Have you ever woken up in the sultry heat of the morning, your hair and beard teeming with maggots, and then had potatoes picked out of your ears? Have you ever felt the cold barrel of a semi automatic gun against your forehead? When Danny Bent cycled 15,000 kilometres from the UK to India to raise money for ActionAid, it was a decision that took twenty years and one minute. For twenty years he had wanted to do something to raise money for charity. The one minute was when as their teacher he was put on the spot by his pupils and declared that the means was by bike, and he was going to India. What he had signed up for was slogging along roads with trucks bearing down on him, unable to see and choking in the smog; shooting down treacherous descents with 100 foot drops, shaking with cold and too numb to brake; muscle burn and saddle sores; delirium and food poisoning; thirst and malnutrition; foul and insanitary conditions; life-threatening crises; obstructive border guards, crazed dogs and inquisitive passers-by. 'You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir!' is a real and compelling blow-by-blow account of Danny's trip across Europe, the former Soviet Republics, Russia, China, Pakistan and India. And what people he met! They are the true delight of this book, mostly charming, sometimes reckless, occasionally threatening, always unpredictable, and forever inviting Danny to be up for the challenge of entertaining them, in one instance by dancing in front of a packed stadium, in another by eating sheep's brains in a local night market. Danny turns the wheels, you turn the pages. The pace is relentless. The story is both heart-stopping and heart-warming. The arrival is breakdown-and-cry emotional. And there's loads of fun and wonderment along the way too. What a book! What a ride! Live your dream. Go for it, Danny.
You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir!
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Danny Bent was born near Buxton in the Peak District into a very loving and supportive family. His father was an international athlete and Danny was necessarily introduced to the attractions and rigours of sport at a very early age, and to cycling (down steps) not long afterwards. He is an international tri-athlete and a bog diver, and has an aptitude for the sort of adventures which require major endurance and a great deal of luck to survive. Fortunately for us, he is also an excellent raconteur, loves life and hugs people whenever possible, which means he gets access to a host of excellent stories and escapades he can roll around his tongue, and entertain us thoroughly, all at the same time.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
When I am about to give up, I think of Danny at the top of that mountain, the guy with the whip .....
January 26, 2011
Format:Paperback
There is one word, in my opinion, to describe Danny Bent's 'You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir' - honest.
It started with the desire of a teacher in a school in the UK to go to teach in a school in India. "Oh, how will you get there, Sir?" asked one of the children. It was an innocuous question, you might think, except that Danny had been educating his class all about the environmental consequences of using different types of transport, and planes had been described as being a very bad idea indeed - they even merited a poster with a great big red cross all over it. The humble bicycle, on the other hand, that was environmentally-friendly. Gulp! Well, could Danny destroy all his pupils' trust in one lazy and inconsiderate action? No, he couldn't. It was time to get on his bike and peddle away - peddle a very long way, in fact.
He decided to get his trip sponsored for the benefit of Action Aid and, in turn, for the benefit of a women's group in India which was oppressed but had great potential if given an honest chance.
His stories strike me as being entirely honest too. I didn't get the impression that anything was made up, or even played up, although a great deal happened. Luckily for us, Danny has a bit of the Peter Ustinovs about him when it comes to being a raconteur, and he also has the late Mr. Ustinov's cheerful clubability which resulted in his being sucked into far more local activities than would be open to many of us. So, sort of imagine Peter Ustinov on a bike. No, that doesn't work at all. Imagine a very slim bearded ginger-headed guy on a bike telling you entertaining and emotional stories of endurance, delight and derring-do.
And what stories! I don't suppose that all books recording the events of great adventures need to masquerade as how-to guides, but if you ever need to know how to drink goat soup made with pestilent water and survive the resultant food poisoning, or how to speed away from a determined bandit with a whip when 4,000 metres above sea level and suffering from oxygen deprivation, or how not to freeze to death camping out in the open during a Central Asian winter, or how to stay calm when a gun is pointing into your eyes or people all around you are staggering around with blood gushing from their heads, or how to go to the toilet in an exceedingly disgusting public utility bare-bottomed and open to the scrutiny of the entire town, or how to 'skitch', this is exactly the book for you.
