When Dervla Murphy was still a child, she was secretly planned a trip to India: “On my tenth birthday a bicycle and an atlas coincided as presents, and a few days later I decided to cycle to India.”
For my tenth birthday my parents gave me a second-hand bicycle and Pappa [her grandfather] sent me a second-hand atlas. Already I was an enthusiastic cyclist, though I had never before owned a bicycle, and soon after my birthday I resolved to cycle to India one day. I have never forgotten the exact spot, on a steep hill near Lismore, where this decision was made. Half-way up I rather proudly looked at my legs, slowly pushing the pedals around, and the thought came “If I went on doing this for long enough I could get to India” (Wheels within wheels: autobiography)
Twenty-one years later, she made good on that dream. The diary she kept while riding through Persia, Afghanistan and the Himalayas inspired her book Full Tilt.
“Travel light, and bring poetry”
Dervla Murphy advised aspiring cycle tourers to ‘travel light and bring poetry’. And having explored India with her 5-year-old daughter, Murphy wrote of the benefits of travelling with a child:
A child’s presence emphasises your trust in the community’s goodwill. And because children pay little attention to racial or cultural differences, junior companions rapidly demolish barriers of shyness or apprehension often raised when foreigners unexpectedly approach a remote village.
Win a Dervla Murphy book
To mark the anniversary of Dervla Murphy’s death, we have four copies of her book Full Tilt to give away. To be in with a chance of winning the book, which chronicles her solo cycling trip from Ireland to India, leave a comment at the bottom of the page we’ll pick four names next week.
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Gary Dawes
such a long time since I read this book, and is such a good and inspirational book.
It’s a shame that it’s not on my cycling bookshelf
Peter Ramsbottom
That’s the way to do it!!
Lesley
Dervla was an inspiration to me and so many others. A fantastic personality.
Mags
The first cycling adventure I ever read, and the best.
John Davidson
This book has been on my wish list for ages. I’d love yo finally read it.
Richard
Read wheels within wheels as well, astonishingly honest
Helen
This might inspire me to do the same with my daughter!
Bazza
Would love a new copy of this classic
Anna Green
I’d love to read ‘Full Tilt’ again. It inspired me 30+ years ago.
Pamela
Sounds like an ispirational read. I would love a copy.
Gillian
My only, never-to-be-forgotten, visit to India was a cycling trip in Rajasthan. I’d love to read this book to remind if the wonder of discover such an amazing country on two wheels.
Lance
I haven’t heard of Dervla but would like to know more about her.
Judith Rout
Sounds like such a good book, I’d love a copy
Fred
Dervla’s epic journey is still quite amazing
Lonnie
The best bicycle tour book ever
Raf
This would be a wonderful thing to read whilst cycle touring through Devon and Cornwall this summer!
Sarah
I dream of jumping on my bike and cycling across the world 🚲🌍
Moragh
Would love to red this book again, as I’m in need of some inspiration.
Andy Brown
Hope to take it as read that I’ve won
Anita Brayford
What an romantic seed – I’d love to read about her experiences.
Deborah
Dervla Murphy was a trekker too. I remember reading her inspirational book ‘Eight Feet in the Andes’ decades ago, after my own travels there. Can’t think why I’ve never read ‘Full Tilt’!
Colin
always wanted to read this . . .
Boyd
This has been on my wish list for ages, if lucky enough to win I promise to put it in our cycle club library so it gets reread several times.
Frank
Am I too late to enter for this? If I don’t win I’ll make a promise to buy it…