Time flies. It’s exactly 30 years since my first book The Wind in my Wheels was published in 1992. Thirty years sounds like several thousand blue moons ago yet I remember all the cycling missions I wrote about in that book as if they were yesterday. That’s one of the many boons about going off on a long-winded cycling jaunt, especially alone – the clarity and intensity of the experience carves itself into your memory like stone.
It was also 30 years ago that I cycled around Hawaii and across America – a total of over 6000 miles. So here are some of my USA snapshots from yesteryear.
When people ask me are my lengthy bike-touring days behind me I reply, ‘Not on your Nelly!’ because I like to think I’ve got a lot of wind in my wheels to get under my belt yet. It’s just that I’m currently in the midst of a child-rearing phase (interspersed with regular doses of school-holiday-length voyages by bike and by foot). But once my young threesome are older and the restraints of school no longer apply the wider world beckons. Daisy has expressed keenness to join me cycling from Alaska to Patagonia. Then there’s the appeal of riding up through Africa and cycling home from Australia (via Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Island – I fancy re-cycling around those fair and wind-blown Nordic lands again). Last year even Gary expressed interest in cycling across Russia with me though frankly I think he would rather go in his 64-year old Morris Minor. There again, he’ll probably rather be in his workshop making more things like go-carts powered by old electric drills.
Crossing the Continental Divide in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Gary’s 1958 Morris Minor with Jack doing a fly-past on his go-cart made by Gary out of a few lumps of steel.
June 20th, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book – and your other books and magazine articles too – back in the day (thirty years ago? gulp! 😳) The Wind In My Wheels (Kindle version) is now heading my way so I can enjoy it all again 😊
June 21st, 2022
Thanks Mike for enthusiastic words!
September 2nd, 2022
I first came across your writings in Travelers’ Tales India (1995). We were planning a trip to India and were reading everything we could find on the country. When we came back, I began reading all your books. One book befuddled me with all the Britspeak, so I wrote to a friend in London, and I think he tracked you down and got the translation to Yankee for me. We also exchanged several letters pre-email.
I enjoyed your photo of Independence Pass; back when I was younger, I made several ascents up the pass on my bike; quite the ride. Also fun to go the other way into Aspen.
Love your writings!
David
Boulder, CO
September 4th, 2022
I’ve still got your books that I bought at the time, the 90’s. I absolutely loved every word and photo – still do.
You’re in my happy memories archive – still revisited with great pleasure 🥰
November 3rd, 2022
You are amazing!!