In this amusing, insightful, and nuanced memoir about building a new relationship in middle age, a tandem bike is both character and metaphor. The bike offers the new couple an ongoing physical challenge and an arena that requires cooperation and negotiation to assemble a new marriage on the detritus of multiple divorces, breakups, and a death.

An entertaining meditation on coupling and the mechanics of bikes. It captures the complexity of creating a durable twosome while maintaining individuality, the convoluted art of integrating personal responsibility and shared accountability, and the need to not just negotiate but welcome differences when established adult lives are merged.

All this occurs as two people suffer to push themselves and thirty-five pounds of bike up long hills, avoid encounters with a bike’s most dangerous predators (cars), and learn to lean together into the curves life throws at them.

"...a wonderful, enlightening read that correlates tandem cycling to relationships and more. Not just a must-read for cyclists, everyone will benefit from this introspective view of our interaction with our significant others, ourselves, and some of the best strategies to create a successful team of two." Andy Applegate, Senior Cycling Coach

“I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, moving, and funny tale of a resilient, dynamic duo…so tenderly and delicately handcrafted.” Louise Baribeau, Retired Mental Health Professional, Newburyport, MA

Sign up now to get the most out of Books2Read

Discover something great at Books2Read.

Thanks for signing up for Books2Read notifications!