An exuberant tale of craftsmanship for nature lovers and rugged outdoor types everywhereRobert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. Journeying from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, Robert finds that the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia making wheels and arrows, furniture and baseball bats, are far from dead. The book chronicles how the urge to understand and appreciate trees still runs through us all like grain through wood.

Robert Penn's It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels is a paean to the humble bike; it's the story of why we ride, and why this simple machine holds the power to transport us all.Robert Penn has ridden a bike most days of his life. He rides to get to work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to stay sane and to feel free. This is the story of his love affair with cycling and the journey to build his dream bike; a freewheeling pilgrimage taking him from Californian mountain bike inventors to British artisan frame builders, and from perfect components to the path of true happiness.'A gem of a book ... a joy'Economist'Infectious, exhilarating, highly engaging'Independent'Be swept along by Penn's enthusiasm, humour and refreshing candour'Sunday Telegraph'Enriches your enjoyment of a ride'Sunday Times'As a depiction of a world you might vote for, Penn's does not sound bad at all'ObserverRobert Penn writes for the Financial Times, Observer and Condé Nast Traveller, as well as a host of cycling publications. He is the author of The Wrong Kind of Snow. Robert lives in the Black Mountains, South Wales with his wife and three children and commutes to work across a heather moor on a mountain bike.

As seen on TVThe bicycle is one of mankind's greatest inventions - and the most popular form of transport in history. Robert Penn has ridden one most days of his adult life. In his late 20s, he pedalled 40,000 kilometres around the world. Yet, like cyclists everywhere, the utilitarian bikes he currently owns don't even hint at this devotion. Robert needs a new bike, a bespoke machine that reflects how he feels when he's riding it - like an ordinary man touching the gods. It's All About the Bike is the story of a journey to design and build a dream bike. En route, Robert explores the culture, science and history of the bicycle. From Stoke-on-Trent, where an artisan hand builds his frame, to California, home of the mountain bike, where Robert tracks down the perfect wheels, via Portland, Milan and Coventry, birthplace of the modern bicycle, this is the narrative of our love affair with cycling. It's a tale of perfect components - parts that set the standard in reliability, craftsmanship and beauty. It tells how the bicycle has changed the course of human history, from the invention of the 'people's nag' to its role in the emancipation of women, and from the engineering marvel of the tangent-spoked wheel to the enduring allure of the Tour de France. It's the story of why we ride, and why this simple machine remains central to life today.

Robert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. Journeying from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, Robert finds that the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia making wheels and arrows, furniture and baseball bats, are far from dead. The book chronicles how the urge to understand and appreciate trees still runs through us all like grain through wood.

'Charming, important . . . a journey of discovery' TelegraphOver the course of a year, Robert Penn learns how to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, in order to bake bread for his family. In returning to this pre-industrial practice, he tells the fascinating story of our relationship with bread: from the domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent at the dawn of civilization, to the rise of mass-produced loaves and the resurgence in homebaking today.Gathering knowledge and wisdom from experts around the world - farmers on the banks of the Nile, harvesters in the American Midwest and Parisian boulangers - Penn reconnects the joy of making and eating bread with a deep appreciation for the skill and patience required to cultivate its key ingredient. This book is a celebration of the millennia-old craft of breadmaking, and how it is woven into the story of humanity.'Compelling, vivid . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by the new bread geeks' Spectator

'Charming, important . . . a journey of discovery' TelegraphOver the course of a year, Robert Penn learns how to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, in order to bake bread for his family. In returning to this pre-industrial practice, he tells the fascinating story of our relationship with bread: from the domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent at the dawn of civilization, to the rise of mass-produced loaves and the resurgence in homebaking today.Gathering knowledge and wisdom from experts around the world - farmers on the banks of the Nile, harvesters in the American Midwest and Parisian boulangers - Penn reconnects the joy of making and eating bread with a deep appreciation for the skill and patience required to cultivate its key ingredient. This book is a celebration of the millennia-old craft of breadmaking, and how it is woven into the story of humanity.'Compelling, vivid . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by the new bread geeks' Spectator

