Patching the Puncture
New book charts Peter Berry’s cycling journey and life with Alzheimer’s
A new book telling the remarkable story of penny farthing rider Peter Berry is set for release later this month, offering cycling readers another inspiring look at a man who has refused to let an Alzheimer’s diagnosis define him. Patching the Puncture, published by The Book Guild on 28 February 2026, continues Berry’s story and revisits the friendship at the heart of his first book, Slow Puncture.
For many in cycling, Berry is already a familiar and unforgettable figure. Diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50 and initially given a life expectancy of eight to ten years, he set out to prove that it is possible to live well with the condition. Now 61, Berry remains a keen cyclist and still rides his penny farthing, a symbol of both his personality and his determination.
The new book has again been written with Deb Bunt, Berry’s close friend and the author behind their previous work. According to the publisher, Patching the Puncture covers the five years since Slow Puncture was released, blending Berry’s account of living with dementia with Bunt’s reflections on friendship, change and her own sense of self.
That relationship appears to be central to what makes this story resonate. Bunt says the book is not only about Berry’s changing perspective on dementia, but also about the activities they have shared and the unusual but compelling friendship that has grown between them. She is not his carer or partner, she explains, but his friend, and that dynamic gives the story its own voice.
From a cycling point of view, one of the standout moments in the book is Berry’s completion of a 100-mile ride on his penny farthing in a single day. It is the kind of achievement that would be impressive on any bike, but on a high wheeler it becomes something even more extraordinary, underlining the resilience and sense of adventure that continue to shape his life.
The book also looks beyond the bike. Among the episodes highlighted by the publisher are Berry flying a light aircraft over the south coast, abseiling down the ArcelorMittal Orbit in London, and joining Bunt to speak with 200 Suffolk-based doctors and medical staff about delivering a dementia diagnosis and handling review processes. Together, those moments suggest this is not just a memoir about illness, but a wider story about purpose, courage and staying engaged with life.
Even so, there is little doubt that cycling remains one of the strongest threads running through Berry’s story. His continued attachment to the penny farthing is more than a quirky detail. It reflects identity, freedom and continuity, especially in a narrative shaped by memory loss. For cycling readers, that gives Patching the Puncture a particular pull. This is not simply a story that happens to involve a bike. It is a story in which riding remains part of how Berry meets the world.
The response from early readers suggests the book will strike an emotional chord. Broadcaster and podcaster Penny Bell praises Berry’s enthusiasm, dedication to cycling and determination to change the way people think about dementia, while journalist Guillem Balagué highlights the humour and humanity in Berry and Bunt’s public appearances and writing. Actress and voiceover artist Rosanna Miles also praises Berry’s generosity of spirit and his ability to make others feel at ease.
There is every chance the book will find an audience beyond cycling, but riders may connect with it in a particularly direct way. Cycling has long been associated with independence, challenge and joy, and Berry’s story seems to hold all three. In that sense, Patching the Puncture looks set to offer more than inspiration alone. It promises an honest account of friendship, perseverance and the role a bicycle can play in keeping a sense of self intact when so much else is shifting.
Patching the Puncture is published in paperback by The Book Guild on 28 February 2026, priced at £9.99.
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