well as the rigors and rewards of adventure traveling. The book has inspired me while reassuring me it's not too late to do something that I thought only recent college grads did!

Well written and priced economically, this book is a must for anyone looking for a bit of adventure whether on two wheels, four wheels or by foot!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!, April 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Just the Two of Us: A Cycling Journey Across America (Paperback)

I love to read real-life adventure stories and when I picked this one, I could not put it down. Fun and easy to read. No long drawn-out details or facts but plenty enough to get the 'feel' of this cross-country bicycle trip with all its beauty, joy, satisfactions, dissatisfactions, happiness, sadness, trials, weather (good and bad), people met along the way (good and bad) etc, it has it all.