The most enjoyable aspect of this book, as opposed to so many other bicycling books, is that this author obviously was no jock trying to race against time, or anything else. She was in her middle age, as I am. She certainly didnt impress me as a world athlete, just a fairly ordinary person on a fairly extra-ordinary journey!

Easy, fun, and pleasant reading, recommended for all ages.

The love that Marg Archibald speaks of in Cycling Into Your Soul seems to have infused its pages. Each time I read it I am filled with a sense of joy. Her story is told in moments, feelings. Like her trip itself each experience can be enjoyed and left, or lingered over as your mood takes you. Each small story is entertaining to read, but each also offers something more. Many times Margs words cause some not-quite-glimpsed insight to plunk into place and I thrill at the thought Yes! Ive known that too!

Amid the rush and importance of everyday life Margs story reminds me to hang on to my sense of wonder, to embrace, to accept, to try. It helps me believe that anything is possible. It leads me to look inward and consider how I might be a better person. Or, when I want it to be, it is a simple distraction to settle my mind before sleep.

I would (and often do) recommend Cycling Into Your Soul to anyone.

Most of us have not been nearly as adventuresome as the author in our lives, but at the same time we have traveled enough in the world to recognize many of the situations she described. As someone has said "An adventure is really only an adventure after it has happened. At the time it is darn scary and just something that you have to get through". The neat thing about this book is that I was able to get both senses as she described her journeys, attempts to find places to stay, etc. In short through the authors words I really was able to live the experiences with her, both the terror and the triumph.

I was also very interested in the relationship with the authors Spiritual Guide. She was obviously a very important part of all Ms. Archibalds experiences, both in real life and in spirit. I sense that there is another story there, and I look forward to reading it.

Marg Archibald is to be commended for writing this book. It has the capacity to both educate and at the same time produce a profound impact on its readers. Certainly it has made me re-think many parts of my own life experiences.

Win Barham

The woman who leaves Canada, at the age of 49, to cycle around the world, takes with her all the experiences of her past life and her believings as a north-american woman.She is there, out of her world, to confront them with the unknown, the unfamiliar. As a witness, she describes what she sees with such words that we really have the impression to be by her side. But more than that, she tells about her feelings with emotions. She tells about her fears, her strenght and weakness, alone on the road. This loneliness takes her closer to the nature, and she becomes an integral part of it, like in the russian forest. She reveals us her fragility but, in the same time, her pride after a long and difficult ride. She talks shameless as we do with close friends. The heroine is human and that let us think that, who knows? maybe we can be one too.

Could only life be simply like this?

I found this book to be sorely in need of a good editor. As it is, this book is a stream of consciousness that meanders along, dragging the reader through too many unfinished currents.

It doesnt work well as travel writing because she lacks critical detail in many places.

It doesnt work well as a spiritual discussion because she is too shy as a writer and maybe too didactic as a moralist.

It doesnt work well as biycle literature because she doesnt talk much about bikes.

This novel is arranged as a series of vignettes. What it really needed was a strong editor who could see its disparate units and force the writer to come back with a cohesive narrative.

There are portions of the book that are interesting, but a reader might do well to hold back on the credit card information on this one because there are so many other excellent bicycle-travel-spiritual journey books out there.

The book details the journies, both external and internal, of a woman who celebrated her 50th birthday on a bike, travelling around the world, alone. The author, Marg Archibald, weaves a rich tapestry of sights and sounds seen through the eyes of a strong, independant person facing the unknown with only her inner conviction that people are inherently good. The travels are unique and definitely out of the way. The people met are the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, in reality, human beings.

It is Margs journey into the depths of her soul that set this book far apart from any others. Throughout the journey she learned to trust her "spirit guide", what many of us would call intuition. This inner guide grew in stature as well as strength until it allowed her to face any adversity. This discovery is important to all of us in that it shows that we really know what to do in life, if we only let our basic strengths take over.

Cycling Into Your Soul left me jealous of Marg Archibalds accomplishments and, at the same time, exhilarated by the potential which can be found within. I would recommend this book highly to anyone facing a fork in lifes road, or simply as great entertainment and insight.