We like it when new books come along. Gives us a chance to put our feet up and relax, and read about the adventures of yet another crazy cyclist deciding it would be a good idea to cycle around the World.

Not cycling quite that far, but still a heck of a long way, is Mike Newton with his recently published Four Fifty-Plus Fools Flit Fru France, a story about four over-fifty year olds (Mike Newton, Paul Greenhalgh, Ray Turner and John Harrison) cycling 900 miles in 18 days across France. Starting in Biarritz and finishing in Caen, with the unusual twist of visiting 16 towns twinned with British towns, the group raised money for five different charities.

The route was certainly challenging for old legs and their “biffons” were severely tested, with one cyclist suffering from “white penis syndrome”. Letters and emails were sent out to all the twinned towns mayors in hopes that crowds would line the streets as they arrived. The reception from all the French people that they met on the way was outstanding. They were greeted by dancing in the main square in Biarritz and bunting on display in many towns that they passed through. The latter part of the ride passed through towns historically rich in Second World War stories.

Sounds like a good read to us. The book costs about £10.35, which includes postage, from Amazon.

More information at www.1bm.me.uk/books and www.iuniverse.com.