Billed as a ‘middle-aged gap year’ I was intrigued by this account of cycling across Europe and Africa.

When travelling to and from France on family holidays, my husband and I have often found ourselves curious about the cyclists queueing to dismount the ferry. Where are they going? How can they travel so lightly? How do they have the energy and stamina? Of course, cycling around Europe is one thing; cycling around Africa sounded even more incredible and, as Jacqui’s book confirms, it really is a vastly different level of challenge!

What’s it about?

Jacqui loved the thought of travelling in Africa; her partner, Joe, dreamed of taking a year off work to seek adventure on his bicycle. Having agreed to accompany Joe, Jacqui worries that leaving her work for a year to cycle around is frivolous, little guessing that their trip will encourage her to completely re-evaluate their life.

When, mid-trip, their plans to cycle around Europe and Asia are derailed by difficulties procuring visas for China, they decide to cycle around Africa instead. This travel memoir offers an insight into their experiences over a year of cycling, treating readers to valuable insights into African lives not often seen.

What’s it like?

Interesting to read, inspiring further reading (I had no idea hippos could be so dangerous!) and encouraging even unadventurous types like myself to wonder whether travel to new places might be fun.

Jacqui effectively captures their experiences abroad by sharing illuminating vignettes and telescoping longer trials into a few brief sentences. Though by the very end of the book, the account of their adventures risks becoming slightly repetitive (cycling was hard but worth it; we stayed in a fancy place but felt it was too ‘touristy’; we stayed in a local guesthouse and made friends with the locals; now repeat,) the sheer sense of achievement they felt helps to keep the sense of excitement high as the adventure draws to a close.

Final thoughts

I enjoyed this account of cycling through different countries, experiencing local food and learning about the different cultures and the lives of the people. Jacqui is honest about her fears and the difficulties they encounter without ever forgetting that their trip is a luxury and a privilege.

Although the journey is conducted by bicycle (and, occasionally, by boat,) there isn’t a wealth of technical information or statistics; instead, this is a tale of humanity that will doubtless leave readers inspired both to consider how to add adventure and meaning to their own lives, but also encourage them to consider how to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves, whether that is in Africa or in our own towns and villages.

‘Two Bugs on a Bike’,
Jacqui Webster,
2025, Hembury Books, paperback
Many thanks to the publisher and Anne Cater’s Random Things Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and a spot on the blog tour.

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