Flying Fergus 1: The Best Birthday Bike

Book excerpt: The first in a fantastically fun, magical cycling adventure series from Sir Chris Hoy. Fergus Hamilton, a boy who always dreams big, gets a rusty old bike for his ninth birthday from his mum and granddad. It's not the flashy Sullivan Swift he'd longed for - but when it's all cleaned up and he takes it for a test run, he discovers something amazing. When the pedals turn backwards, Fergus and his dog, Chimp, are magically transported to Nevermore, a land where cycling is banned by the wicked King Woebegot. He meets the ever enthusiastic Princess Lily, has an amazing adventure bunny-hopping on his bike over the Swamp of Certain Death and outwitting the Knights of No-Nonsense and their Hounds of Horribleness, and lands back in the real world with a bump. Fergus still has to complete the time trial to join the local cycling team though - can Grandpa Herc and his best friend Daisy help him realise that he doesn't need magic to succeed, and that hard work, a bit of patience and some help from his friends can do the trick? With fantastic illustrations from Clare Elsom.