Book Review: Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive

Chipps has got himself a copy of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive, and thinks you need one too. I’m going to annoy loads of people first off by mentioning the ‘C’ word. Yes, I know it’s months until Christmas, but you know that Aunty Nora is going to be asking your mum what you want for Christmas this year, what with you being hard to buy for because you don’t seem to like jumpers or ties… but now you’re going be able to tell her that you want the Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive. Mmm… weighty. Smells so good.Put together from original slides and hand-drawn maps and typewritten stories, this is a coffee table book for the modern adventurer, full of inspiration, humour and a perfect snapshot of times gone by (and times still going on…) If you’re not familiar with the Rough-Stuff Fellowship it was formed officially in the mid-1950s as an organisation for riders who liked to ride bicycles on off road adventures, which arguably makes it the oldest off-road bike club in the world. Still 600 members strong today, its members have pioneered rugged off road routes across Iceland and made the first unsupported ride to Everest base camp. Luckily, many members were photography enthusiasts and took numerous photos, presumably to delight audiences at church halls and W.I.s around the country on their return. Inside The Book Over its 200 pages, divided neatly into seasons, this weighty book shows some of the pioneers of our sport, taking on mountains and...

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