As Danny crosses Central Asia, you realise just how tame Western Europe is, given that his toughest task there was to find a shop open in Belgium on a public holiday, but I also came to the conclusion that I wasn't planning to visit some of the 'Stan' countries of Eastern Europe in an armoured car escorted by a tank division any time soon, never mind on a bike. Better Danny than me. He has the guts, he has the drive, he has the insanity and he has the warmth of heart that brought out the generous, friendly and hospitable best from so many people he met along the way.
Indeed, that is the real lesson of Danny's book - that people across the world are decent and willing to go to huge lengths to help in a crisis, or even without one.
Go it, Danny. Live your dream!
It started with the desire of a teacher in a school in the UK to go to teach in a school in India. "Oh, how will you get there, Sir?" asked one of the children. It was an innocuous question, you might think, except that Danny had been educating his class all about the environmental consequences of using different types of transport, and planes had been described as being a very bad idea indeed - they even merited a poster with a great big red cross all over it. The humble bicycle, on the other hand, that was environmentally-friendly. Gulp! Well, could Danny destroy all his pupils' trust in one lazy and inconsiderate action? No, he couldn't. It was time to get on his bike and peddle away - peddle a very long way, in fact.
He decided to get his trip sponsored for the benefit of Action Aid and, in turn, for the benefit of a women's group in India which was oppressed but had great potential if given an honest chance.
His stories strike me as being entirely honest too. I didn't get the impression that anything was made up, or even played up, although a great deal happened. Luckily for us, Danny has a bit of the Peter Ustinovs about him when it comes to being a raconteur, and he also has the late Mr. Ustinov's cheerful clubability which resulted in his being sucked into far more local activities than would be open to many of us. So, sort of imagine Peter Ustinov on a bike. No, that doesn't work at all. Imagine a very slim bearded ginger-headed guy on a bike telling you entertaining and emotional stories of endurance, delight and derring-do.
And what stories! I don't suppose that all books recording the events of great adventures need to masquerade as how-to guides, but if you ever need to know how to drink goat soup made with pestilent water and survive the resultant food poisoning, or how to speed away from a determined bandit with a whip when 4,000 metres above sea level and suffering from oxygen deprivation, or how not to freeze to death camping out in the open during a Central Asian winter, or how to stay calm when a gun is pointing into your eyes or people all around you are staggering around with blood gushing from their heads, or how to go to the toilet in an exceedingly disgusting public utility bare-bottomed and open to the scrutiny of the entire town, or how to 'skitch', this is exactly the book for you.
As Danny crosses Central Asia, you realise just how tame Western Europe is, given that his toughest task there was to find a shop open in Belgium on a public holiday, but I also came to the conclusion that I wasn't planning to visit some of the 'Stan' countries of Eastern Europe in an armoured car escorted by a tank division any time soon, never mind on a bike. Better Danny than me. He has the guts, he has the drive, he has the insanity and he has the warmth of heart that brought out the generous, friendly and hospitable best from so many people he met along the way.
Indeed, that is the real lesson of Danny's book - that people across the world are decent and willing to go to huge lengths to help in a crisis, or even without one.
Go it, Danny. Live your dream!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
This book is a true life adventure retold and beautifully written, witty and well paced-i felt as if i was sharing the ride with Danny! Natural, realistic and touching on themes as the 'rat race', living your dream and never giving up - I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a sense of passion and adventure-or who needs a kick start to start moving on their own dreams!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
In his own words:
"I left my home, family and job as a junior school teacher in July 2009 to pursue a 20 year dream. A dream to cycle round the world raising as much money for charity as possible. I travelled 15,000km by bicycle (affectionately known as Shirley) to southern India where I worked in a slum in Mumbai and a village school in Chembakolli as a teacher.
