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  • Mud, Sweat and Gears: Cycling From Land's End to John O'Groats (via the Pub)

  • By: Ellie Bennett
  • Narrated by: Nicola MacKenzie
  • Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (110 ratings)
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Mud, Sweat and Gears: Cycling From Land's End to John O'Groats (via the Pub) cover art

Mud, Sweat and Gears: Cycling From Land's End to John O'Groats (via the Pub)

By: Ellie Bennett
Narrated by: Nicola MacKenzie
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Summary

As Ellie’s 50th birthday approaches and her ambitions of a steady income, a successful career and an ascent of Everest seem as far away as ever, she begins to doubt she’s capable of achieving anything at all. So when her best friend Mick suggests a gruelling cycle ride from Land’s End to John o’Groats, she takes up the challenge. They opt for the scenic route which takes them along cycle paths, towpaths and the back roads and byways of Britain, unable to resist sampling local beers in the pubs they pass along the way.

But as the pints start to stack up faster than the miles they’re putting under their tyres, Ellie wonders if they’ll ever make it to the finishing line....

©2012 Ellie Bennett (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Nicola MacKenzie lends a variety of intonations - frustration, anger, and satisfaction - all of which pals Ellie and Mick encounter along the way. MacKenzie's voice keeps a steady pace along the duo's journey - one that blends historical facts in an irreverent travel story." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Mud, Sweat and Gears: Cycling From Land's End to John O'Groats (via the Pub)

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Cyclist or listener - who became more weary?

Content is quite informative and entertaining but the delivery is so painful that I was unable to finish listening to the book. The narrator seems to thing the listener is aged 7 listening to a bedtime story. Pity as beer and cycling are two of my main interests!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Massive disappointment

I must have bought this by mistake. This book tends to be lumped together with other cycle adventure books and I wrongly assumed it would be funny and interesting. What is actually documented is a rather dull story, written by a particularly hapless woman that appears to know nothing about cycling. The worst aspect of the audiobook has to be the way that it is read by insanely patronising, woman. All in all, one to avoid.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

What a shame.

This is a subject dear to my heart, and I feel exactly as another reviewer did: I love cycling and beer, but this was utterly ruined by the narration. Find another reader and this could be a best seller, as it is, it's as tedious a slog as some of the hills mentioned in the book.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent funny cycling tale

One of my favourite books in Audible. The cycling adventure had me laughing and kept me entertained from start to finish.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Harder than cycling

Story ok, could be humorous read by the right narrator, definitely made me turn it off

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should be called 'Guts & Grit'

A wonderful account of two ordinary people who achieved a great journey (End to end) which others only dream of. A really nice story!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not really that much about cycling

I could only hack 2 hours, there was more time spent discribing beers, local history and unrelated personal stories about her mums computer etc. this should not really be marketed as a cycling story as that seems to be no more than a bit of a diary entry. not for me sorry.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Realistic statements on a journry

From bicycles to ferries, hotels to camping, b&b to waterproofs but keeping going we made it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable easy listening

East to listen to. You can pick up the the thread & jump about. Well written & a nice pleasant book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Adventure by Bicycle

Enjoyed this book as am about to do A LEJOG with my son. This book covered some of the same areas we are to go so factually useful. but also enjoyed the banter along the way.
The history was also informative. enjoyed the book.

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