Customer Reviews

Roll Around Heaven All Day: A Piecemeal Journey Across America by Bicycle

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a 53-year old bike tourer, I love reading about the experiences of others on long distance rides. Especially when the author is about the same age as me.
If you are looking for lots of valuable technical information and advice, this is not the book you are looking for. Sure, the author provides a decent smattering of advice and some decent technical instruction. However, what this book really is, is a journal of one man's ride across America. It is presented in an interesting and entertaining way. I loved to read about the interaction he had with people along the way. I loved to read about how he overcame and dealt with physical problems, technical problems, and emotional problems. To me, reading about a person's personal experience is more valuable than any technical manual or how-to book on touring ever written. This is a good one.

While not a good "technical" account for anyone wanting information on making a similar journey, I find Stan Purdum to be a natural story teller. His account of the inner struggles of a man wishing to accomplish a dream, as well as the situations and people he meets on the way are presented in a very entertaining way. My son, also an avid bicyclist, is inspired by reading this book to undertake a similar journey. I have shared/bought copies of this book for seven family members and all have enjoyed it very much.

This was a book that was hard to put down. Being an avid touring cyclist myself, I could relate to many of Stan's experiences on the road and of the many interesting people he encountered along the way. Stan's writing style presents a good mix of humor, wit, and reality that makes for some interesting reading. This should be on a must read list for anyone with a yearning for adventure whether they enjoy cycling or not.

At age 50, the author travelled by bicycle from the West Coast to the East Coast in three separate trips. The first segment was undertaken with his older brother, the second with his young daughter, the final leg mostly solo. Experienced touring cyclists will likely find neither much fascination nor actual "information" in this account, since the author often reveals (and readily admits) a lack of both adequate preparation and planning before and during his trips. Technical aspects aside, however, Stan Purdum displays and shares a keen, sensitive insight into the personal interaction component of his journeys. This book is certainly not in any way a "how to" book on cycle touring; it's really more of a personal journal, shared with the reader. I can't honestly say that I loved the book, but it's certainly still a decent read. The title comes from a line borrowed (with proper attribution) from a jazz tune. Roll on, fair winds.

The author rode his bike across the country in three stages because he didn't have the luxury of enough time to do it all at once. He's very candid about his misconceptions and the adjustments he makes. As I read this book, which I greatly enjoyed, I just knew the author had to be a midwesterner, as I am. It's not a flashy story, and nothing terribly dramatic happened, but at least I was left with the feeling that I would like to go with Mr. Purdum on an extended bike trip sometime. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am riding my bike across the state of Oklahoma, and this book has really gotten me excited about the ride. I am encouraged to ride in other states, and this book has prompted me to get my chilrden involved in bicycling and spending time on the road together seeing the country on bicycle.

I really want to like this book: the author's earnestness and obvious interest in sharing his story shines through. Unfortunately, I just didn't get much from it: virtually none of his anecdotes or philosophies are memorable. I felt like I was reading a daily diary with some 'theory' interspersed throughout. This was a really quick read (which isn't bad) that left me feeling unsatisfied (which is). I've read so many very good narratives over the years that this one just didn't make the cut. I wish it had.

What a great book - and about bicycling in the USA.

When I get my pension I know that I (inspired by this book) will go bicycling in the USA.

Stans book of his cross country journey was wonderful, I know first hand because I was in his book. I met Stan while doing my own cross country bicycle trip just by running into him! I'm Dave from Buffalo NY in Stans book, Stan is most certainly a strong and dedicated rider, a true bike tourer who know's what he's talking about. He was also one of the friendliest bike tourist I met on my trip. I would suggest this book to anyone who's looking to bike across the US Bikecentennial trail, or just looking to know what the US has to offer from a bicyclists point of view. Give it a try, it's an interesting read. Take care and happy trails. David Barnas

This book is a pleasant and quick read. Unfortunately, it lacks depth. It fails to explore the author's apparent emotional need to make the journey. It fails to be a descriptive account of the geography the author traversed. It fails to 'flesh out' the apparently interesting characters the author encountered in his travels. Plus, it focused too much on the medical and physical problems of his family.

Being middle aged, and considering taking an extended journey myself, I was eager to read this book. I read it in a day, and was sorely disappointed. Frankly, this man sounds like too much of a whiner for me to want to travel with!