Why a bike trip? It all started with my first light-weight racing cycle.. I never used it but I was amazed at how efficiently I could move. I bought it at the University Bike shop in the mid-70's, not long after Richard's Bicycle Book was published (1972) and I bought an updated copy (1975) at the same time.
Richard Ballantine "...You have to expect that I would believe bicycling is a good idea, but how do I get off expressing the notion that bicycling is philosophically and morally sound? Because it is something that you do, not something that is done to you. The most important effect of mechanical contraptions is that they defeat consciousness. Consciousness, self-awareness and development are the prerequisites for a life worth living. Now look at what happens to you on a bicycle. It's immediate and direct. You pedal. You make decisions. You experience the tang of the air and the surge of power as you bite into the road. You're vitalized. As you hum along you fully and gloriously experience the day, the sunshine, the clouds, the breezes. You're alive! You are going some place and it is you who are doing it. Awareness increases and each day becomes a little more important to you. With increased awareness you see and notice more, and this further reinforces awareness."
I remember one night when Jan & I were dining out in Brisbane in 1979 and discussing what each of us would like to do.. my dream would be to cycle around the UK (I had got the idea from Richard's book) and Jan enthusiastically agreed. We started planning for May 1980, taking leave from our jobs and leave without pay (total of 5 months off).
A critical part of the plan was to obtain a book on cycle touring in Britain & Ireland published by the Cycling Touring Club (CTC) of Britain, whose headquarters at the time were in Godalming in the south of England. We planned on buying bikes in London at the start of the trip and Richard's book provided the blueprint and the recommended source... F.W. Evan's custom built touring bikes (shimano running gear, campagnola hubs, brooks leather saddle, etc) whose store was at The Cut in Waterloo in London. So began our adventure....