Lone Rider

Elspeth Beard Price £14.99 hardback Riding round the world isn’t a recent phenomenon: Elspeth Beard set off to do it in 1982 on a 1974 BMW R60/6 with a set of ghastly but functional home-made metal luggage - making her, she claims, the first British woman to ride solo around the world. After an all-action opener, the story is a little slow to get started but bear with it: once Elspeth hits the road and the narrative begins in earnest, it’s a good read. SW