Robert Penn has saddled up nearly every day of his adult life. In hislate twenties, he pedaled 25,000 miles around the world. Today he ridesto get to work, sometimes for work, to bathe in air and sunshine, totravel, to go shopping, to stay sane, and to skip bath time with hiskids. He''s no Sunday pedal pusher. So when the time came for a new bike,he decided to pull out all the stops. He would build his dream bike,the bike he would ride for the rest of his life; a customized machinethat reflects the joy of cycling.It''s All About the Bike followsPenn''s journey, but this book is more than the story of his hunt fortwo-wheel perfection. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture,science, and history of the bicycle. From artisanal frame shops in theUnited Kingdom to California, where he finds the perfect wheels, viaPortland, Milan, and points in between, his trek follows the serpentinepath of our love affair with cycling. It explains why we ride.It''s All About the Bikeis, like Penn''s dream bike, a tale greater than the sum of its parts.An enthusiastic and charming tour guide, Penn uses each component of thebike as a starting point for illuminating excursions into the richhistory of cycling. Just like a long ride on a lovely day, It''s All About the Bike is pure joy- enriching, exhilarating, and unforgettable.

Explore over 450 of the most magical, extraordinary and lesser-known woods and forests in England, Scotland and Wales with this unique, practical and fully illustrated book. Featuring stunning photography and lively travel writing, it is divided into easy-to-navigate geographical sections - Southwest, South and East, Wales, Central and North, and Scotland - and covers everything from the best campsites, bothies and quirky accommodation through to wild swimming, walking trails, types of woodland and forest, cycling routes, waterfalls, canoeing, wildflowers and wildlife, dark skies and stargazing, foraging, lost ruins and sacred, mystical and haunted sites.Wild Woods reveals life-affirming ways to connect with wild places through adventure and is the perfect book for both families and wilderness lovers seeking new experiences well off the beaten track. Also included is a series of 'Best for.' recommendations, from 'Best for Lost Ruins' to 'Best for Charismatic Wildlife', as well as Untamed Waters, Caves and Canyons, and Quirky Stays among others. High-quality photography illustrates a selection of sites and a number of featured adventures are included.With Bradt's Wild Woods visit historic forests such as Epping, Sherwood and the New Forest. Discover ancient and notable trees, healing springs and hidden castles and lose yourself in Britain's largest, wildest and most ancient woods and forests. Detailed, user-friendly instructions help to create wild weekend escapes and you can also learn about 'lost beasts' - megafauna such as wolves - and the evolution of ancient woodland. The legacy of royal forests and private chases is also covered. Whatever your interest in Britain's woods and forests, Bradt's Wild Woods is the ideal guide and companion.

Ein Buch über das Glück des Holzhackens und über die heilende Kraft des Waldes. Eine sinnliche Reise, eine Rückbesinnung auf die Kraft der Natur und die Geschichte von einem Mann und seinem Baum. Robert Penn hat den perfekten Baum für sein Vorhaben gefunden. Eine Esche - nicht umsonst "Venus des Waldes" genannt - 140 Jahre alt und wunderschön. Penn misst den Baum, klettert auf den Baum, verbringt eine Nacht am Fuße des Baums. Er fällt diese Esche und verwertet alles - bis hin zu den Spänen. Er reist durch England, nach Österreich und in die USA um die besten Stellmacher, Tischler und Drechsler zu besuchen. Aus seinem Baum werden Schüsseln gefertigt, Pfeile, ein Schlitten und Axtgriffe. Am Ende werden es 41 Dinge sein, die in sein Haus einziehen. Ihr Geruch und ihr Anblick erinnern ihn jeden Tag aufs Neue an den Wald.

