Book Description
Master the techniques of America's greatest rider.* Glide over rocks, logs, and ledges* Attack steep climbs and rapid descents* Carve through curves and turns* Train smart, then ride to winImprove your performance with these tips, techniques, and off-road tales from mountain biking legend Ned Overend."At the 1990 world championships in Durango, Colorado, Thomas Frischknecht and I were locked in a dogfight...... At the start of the fourth and final lap was a pitch of rocky, loose trail that went straight up the face of a ski run...... My Swiss rival had been dismounting and running this climb while I stayed on my bike. On previous laps, I'd opened a little gap, so I knew this would be my chance. I attacked when Thomas got off again. He never caught me...... To ride that steep trail, I had to use five climbing techniques. There's no reason why you can't make them part of your arsenal, too." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Really Good Book
Boy, you know you got a gem when it devotes one whole chapter on balance.That is like the most fundamental skill of cycling and if you can't do that right you should take up tennis or something.Most people can do tricks and hops but I venture to say not too many can do a track stand (bike stationary) for more than minute.This is more for XC as the guy writing it is pro XC racer.But these skills are fundamental for every discipline of cycling.

Motivating
I really don't know if someone can improve your skills by reading a book. If you think so, Brian Lopes book is a better choice. Ned's book, however, is a really motivating tool. You will want to ride 100000000000000000 km after reading the book. As a mountain biker for almost 5 years, i must assume that the book is beginner's oriented.

NED'S CHAMPION AND HIS BOOK IS HIS COMPENDIUM
If you feel like reading a book may boost your skill to ride a bike, well don't look any further: grab Ned's masterpiece and absorb it to your deepest neurons. Why? Because Ned's Ned. He takes you through five milestones or temple's columns: Balance, pedaling in circles, shifting frequently, vision and braking. Of course the book has a lot more to tell you, but if you master these five, you'll be light-years ahead. Do not believe that reading will take you to the next level of skill, but READING AND PRACTISING YES. Buy Ned's book and carefully follow his hints, practice them till boredom and you'll be flabbergasted of how farther you can get. I did it and my friends are now behind me....

Very usefull book
I found this book very usefull, the only catch is the bike slang used to describe every situation, technique, etc. As my nature language is not English it was a lot more difficult to understand every concept explained on the book... maybe for some others this will not be a problem.

Now, this book is great, it will improve your skills and bike control, specially if you aren't and advanced rider. The book is full of tips, personal Ned's experiences (great value) and various drills to help you improve faster. But, although it's a great book this is not a must-have... its simply great-to-have.

I gave 4 stars and maybe it should be 4.5 but not 5 because it lack a little of detail and it contain very few photos. Maybe more experienced riders find usefull a simple explanation (which is simple for him being an experienced rider) but beginners like us need more photos so we can understand right away every concept.

Hope this helps!

Inside information
this book gives good insight informaiton into the techniques of handling a mountain bike. It is interesting to see descriptions of techniques that have been gained through years of trial and error.
It gives an opportunity to refine techniques that have been learned . It would be difficult for a novice biker to apply the information directly. Practice is essential. A few more practical excercises would be good, Mr. Overend. All in all, a good read. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Indispensable guide to southwest Utah mountain biking
I found Bruce Grubbs's guide essential to locating and navigating the trails of Washington and Garfield counties in southwest Utah.I rode the Green Valley, J.E.M., Thunder Mountain, and Paradise Canyon trails in May 2001, and particularly loved the Green Valley and Thunder Mountain trails.Be careful -- each of these trails has hazards and technical challenges.

The book fits nicely in one's hydration pack or jersey pocket.One thing that Grubbs notes is worth repeating: you have to have an odometer to locate and navigate some of the trails he reviews.Otherwise you won't find them.

Another good source of information is the trail reviews at Mountain Bike Review's website...And some local clubs and stores have useful websites with trail descriptions.Use a search engine to locate them.

Key to Heavenly Mountain Bike Rides
I just finished a mountain biking vacation in the Zion area.Between this book and Dean at "Bike Zion," I found some incredible singletrack: Green Valley and Church Rocks in the St. George area, and Gooseberry Mesa, the JEM trail, and Slickrock Swamp just outside of Zion. I rode them all and loved them.I ride in Moab frequently, and the trailson Gooseberry surpass anything in Moab, except maybe Jackson's Hole.Thebook is very helpful with directions and trail descriptions, but why arenot more Zion area rides included?In July, I'm headed back to the area,this time to Brian Head, with book in hand! To the author: thanks for yourresearch and sharing these world-class rides.

