In these days all directories, such as Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom, suffer from the challenge of Google and other on-line information sources. Most of the information is available free, at least they do not require cash outlay. However, they do require time to search and to collate the information into a manageable itinerary.
Cheryl Probst has pulled the information together into an e-book or a compact booklet with some additional colour from her own enthusiasm and experience. The information is concise and to the point. It includes key information such as opening times and direction to find the museum, important as many are in out of the way places.
Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom works well on a Kindle although it the colour photographs only display in black and white. The print copy is a slim perfect-bound volume (5 x 7.3 inch) of 88 pages that should fit easily in a traveller’s bag or jacket pocket.
Comprehensive Directory – No More Searching
The main collections are featured at some length with Cheryl Probst's descriptions of key exhibits illustrated with photographs by the author andwith permission photographs by her husband, Jon Teal, another motorcycle enthusiast. Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom also includes brief background to many of the museum localities.
Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom appears to be pretty complete as it picks up many obscure collections that often only local enthusiasts know about. However, it does miss one local to the reviewer, Wollaton Industrial Museum near Nottingham, but it is now only open one day a month when many of the industrial engines are in steam. However, last time the reviewer visited it had several important examples of Brough Superior motorcycles as well as early examples from Raleigh.
The beauty of e-book and print on demand books is that they can be updated easily and the reader can expect future editions to reflect newly discovered collections. As Cheryl Probst is clearly an enthusiast, she will include any overlooked collections, changed or additional information that she hears about from readers in future editions.
Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom provides an invaluable starting point for any motorcycle enthusiast planning a tour of motorcycle collections in the United Kingdom. For classic motorcycle fans in the UK it will provide a guide for planning days out or weekend trips away.
Motorcycle Museums of the United Kingdom, an Enthusiast’s Guide to British Bikes (2010) written and published by fellow Suite101 writer Cheryl Probst in her series of Cheryl's Guides. It is available as a PDF e-book or a print-on-demand book from GuideGecko, Travel Guides by Travel Gurus at around $11.95 as a PDF download or in print at £16.95.
Martin P Wilson - Martin is a director of major business change & turnaround consultant by profession but a widely published writer & photographer by ...
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