"Leaving on July 17th accompanied by friends, family, teachers and pupils I cycled to dover where I was put on a boat which sailed to France. I was welcomed into strangers homes, held at gunpoint until I drank a vodka, chased by wild dogs, propositioned by prostitutes in Kiev, hung out with hippies, wept at Auschwitz, danced and sung with hardcore football fans, seen the consequences of war, spent a sleepless night thinking I was being attacked under an apple tree, grown a beard, and that's only Europe!!!"
Danny writes from the heart with all the vitality and lack of artifice of a youthful author discovering for himself that all the world--regardless of mind-blowing cultural variations--is made up of humans who at heart have all the same needs, desires and motivations. He shares these discoveries with his readers in the retelling of his completely unique journey...
"I left my home, family and job as a junior school teacher in July 2009 to pursue a 20 year dream. A dream to cycle round the world raising as much money for charity as possible. I travelled 15,000km by bicycle (affectionately known as Shirley) to southern India where I worked in a slum in Mumbai and a village school in Chembakolli as a teacher.
"Leaving on July 17th accompanied by friends, family, teachers and pupils I cycled to dover where I was put on a boat which sailed to France. I was welcomed into strangers homes, held at gunpoint until I drank a vodka, chased by wild dogs, propositioned by prostitutes in Kiev, hung out with hippies, wept at Auschwitz, danced and sung with hardcore football fans, seen the consequences of war, spent a sleepless night thinking I was being attacked under an apple tree, grown a beard, and that's only Europe!!!"
Danny writes from the heart with all the vitality and lack of artifice of a youthful author discovering for himself that all the world--regardless of mind-blowing cultural variations--is made up of humans who at heart have all the same needs, desires and motivations. He shares these discoveries with his readers in the retelling of his completely unique journey...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Meh
This book could have been fascinating, but the author thinks that he is much funnier than he is. Too cutesy.
Published 8 days ago by VespaGirl
Always choose the road less traveled
I dont know where to start really, this book took me places, the author Danny Bent shares his every thought and moment so frankly with the reader that its like being right beside... Read more
Published 26 days ago by Reader
An enjoyable and enlightening read
The Kindle version of this book is an absolute bargain at 99 cents. If you have any interest in bicycle touring, this is a must read for inspiration and sound advice.
Published 1 month ago by Flint Weller
Strange Title, Excellent Book!
Fantastic story of an elementary school teacher who decides to "walk his talk" and ride his bike to a small town in India! Read more
Published 1 month ago by JaneR
A grand adventure
The best 99 cents I've ever spent. He has an enjoyable self deprecating writing style. This book gave me a completely different view of a part of the world we usually only see on... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Richardb
Hard to put down!
I started reading, and subsequently put this book down twice before finally deciding to finish it. I am so glad that I did! Once I really got into it, I could not put it down! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pilgrim
Extraordinary Story, Extraordinary Teacher!
Long distance bicycle touring conjures up visions of sipping wine at a roadside cafe in Belgium, breakfast on a veranda in southern Italy, or perhaps tea in Dover. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dennis Blanchard
A pleasant musing on the life of an adventurer
If you enjoy travel books, this book is for you, and it's unique. A gifted grade school teacher decides to take off some time to fulfill a childhood dream and travel. Read more
Published 4 months ago by L. Miller
If you enjoy adventure, exploration and a little bit of sociology this...
I like crazy people. They motivate me and allow me to think big. Indeed, the craziness of an author is probably the biggest reason (besides my passion for cycling) why I picked... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Krzysztof Cyganik
Great Book
I love this Book. All the 5 Star reviews are true. I feel like I am riding with Danny when I read this book.
Published 6 months ago by Dewt
Inside This Book
(learn more)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Cycling
- Books > Travel > Asia > India
- Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Adventure > Cycling
