Bernie Friend is an award winning sports journalist and one of the UK's funniest new travel writers. His first book, Cycling Back to Happiness, is released on April 28, 2008, by Pen Press.

Born in 1971, Bernie was raised as a guilt ridden Catholic, before finding an escape route through the pews to spend days smoking crafty cigs and fishing on Southend Pier, before elevating himself even higher by taking his place on the sacred North Bank at Roots Hall, home of the mighty Southend United.

Never encouraged to make a living out of writing by clueless school careers advisors, he took his first job as a 17-year-old, opposite the Queen's back garden in Hyde Park, working for an insurance company. Bored out of his brains, he took 29 days off sick in seven months - and he did well to give them that much loyal service.

READ MORE........