Now available at Amazon.com

Landmark progress today. Barring Mechanicals has just been sighted on Amazon.com. Ok, its probably  quicker for US customers to order direct from Lulu, but being listed at Amazon does lend a certain credibility to the project.

To date, there have only been a handful of US sales. Here's hoping this is a turning point.

See the amazon page here.

Feedback from VC167 Rider

Just got a nice mail from a fellow LELer, saying he'd read a borrowed copy of Barring Mechanicals and had been very entertained. Infact, he went on to say he'd ordered a copy to send to another rider. Looks like the word is spreading. Cheers all!

The story that almost never was...

The Challenge website lists some 'small improvements on the model line' for 2010, including a new 'Chain-idler for most models. For the race-bikes these idlers even slide with the chain-line.'


Its great to see the Dutch manufacturer continue to improve an (already great) product line, and I can't help but think its come at exactly the right time. Any later, and I'd have chewed through the current replacement. Any earlier and I might have never written barring mechanicals.

News from Arrivée

The very lovely Sheila Simpson, editor of Arrivée says of Barring Mechanicals:

"...it’s a gripping tale, told with honesty and humour."

The full review should surface in the next edition of the magazine, so keep an eye out.

Arrivee is Audax UK's quarterly magazine, with over 50 pages of articles, photos, letters, news and information, available to members of Audax UK, the long distance cyclists' association.

It's published each February, May, August and November.

Kindle edition...?

Hmmm... Got a request for a 'Kindle' edition of Barring Mechanicals last night. Going to have to look into this. It'd be good to have the book available on other platforms (is paper a platform these days?) but e-selling to America, via Amazon, through Lulu puts waaay to many fingers in the (already slim) pie.

Going to have a look around for a self publishing option...

Velovision?

Just got heads up from a friend at Velovision to say there might be review of Barring Mechanicals in the next edition.

Velo Vision covers cycling as a fun and effective transport solution. Published quarterly since 2000, it’s a unique forum for new cycling ideas and innovations from around the world. Discover folding bikes which fit easily onto public transport, recumbents which go faster in comfort, family bikes to carry children safely, workbikes and trailers to haul loads for car-free living or business, adapted cycles offering true mobility for the disabled, and streamlined velomobiles for all-weather comfort. Showcasing positive examples of cycling pioneers, designers and cultures, Velo Vision is a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.

Averaging 2 copies a day

Hey, thanks everyone.

Through lulu's international marketplace, the paperback is now selling an average two copies a day!

Feels great to be giving something back to the communities and riders that have helped me over the last 18 months.

Andy.

Audax Oz

Just been forwarded this review, which was posted to Audax-Oz last night:

Looking for a good read?

If you've been on a long and/or "weather-challenged" Audax - think S-M 1200 or PBP 2007 (or by the sound of it Three Peaks) - or are considering PBP, PAP, LEL or any other Audax collection of letters, I'm sure you'll enjoy reading Barring Mechanicals, Andy Allsopp's account of LEL 2009 as much as I did.

It tells his story of riding a recumbent with mechanical "issues" 1400kms from London to Edinburgh and back and does a great job of evoking the atmosphere and experience of LEL.

Available for download on-line at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/barring-mechanicals---from-london-to-edinburgh-and-back-on-a-re/6302388 at the bargain price of US$4.71 - that's less than 0.4 cents a km!

Of course, its only fair to mention that a second hand copy of 'Eighty Days Around the World' would give a better distance to cents ratio, but there's not so many bikes in that one.

Paper reigns!

Pleased to note that the paperback edition of Barring Mechanicals is outselling the digital edition 14:1. Better than this even, I've sold more than one digital copy :)

Thanks all,

Andy.

Arrivée?

Submitted a copy of Barring Mechanicals to the editors of Arrivée today. Keep an eye out for a review in the next edition!

Arrivee is Audax UK's quarterly magazine, with over 50 pages of articles, photos, letters, news and information, available to members of Audax UK, the long distance cyclists' association.

It's published each February, May, August and November.

Australia

Got a lovely mail from a lady in Brisbane this morning, who wrote to say how much she enjoyed the book. Left for work feeling great!

Thanks Sandy.

Front page news!

Hey! We made the front page!

Laid Back Bikes have featured Barring Mechanicals on their home page. Have a look now, 'cos I expect we'll make our way from there to the 'Your Road Trips' sub-section as soon as the next edition of Velovision is announced. :)

  

Laid Back is a car free business, offering Edinburgh based cycle tours and UK wide sales of recumbent bikes and trikes.