Gears for Queers

Full disclosure: I know Abi and Lili through the zine and DIY scene. If anything, though, that made my reading Gears For Queers prior to publication more nerve-racking: I couldn't shake the worry, as I opened the book, that it was going to be terrible (or even just fine but blah), and I'd have to figure out how to get out of reviewing it,

Luckily, though, I needn't have worried. Gears For Queers is everything I wanted it to be and more, and it ticks so many boxes that I think it will appeal to a really wide readership. It's at once a humorous travelogue, a cycling book, and an incisive intersectional analysis. I particularly liked their consideration of the ethics of travel; of moving across borders freely when the same is impossible for so many.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this book!!! It was so inspirational, funny, powerful and a whole host of other descriptors. I felt like I was travelling with 2 of my friends throughout the book, even the mental health issue was handled with such grace and honesty. However I don’t understand the non binary issues but that is about me and not the book.

To find out that these amazing women live about 20 minutes away from me is remarkable too.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into crime/thriller books and even psychological thrillers too so I am extremely pleased and grateful to them for opening up my mind to something totally different. I await their next journey with bated breath!!

I enjoyed this very much. 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a fun read!

This is a true story following Abi and Lili, a pair of amateur cyclists as they cycle from Amsterdam to Spain. This follows their triumphs and all the hurdles along the way.

By chapter two, I already loved the funny narrative of this and how they both felt extremely relatable. I also enjoyed how you did actually learn some of the history of every country along the way.

Throughout the book, important topics were also discussed such as, body image, mental health and LGBTQ rights.

This really makes you feel like you're on the journey with them and I found it really inspiring how they continued to persevere through even when they felt like giving up. And as an added bonus, there's some easy recipes to follow too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sandstone Press for providing me a copy to read

I requested this book on netgalley mostly because it said “queer” in the title. So when I was accepted and read that it was actually mostly about cycling; my thought was “why did I request this!?!?”.... I was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed it!

This account of Lili and Abi’s journey cycling through Europe is so so charming, funny and more importantly HONEST! This is not your usual “cycling is amazing and I am an amazing athlete” type book- this is just two normal every day people going and doing something they really wanted to do! Full of great highs and lows, they tell every detail of their story (revealing even the most personal thoughts) in such a manner that you can’t help but want to read on!

There are so many relatable points for me; suffering from terrible migraines, worrying about safety (especially as being queer), anxiety in new situations and places, not being super fit, lack of public toilets.. and of course the big ones- periods! Their honesty has made me think that maybe I would give it a go in spite of these things that I would usually let hold me back!

I really enjoyed the different chapters for each person as it’s seen from different points of view. Also the fact that they are small chapters make it so much easier to read and understand. The use of the chapter headings for the days and what part travelling also helps readers when putting it down and picking it back up! Also the recipe parts were a lovely surprise (even for a non vegan) and I’ll definitely be trying a few out 😁.

There were a few minor things that I wasn’t so keen on. There were times when they were quoting a different language and it maybe wasn’t as obvious what that translated to in English... so I found myself guessing a bit there. Also as much as I LOVE their personal opinions on such things as brexit, global chains etc, the style of writing seemed to switch from a nice easy style to that of someone writing a dissertation at uni. So maybe the point could be lost to the reader as these were more complex and skimmed over.

All in all a great read and I thank them for the chance to review.

I really love travel writing, and lately have taken to cycling, so this book drew me in immediately with its story of a couple heading off to cycle Europe. Women cyclists are outnumbered significantly by men, so the fact that this book comes from two female (and queer) voices was radical in and of itself. This isn't the Tour de France, it's a story of exploring and learning through highs and lows. I found it really inspiring, a world apart from the much more intimidating tales of inhuman cycling feats.

I’m a keen cyclist but I mainly use it as a way of commuting around London. However, lockdown has meant that I’ve been going off on all kinds of two-wheeled adventures recently and left me feeling like this could be a fun way to travel. So this book landing in my lap during quarantine could not have been better timed. It had me Googling EuroVelo cycling routes and dreaming up future adventures.

What I loved most about this book is how authentic it is. Abi and Lili originally published their story through a series of zines as they cycled around Europe together. Each chapter alternates between their two perspectives, so you see the journey through each of their eyes, encompassing their individual struggles with mental health and body image plus their combined experience of being a queer couple on the road. Their observations about what it was like to be a woman/non-binary person participating in an activity that is dominated by men really resonated with me. So if you’re queer and into cycling, I cannot recommend this book enough!

This is a delightful and raw adventure of a queer couple taking cycle tour of Europe. I adore the narrative non-fiction style of writing, and switching back and forth between perspectives. While Abi was open and honest about her frustration regarding how people on the trail treated her because of her weight, Lil gave us insight into the gender discrimination they face daily. Both authors are frank about their mental health needs and disabilities, and it was refreshing to see people arguing through the stressful times and coming back to each other through understanding and apologies. Most importantly, this made me want to go on an adventure again, which is something I hope to do post-pandemic.

I really needed this book right now. A queer vegan bike tour around Europe is the wanderlust I require in 2020. The authors acknowledge their privileges but also discuss being a minority travelling abroad and trying to stay vegan. Not a book about fancy bike riding, much more relatable than that.

I loved this, it's a really interesting memoir about a couple who went on a long cycle tour through europe in 2016, moving through Holland, Germany, Switzerland, France, and finally into Spain, camping along the way. I know Abi and Lilith and was really interested in their journey. There's a lot of reflection in this book about their bodies, their selves, their relationship, navigating Europe as a queer couple, and so on. I really enjoyed it.

Having undertaken cycle tours in France many years ago and recently returned to cycling I was drawn to this book as an escape from lockdown. It started as a tale of two fairly unfit young women (can I say that if one wishes to be referred to as 'they'?) who hadn't cycled much since childhood before deciding to cycle/camp from Amsterdam to Spain.

I must admit that just a few chapters in I was a bit fed up with the tears and tantrums of the pair. However - and they acknowledge this aspect themselves shortly afterwards - they put on their big girl knickers and got on with it. It is at this point that you start cheering them on and really want Lilli and Abi to succeed in their planned trip. Both have their issues which they are trying to overcome and which they are quite open about, and their honesty does make you think about these issues and warm to them even more. I have nothing but admiration for the pair who managed to cycle through Switzerland after only a couple of months on bikes.

Other than a laugh out loud moment which relates to the 'Queers' of the title, the title shouldn't mean that this book is consigned to the LGBTQ section where it will be overlooked by many. This is a travel book which anyone can enjoy. It's an honest account of trying and succeeding. Well done!