Mountain Biking St. George/Cedar City
This is a super handy book that describes biking trails in Southwestern Utah.With trails ranging in elevation from under 4,000 feet to around 11,000 feet, you can ride just about any day of the year somewhere near St. George or Cedar City.There are trails for all levels of abilities, fromadvanced to Sunday sight-seeing. Although most trails involve a lot ofsingletrack layout, there are a few that are on jeep roads or even smoothersurfaces.This book opened my eyes to the fact that there is much more tomountain biking in Utah than just heading down to Moab.And I especiallylike the smaller size of the book, that allows it to easily fit in yourback pocket or in your camelback. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best GA guide book
This guide book is the best of all the ones I have for GA mountain bike trails.The maps and descriptions are the easiest to read and the most accurate. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Mtn biking Durango, and more
This book does a fine job of giving the mountain biker many ideas forrides around town. But its real value is in the high-country rides, whichabound in the San Juan Mountains surrounding Durango. I've also used thisbook for hiking and trail-running. You need an odometer to know exactlywhere you are on the ride in relation to the book, but on most trailsthat's not a problem. If there is a criticism of this book, it is thatthere are not enough easy rides. The author lists a few in the back, butnot with much detail. Many of these rides are not for the beginner. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Little Book!
Having just moved to Portland, I was dying to find places where the townsfolk got dirty (on their bikes, that is). While I didn't buy this book from Amazon (sorry, got it at Powell's downtown), this is a great little guide to mountain bike rides in Portland and the surrounding areas. The book details each ride, rates them on their difficulty, and conveniently categorizes them so you can can plan your day in the dirt. The best thing about this book is its size, because it's small enough to cart along with you on the trail. I've even taking to crossing off the rides as I complete them.

If you're riding in Portland, you should get this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Ride faster and smarter than ever before! Olympian, former national champion, and elite cycling coach Ann Trombley is your authoritative guide to learning how with improved

selection and fitting of equipment for the optimal match of personal attributes with current technology,

technical maneuvers that maximize both speed and safety,

training methods and workouts that yield superior results, and

racing preparations and tactics that make competition more rewarding and more successful.

Serious Mountain Biking gives you the answers to the questions and solutions to the problems you've encountered while participating in the sport. No need to continue learning by trial and error when such experience and expertise are at your fingertips. Make every minute and mile you invest on the bike more beneficial and enjoyable with the help of this invaluable resource on mountain biking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Love the book!!
I thoroughly enjoy this book! I find it very useful and very informative.I love the fact that this book is direct and to the point.I can just find the outline/topic of what I need to know, and the explanation is very helpful and to the point.I often review the mtb techniques and skills from this book before a race.
I highly recommend Ann Trombley's Serious Mountain Biking!

Look Elsewhere
Serious Mountain Biking
By Ann Trombley

Reviewed by Arnie Baker

Overview: * Look Elsewhere

I looked forward to reading Serious Mountain Biking. Ann Trombley's professional career overlapped that of Jimena Florit, a rider I coached for a decade. It was fun to read about Ann's exploits, and to read about her races and other competitors I knew through traveling to some of those same races myself and through Jimena's reports.

Ann's book covers three areas for the aspiring racer: Equipment, skills, and training. Her messages generally follow traditional wisdom. She quotes others and offers her own advice.
The writing style is casual, which will appeal to many readers. To me, however, it was too breezy and inexact. Her style and the book's editors allow descriptions that too often make sense only if you already know what Ann is trying to say.

Equipment
Ann repeats traditional fit concepts from road biking. Although she addresses some mountain bike fit issues, she misses the opportunity to write about mountain bike specific fit issues-such as brake-lever placement.

Skills
The tips and information are general, rudimentary, inexact, and sometimes wrong. This section will help many riders with basics, but it is mostly pabulum. Brian Lopes' Mastering Mountain Biking Skills is much better.

Training
Ann knows the jargon, many of the concepts and principles, and gives examples of helpful workouts. Unfortunately, these are jumbled up, she forgets her audience, and she sometimes appears to be in over her head.

Index
Indexing seems to be a lost art, certainly in many of the Human Kinetics books I have reviewed. The index does not contain 8 of the 9 entries that I thought of checking. For example, although discussed as major topics in the book the following are not directly indexed: descending, intervals, heart rate, power, periodization, macrocycle, perceived exertion, and VO2 max. Climbing was the only subject indexed.

Summary
Ann has a contribution to make. She has good information to communicate. Unfortunately, she does not do so effectively. An editor with mountain-biking knowledge might have helped.


Examples
The following are examples illustrating my criticisms, including poor writing, editing, or bad information:

Equipment
Page 5.
"Selecting Your Style"
This is a poor heading. The section that follows is about selecting your bike to match your riding style. It is not about deciding whether to be a downhiller or climber.

Page 14.
"Frame Size. All frame builders are not alike."
I think what Ann means is: Frame builders determine frame size differently. That is what she should write. Her sentence might be referring to building materials, frame geometry, or frame rigidity.

