Rides of Passage' by Matt and Arthur Lamy review

Engaging account of the journey of father and son through life, and through France on bikes

Rides of Passage book by Matt and Arthur Lamy

Cycling Weekly Verdict

The appeal of this entertaining book is broad: Anyone who has a father or son, has ever undertaken a long-distance trip or has an interest in riding in France will enjoy many aspects of it.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Part travelogue, part coming-of-age story that any cyclist/father/son will appreciate

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Turn away if accounts of saddle sores make you feel unwell

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Rides of Passage will appeal to both cyclists and non-cyclists alike, as it deals as much with how a father-and-son relationship changes over two decades as it does with the literal and metaphorical ups and downs of cycling the entirety of France, from north to south coast.

Back in 1994, Jersey residents Matt Lamy and his dad Arthur decided to undertake a 1000km trans-France bike trip. Last year, the pair embarked on the same trip, some 21 years later - with a lot of water having travelled under the bridge between the two excursions.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.