As a group of avid readers in the LRP team we are very happy to have recently expanded our book offering online and in the showroom. We knew you would be interested in finding out more about some of the wonderful authors and illustrators who have created the ones we've selected. All books have a Hong Kong theme whether it be written or illustrated by someone who lives here or is about the city, the stories and the history of the place so many of us call home. We have created a series of Ask The Author blog posts where we ask the same three questions (with an added bonus one at the end!) to find out more about their connection to the city, what their book is all about, what inspires them and their favourite things to see and do in the 852.
In our latest 'instalment' of Ask the Author we have chatted to Robert Hope-Jones, writer of Drone and Phone's Ten Best Bike Rides, to find out a bit more about him and his new book. He's also got some great advice for those who are new to biking in the 852.
The book is a brilliant biking guide to Hong Kong's 10 best rides, covering a variety of terrain and routes to suit just about every level of rider. Inside are maps, video links, recommended routes, difficulty ratings, and some beautiful photos taken along the way.
About you
Originally from the UK, I’ve been a keen cyclist and photographer for many years. During my late teens, I often cycle toured around United Kingdom, and with a camera always at hand in a bike pannier, I captured the spirit of each tour on good old-fashioned 35 mm film. Fast forward to 1996, I paid a visit to see my sister who was living in Hong Kong at the time. This melting pot of a city had me hooked and has remained my home ever since.
These days, most of my cycling activities are focused on mountain biking and mountain bike trail building, so my camera rarely accompanies me on my rides. That all changes, of course, when I’m filming an episode of Drone and Phone or during the production of the show’s latest book, Hong Kong’s Ten Best Bike Rides.
Your Inspiration
DJ Clark (Drone and Phone presenter and author of several books) planted the seed for this book and it gave me an opportunity to define some bike routes that I wish I’d known about when I first started riding in HK. The routes showed us sides to Hong Kong that we had never seen before.
Favourite thing to do or see in Hong Kong
I’m really into maintaining our local bike trails, but one of my favourite activities is night riding on mountain trails - you have to be very focused, but it’s such a rush.
New to biking in HK? I’d make two recommendations:
- If you have less experience with the sport, I’d recommend HK’s cycle track network route from Ma On Shan to Tai Mei Tuk. A mostly flat route with plenty of places to rent bikes - it is the perfect introduction to the road riding scene.
- For those wanting to experience the off-road scene, go visit Lantau’s new bike park. The first facility of its kind in Hong Kong, this purpose-built park is perfect for mountain bikers of all levels. The park boasts some great views too!
