Good writers have often used sport as a metaphor for life.

Preparation wins races. Keep your gear clean. Gear isn’t everything. Don’t ride tired or hungry if you can help it.

Relax. Stay loose. Go with the flow. Balance is first among the virtues; momentum is second. Ensure traction by digging in.

The fun starts when you push the limits. He who dares… Sometimes speed is your friend. Sometimes, the best way past an obstacle is to fly straight over it. There are forks in the road - offering different levels of challenge.

Back in 2006 when I had the idea to go on a cycle tour, it was my idea, and no one else’s. I thought, that I alone would take my bike, escape from the everyday drone of my life in England and find excitement and bliss. Great. The reason I had the idea was due to a whole range of factors, not least, many pub conversations about such things with friends, a long term love of cycling and the support from different people that had given me the space to be able to create the conditions to leave. I was already supported enough to be able to have the thinking space to be able to decide I was dissatisfied with things and to leave (no one exists alone). Once I asked my best mate Tom, he had his own take on my ideas and the ideas were intertwined and multiplied.

• Use your imagination beforehand and try to understand what is the most effective thing to do.

• Do research on other books in existence.

• Simple will be the way to go.

• Know your paper, print and finishing.

• There is no ‘correct’ way to do anything.

Advice by: Luce Choules

You know that you have told yourself that you are going to do it. You have set up this self challenge that means that any time there is an opportunity you have to do it.

The others have mentioned how you are mad, but you know that you will get up early and go outdoors with your shorts, hat and towel and brave the conditions. There is always the possibility that you might back out so there is a constant little nagging motivation. The trick is not to force it, but usually you go.

• Very little joy from hours of spamming journalists
• Any media coverage I have got has proved so unproductive at selling books/makingmoney/opening doors that it has not encouraged me to make many more future efforts.
• In other words the only (small) success any of my books have had is through growing organically.

Having said all that, books like Mark Beaumont’s give powerful proof of how successful marketing / hype can lead to massive sales.

An ebook is a useful format that is different from a paper book. An ebook can be updated comparatively quickly and easily. It has next to no distribution or production costs and is available to anyone with an internet connection. When I first researched and produced ebooks I did so because I was interested in creating an ebook version of a paper book to double up on its availability and because the technology was there.

Since I started taking photos, I have amassed thousands. Especially since 2007, when I first got a decent camera and went travelling.

Whilst travelling, I used SD cards and each time I got to an internet connection I would go through the photos I had taken since the last time I was at an internet connection, choose the ones I considered to be highlights and uploaded them onto Flickr. I believe I also backed up the images onto a hard disk and CDs.

Back in 2001 I studied Environment, Economics and Ecology at York University. At the time the environment was a hot topic and it seemed like there would be a great push seen in the world to help to protect it for generations to come. The course was varied in content ranging from mathematical and chemistry methods to geography and management. There was a lot of data supporting observations of damaged aspects of the environment such as the atmosphere, habitat or wildlife populations. There was a clear argument for human-augmented change of the climate. I learnt about many individuals and organisations that were working to try to mitigate impacts in various ways. Organisations such as WWF, Greenpeace and many others.

To me an expedition means: exploring, new ideas and experimentation. It can offer a great deal of learning potential.

An expedition usually requires planning, because it might involve going to an unusual place or doing extraordinary activities. This may require training, special visas, or specialist equipment.

Nevertheless, the following rules of thumb will hopefully help you to ensure that you have the basics covered for a successful trip:

• Have a clear goal. It is important to have a focus, but it is also important to accept invitations and be open to the experiences that you have.
• Research your gear. Take the right gear that is best suited for the context of your trip. Less is more. Don’t take more than you need because it will hinder your progress.
• Involve others. The more people who can help you out the better the learning experience. Choose your partners wisely. Travel with people you trust and know how they will react in a variety of situations.
• Spread the word before you go. This will build your responsibility and allow others to support you.
• Set a day to leave. It will give you a goal to aim for and focus your energy.
• Have a budget and stick to it. Having a financial constraint is helpful to reign in your expenditure and the scope of your trip.
• Keep a private journal. It will help to gather your thoughts and make sense of what is happening.
• Communicate your trip through visual / written / other means. Passing on your learning creates value for others and amplifies the impact of your journey.
• Consider the environment. You will take many things from your trip but make sure that you minimise your impact.

There are so many self-help books out there. A recent study boiled them down to the following:

1. You decide how you feel.
2. Model the successful. People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.
3. Like attracts like.
4. Be present.
5. Leave your comfort zone.
6. Don’t procrastinate.
7. Be responsible.
8. You are unique.
9. Enjoy yourself.
10. Appreciate life.
11. Use positive self-talk.
12. Visualise what you want.

Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance. Epicurus.