Das Fahrrad ist eine der größten Erfindungen der Menschheit - und das meistbenutzte Verkehrsmittel weltweit. Auch der Journalist Robert Penn fährt fast jeden Tag Rad, zur Arbeit, zu Freunden, zum Einkaufen oder um der Welt zu entkommen. Mit Ende 20 fuhr er auf dem Rad um die ganze Welt, 40.000 Kilometer. Allerdings kann das Fahrrad von der Stange, das er besitzt, diesem Enthusiasmus nicht annähernd gerecht werden. Robert braucht ein neues Rad, ein maßgeschneidertes Wunder der Handwerkskunst, das das Gefühl widerspiegelt, das er empfindet, wenn er fährt: dem Himmel ein Stückchen näher. Vom Glück auf zwei Rädern ist die Geschichte seiner Reise zum Traumfahrrad. Sie führt von Stoke-on-Trent, wo Robert sich einen genau auf ihn angepassten Stahlrahmen bauen lässt, bis nach Kalifornien, wo er die perfekten Räder findet; über Portland (Lenkkopf), Vicenza (Getriebe), Mailand (Lenker) und Korbach, wo die besten Reifen gemacht werden, bis zurück nach Smethwick, für den idealen Sattel. Es ist eine Liebeserklärung an das Fahrrad, eine Geschichte von perfekten Teilen, von der Historie des Fahrrads, vom Ausbruch des Vulkans Tambora im Jahr 1815 und seinen Folgen, vom Fahrrad als Demokratisierungsmaschine und von seinem Beitrag für die Befreiung der Frau, von den Irrtümern und Wundern im Rahmen seiner Weiterentwicklung und von den Qualen der Tour de France. Es ist die Geschichte davon, warum wir Rad fahren und warum diese einfache Maschine auch heute noch ein so zentraler Teil unseres Lebens ist.

Robert Penn ha montado en bicicleta casi todos los días de su vida. La utiliza para ir a trabajar, para darse baños de aire y sol, para mantenerse sano y para sentirse libre. Este es el relato de su historia de amor con el ciclismo y del viaje que emprendió para construir la bicicleta de sus sueños, un desenfrenado peregrinaje que lo conduce de inventores de bicicletas de montaña californianos a constructores de cuadros artesanales británicos. La bici lo es todo es una oda al ciclismo que transmite el entusiasmo de un enamorado de las dos ruedas de una forma ingeniosa y divertida. Un verdadero himno a la bicicleta, la historia de por qué pedaleamos y cómo esta simple máquina tiene el poder de seducirnos a todos, que hará las delicias de los aficionados a la bici y de quienes defienden su mayor uso, tanto en las ciudades como en el campo.

An exuberant tale of craftsmanship for nature lovers and rugged outdoor types everywhereRobert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. Journeying from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, Robert finds that the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia making wheels and arrows, furniture and baseball bats, are far from dead. The book chronicles how the urge to understand and appreciate trees still runs through us all like grain through wood.

Robert Penn's It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels is a paean to the humble bike; it's the story of why we ride, and why this simple machine holds the power to transport us all.Robert Penn has ridden a bike most days of his life. He rides to get to work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to stay sane and to feel free. This is the story of his love affair with cycling and the journey to build his dream bike; a freewheeling pilgrimage taking him from Californian mountain bike inventors to British artisan frame builders, and from perfect components to the path of true happiness.'A gem of a book ... a joy'Economist'Infectious, exhilarating, highly engaging'Independent'Be swept along by Penn's enthusiasm, humour and refreshing candour'Sunday Telegraph'Enriches your enjoyment of a ride'Sunday Times'As a depiction of a world you might vote for, Penn's does not sound bad at all'ObserverRobert Penn writes for the Financial Times, Observer and Condé Nast Traveller, as well as a host of cycling publications. He is the author of The Wrong Kind of Snow. Robert lives in the Black Mountains, South Wales with his wife and three children and commutes to work across a heather moor on a mountain bike.

As seen on TVThe bicycle is one of mankind's greatest inventions - and the most popular form of transport in history. Robert Penn has ridden one most days of his adult life. In his late 20s, he pedalled 40,000 kilometres around the world. Yet, like cyclists everywhere, the utilitarian bikes he currently owns don't even hint at this devotion. Robert needs a new bike, a bespoke machine that reflects how he feels when he's riding it - like an ordinary man touching the gods. It's All About the Bike is the story of a journey to design and build a dream bike. En route, Robert explores the culture, science and history of the bicycle. From Stoke-on-Trent, where an artisan hand builds his frame, to California, home of the mountain bike, where Robert tracks down the perfect wheels, via Portland, Milan and Coventry, birthplace of the modern bicycle, this is the narrative of our love affair with cycling. It's a tale of perfect components - parts that set the standard in reliability, craftsmanship and beauty. It tells how the bicycle has changed the course of human history, from the invention of the 'people's nag' to its role in the emancipation of women, and from the engineering marvel of the tangent-spoked wheel to the enduring allure of the Tour de France. It's the story of why we ride, and why this simple machine remains central to life today.

