{"product_id":"the-greenwich-meridian-paul-amess-9798249387532","title":"The Greenwich Meridian: Straight Lines and Bad Ideas","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat kind of cyclist decides to follow an invisible line that controls global time?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe kind who enjoys a cycling adventure with a side order of British history, questionable navigation and the occasional existential wobble.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eStraight Lines and Bad Ideas\u003c\/i\u003e, I set out to bike tour the Greenwich Meridian from the rugged east coast of England to the English Channel. On a map it's a perfectly straight line. In reality it's hills, hedgerows, medieval battlefields, Cold War paranoia, Roman roads, wandering Napoléon references and a stubborn refusal to stay flat when you really need it to.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is not a route guide. It's a humorous travel memoir about long-distance cycling through England's past and present. As the miles tick by, the Prime Meridian becomes a thread stitching together castles, bombers, barons, pubs, effigies and the strange satisfaction of pedalling across centuries of history on two slightly overworked wheels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you love cycling books, bike touring stories, British travel writing or funny non-fiction with real historical depth, this ride is for you. It's about maps, momentum and the joy of chasing something utterly arbitrary until it becomes meaningful.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eStraight Lines and Bad Ideas\u003c\/i\u003e is the third book in the History Rides series, following previous cycling adventures across iconic UK routes. It stands alone perfectly well, but be warned: once you start seeing the world as a line to follow, it's very hard to stop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Paul Amess\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798249387532\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/22\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 326\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.68d","brand":"Paul Amess","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48997498880255,"sku":"9798249387532","price":14.87,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-greenwich-meridian-paul-amess-9798249387532","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}