James Briggs’ Bowie Bicycle Odyssey
In this interview, I speak with James Briggs about his book From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads and the extraordinary 3,000-mile cycling journey that inspired it. As James explained in Cycling Weekly, the idea began with a single line from Bowie’s “Life on Mars?”—”from Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads”—which he transformed into a route connecting places associated with Bowie’s life, travels, collaborators, performances, and artistic influences across Europe.
Our conversation explores how that deceptively simple idea evolved into years of research and a journey that took him from Spain through France, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, and finally England. James explains how he balanced historical accuracy with practical realities, deciding which Bowie-related locations belonged on the route while adapting to unexpected obstacles along the way. We discuss the physical and logistical challenges of undertaking such an ambitious ride, as well as the unexpected encounters and discoveries that shaped the experience.
A significant part of our discussion focuses on Bowie’s relationship with Russia. James describes retracing Bowie’s 1973 Trans-Siberian journey, visiting locations associated with Bowie’s travels, and learning how Bowie developed a devoted following behind the Iron Curtain despite the restrictions of the Soviet era. We also discuss the contrast between Bowie’s own experiences in Russia and James’s modern visit, as well as the perspectives he gained from meeting local people whose appreciation for Bowie’s music reflected a unique cultural history.
Beyond the journey itself, we discuss the process of transforming the experience into a book, how travel can deepen an appreciation of Bowie’s work, and how James’s meditation on the meaning of “Life on Mars?” became part of his own personal journey of discovery. His experience suggests how Bowie’s songs can help us reflect on our own lives. For James, “Life on Mars?” served as a kind of Koan, but Bowie left us hundreds of other options to fix on to as part of our own odysseys.
Throughout our conversation, James offers a detailed look at the planning, research, and persistence required to transform an unusual idea into both a memorable journey and a book, illustrating how Bowie’s music continues to inspire unexpected forms of creativity and adventure.