Robert Penn cut down an ash tree to see how many things could be made from it. After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. Journeying from Wales across Europe and Ireland to the USA, Robert finds that the ancient skills and knowledge of the properties of ash, developed over millennia making wheels and arrows, furniture and baseball bats, are far from dead. The book chronicles how the urge to understand and appreciate trees still runs through us all like grain through wood.

'Charming, important . . . a journey of discovery' TelegraphOver the course of a year, Robert Penn learns how to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, in order to bake bread for his family. In returning to this pre-industrial practice, he tells the fascinating story of our relationship with bread: from the domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent at the dawn of civilization, to the rise of mass-produced loaves and the resurgence in homebaking today.Gathering knowledge and wisdom from experts around the world - farmers on the banks of the Nile, harvesters in the American Midwest and Parisian boulangers - Penn reconnects the joy of making and eating bread with a deep appreciation for the skill and patience required to cultivate its key ingredient. This book is a celebration of the millennia-old craft of breadmaking, and how it is woven into the story of humanity.'Compelling, vivid . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by the new bread geeks' Spectator

'Charming, important . . . a journey of discovery' TelegraphOver the course of a year, Robert Penn learns how to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, in order to bake bread for his family. In returning to this pre-industrial practice, he tells the fascinating story of our relationship with bread: from the domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent at the dawn of civilization, to the rise of mass-produced loaves and the resurgence in homebaking today.Gathering knowledge and wisdom from experts around the world - farmers on the banks of the Nile, harvesters in the American Midwest and Parisian boulangers - Penn reconnects the joy of making and eating bread with a deep appreciation for the skill and patience required to cultivate its key ingredient. This book is a celebration of the millennia-old craft of breadmaking, and how it is woven into the story of humanity.'Compelling, vivid . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by the new bread geeks' Spectator

Robert Penn has saddled up nearly every day of his adult life. In hislate twenties, he pedaled 25,000 miles around the world. Today he ridesto get to work, sometimes for work, to bathe in air and sunshine, totravel, to go shopping, to stay sane, and to skip bath time with hiskids. He''s no Sunday pedal pusher. So when the time came for a new bike,he decided to pull out all the stops. He would build his dream bike,the bike he would ride for the rest of his life; a customized machinethat reflects the joy of cycling.It''s All About the Bike followsPenn''s journey, but this book is more than the story of his hunt fortwo-wheel perfection. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture,science, and history of the bicycle. From artisanal frame shops in theUnited Kingdom to California, where he finds the perfect wheels, viaPortland, Milan, and points in between, his trek follows the serpentinepath of our love affair with cycling. It explains why we ride.It''s All About the Bikeis, like Penn''s dream bike, a tale greater than the sum of its parts.An enthusiastic and charming tour guide, Penn uses each component of thebike as a starting point for illuminating excursions into the richhistory of cycling. Just like a long ride on a lovely day, It''s All About the Bike is pure joy- enriching, exhilarating, and unforgettable.

Explore over 450 of the most magical, extraordinary and lesser-known woods and forests in England, Scotland and Wales with this unique, practical and fully illustrated book. Featuring stunning photography and lively travel writing, it is divided into easy-to-navigate geographical sections - Southwest, South and East, Wales, Central and North, and Scotland - and covers everything from the best campsites, bothies and quirky accommodation through to wild swimming, walking trails, types of woodland and forest, cycling routes, waterfalls, canoeing, wildflowers and wildlife, dark skies and stargazing, foraging, lost ruins and sacred, mystical and haunted sites.Wild Woods reveals life-affirming ways to connect with wild places through adventure and is the perfect book for both families and wilderness lovers seeking new experiences well off the beaten track. Also included is a series of 'Best for.' recommendations, from 'Best for Lost Ruins' to 'Best for Charismatic Wildlife', as well as Untamed Waters, Caves and Canyons, and Quirky Stays among others. High-quality photography illustrates a selection of sites and a number of featured adventures are included.With Bradt's Wild Woods visit historic forests such as Epping, Sherwood and the New Forest. Discover ancient and notable trees, healing springs and hidden castles and lose yourself in Britain's largest, wildest and most ancient woods and forests. Detailed, user-friendly instructions help to create wild weekend escapes and you can also learn about 'lost beasts' - megafauna such as wolves - and the evolution of ancient woodland. The legacy of royal forests and private chases is also covered. Whatever your interest in Britain's woods and forests, Bradt's Wild Woods is the ideal guide and companion.

