Back in the 1970s, a group of Bristolian idealists dreamed of a nation stitched together by safe cycling paths, which would make us less reliant on our cars. They founded what would become Britain's 13,000 miles long National Cycle Network. Cycling journalist Laura Laker wondered what had gone right and, indeed, wrong, with a network once described by the CEO of the charity that runs it as “a bit crap”, and set off on an epic journey around the UK to find out more.

That journey became the basis for her new book, Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network. Fellow cycling enthusiast Jen, caught up with Laura to talk about what inspired her journey, the magic of travelling by bike, and why all leaders of a country should go on a big old road trip before they sign up to the job.

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