The 'At Large' series

A Bike at Large is the fourth book in Jos At Large series.

When he was overtaken by a jogger on a borrowed mountain bike, Jo knew it was time for drastic action. Welcome to the world of a man in his 60s and his new e-bike.

His first injury occurred within one foot! Setting off for his first practice ride round a car park, he misjudged the width of the handlebars and scraped his hand on the cycle shop's stone wall.

You'll go places you'll never have dreamed of, said the shop owner. Prophetic words indeed. Eighteen hours later Jo was embedded in his neighbour's hedge due to a clothing malfunction. Fortunately, before setting out he'd put his ego and self-esteem in the top drawer in the kitchen.

With the emergency ambulance on speed-dial, Jo climbs a steep learning curve on a series of mini adventures throughout the north of England, mercifully with a diminishing distance to injury ratio.

By calling his e-bike a Lifestyle Investment, it took his wife's mind off the cost. At the time she needed some new slippers, so it was a sensitive issue. Asked whether he was searching for eternal youth? Not really, he said, more trying to keep out of my eternal hole in the ground.

Fuelled by red wine and optimism, off he goes.