Ein Buch über das Glück des Holzhackens und über die heilende Kraft des Waldes. Eine sinnliche Reise, eine Rückbesinnung auf die Kraft der Natur und die Geschichte von einem Mann und seinem Baum. Robert Penn hat den perfekten Baum für sein Vorhaben gefunden. Eine Esche - nicht umsonst "Venus des Waldes" genannt - 140 Jahre alt und wunderschön. Penn misst den Baum, klettert auf den Baum, verbringt eine Nacht am Fuße des Baums. Er fällt diese Esche und verwertet alles - bis hin zu den Spänen. Er reist durch England, nach Österreich und in die USA um die besten Stellmacher, Tischler und Drechsler zu besuchen. Aus seinem Baum werden Schüsseln gefertigt, Pfeile, ein Schlitten und Axtgriffe. Am Ende werden es 41 Dinge sein, die in sein Haus einziehen. Ihr Geruch und ihr Anblick erinnern ihn jeden Tag aufs Neue an den Wald.

Das Fahrrad ist eine der größten Erfindungen der Menschheit - und das meistbenutzte Verkehrsmittel weltweit. Auch der Journalist Robert Penn fährt fast jeden Tag Rad, zur Arbeit, zu Freunden, zum Einkaufen oder um der Welt zu entkommen. Mit Ende 20 fuhr er auf dem Rad um die ganze Welt, 40.000 Kilometer. Allerdings kann das Fahrrad von der Stange, das er besitzt, diesem Enthusiasmus nicht annähernd gerecht werden. Robert braucht ein neues Rad, ein maßgeschneidertes Wunder der Handwerkskunst, das das Gefühl widerspiegelt, das er empfindet, wenn er fährt: dem Himmel ein Stückchen näher. Vom Glück auf zwei Rädern ist die Geschichte seiner Reise zum Traumfahrrad. Sie führt von Stoke-on-Trent, wo Robert sich einen genau auf ihn angepassten Stahlrahmen bauen lässt, bis nach Kalifornien, wo er die perfekten Räder findet; über Portland (Lenkkopf), Vicenza (Getriebe), Mailand (Lenker) und Korbach, wo die besten Reifen gemacht werden, bis zurück nach Smethwick, für den idealen Sattel. Es ist eine Liebeserklärung an das Fahrrad, eine Geschichte von perfekten Teilen, von der Historie des Fahrrads, vom Ausbruch des Vulkans Tambora im Jahr 1815 und seinen Folgen, vom Fahrrad als Demokratisierungsmaschine und von seinem Beitrag für die Befreiung der Frau, von den Irrtümern und Wundern im Rahmen seiner Weiterentwicklung und von den Qualen der Tour de France. Es ist die Geschichte davon, warum wir Rad fahren und warum diese einfache Maschine auch heute noch ein so zentraler Teil unseres Lebens ist.

Robert Penn ha montado en bicicleta casi todos los días de su vida. La utiliza para ir a trabajar, para darse baños de aire y sol, para mantenerse sano y para sentirse libre. Este es el relato de su historia de amor con el ciclismo y del viaje que emprendió para construir la bicicleta de sus sueños, un desenfrenado peregrinaje que lo conduce de inventores de bicicletas de montaña californianos a constructores de cuadros artesanales británicos. La bici lo es todo es una oda al ciclismo que transmite el entusiasmo de un enamorado de las dos ruedas de una forma ingeniosa y divertida. Un verdadero himno a la bicicleta, la historia de por qué pedaleamos y cómo esta simple máquina tiene el poder de seducirnos a todos, que hará las delicias de los aficionados a la bici y de quienes defienden su mayor uso, tanto en las ciudades como en el campo.