Page 18.
Under crank arm length. "Larger crank arms enable you to push bigger gears at lower RPMs and smaller crank arms enable you to push smaller gears at higher RPMs."
Ann is not writing about beefier cranks, she is writing about longer cranks. The author should have written, and the editor should have corrected to, longer and shorter, rather than larger and smaller.

Page 18.
"You can determine crank arm length by your height using table 1.2."
Editing issue. Substandard English sentence construction. You determine crank arm length by measuring it, or looking at the dimensions engraved into the cranks. Editor should have corrected to: You can determine a suggested crank arm length from your height by using table 1.2.

Page 19.
"Saddle Position. ...put your cranks in a horizontal position in relation to the ground and drop the plum line or straight edge from your kneecap straight down. It should fall directly in front of the pedal spindle (see figure 1.5)."
What does directly mean? In the referenced figure, the plumb line from the knee falls a couple of inches ahead of the pedal spindle. Bad choice of picture, unless chosen to illustrate a too-far forward saddle position.

Page 22.
"Getting Your Gear"
Poor heading choice. This heading comes directly after sections on which type of bike to buy and bike position. I thought "Getting Your Gear" might be about where to buy your bike. Alternatively, perhaps about what gears to purchase-for example, triple chain ring selection. What followed was a brief section on shoes, shorts, and helmets. Editor should have corrected to a better heading choice, for example: Accessories.

Skills
Page 45.
"Countersteering and Braking. Countersteering on a bicycle is similar to the position of the wheels as seen in racecar driving. Basically, the front wheel is turned away from the direction of the turn..."
Ann misses the basic concept. It is about leaning the bike more than the body. Race cars do not lean and countersteer. Maybe Ann meant racing motorcycles. Even if so, in countersteering a motorcycle the application of power makes it different from countersteering a bicycle. The whole paragraph that follows is confusing and hinders more than helps.

Page 60.
"Braking Guidelines. The best time to brake is never."
I agree that many mountain bikers are too tentative and "overbrake." However, those reading this section are probably already frightened about mountain bike descents, want to become more skillful in mastering braking control in turns, or otherwise want to improve their braking. Ann's first sentence immediately sets the wrong tone, and risks losing her reader.

Page 62.
"As a general rule, keep your eyes scanning between 5 and 10 feet down the trail at all times."
No. Not nearly far enough. Perhaps 15 feet ahead, 5 feet up.

Training
Page 129
"After you have determined what races you will do, highlight the ones most important to you, such as qualifiers for the World Championships."
This first paragraph has me wondering if this book is written for an audience of less than 20 racers.

Page 143
"A power meter measures how much energy (in watts) is transferred onto the pedals every second."
No. Energy is in kilojoules or calories. Energy divided by time is power, measured in watts.

Page 143
"Measuring power is currently the most efficient way of measuring your intensity while on a bike."
What does the word efficient mean here? Efficiency in the physics, engineering, and sports science sense has to do with power produced versus power consumed. For example, athletes are 22% efficient, losing about 78% of their calories burned as heat.
A careful editor might have substituted effective.

Page 143
"The amount of power a cyclist is generating remains constant with a change in the environment whether it be the cyclist's core temperature or external considerations."
Sorry. No. Overheated, a cyclist will drop their power output.

Page 144.
"Once you get your HRmax, you can calculate your VO2 max."
No. You can impute VO2 max from ramped power (My formula: watts/kg x 12 + 3.3). You cannot do it from heart rate max. Knowing heart rate max is 200, you have no idea about VO2. Could be 20 mL/kg/min. Could be 80 mL/kg/min.

Page 195.
"Keeping Your Speed. Being able to keep your speed up in a race lasting more than 2 hours is a skill that every racer needs to work on."
At first blush, sounds good. However, no. Not for downhillers. Not for short-track riders. Moreover, it is a fitness, not a skill we are talking about.

Awesome Book for Begginers through Hard Core Racers
Very informative and an awesome training tool.It has numerous techniques and tips for all aspects of riding and racing.I am definetly a better mountain biker having read it. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A must have!
I've owned and utlized this 'guide' for approximatly two years.We reside in the Atlanta area and are avid mountain bikers and cyclists.This guide is essential for trail markers, ride routes and cool treks off the beaten path.The book is small enough to tuck away in your camelback and use while riding!FANTASTIC!I would highly recommend if you are looking for trails in Georgia...

The Best Trails in GA in one book!
Alex Nutt, former president of SORBA (Southern Off Road Bicycle Association), does a fantastic job of listing the best rides in North Georgia. The book includes very accurate directions, maps, and photos ofthe trails. This is the best trail book I have seen for Georgia. As formerpresident of SORBA, Alex knows the trails better than almost anyone in thearea. ... Read more

Book Description
Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned off-road rider, this guide will help you hone your skills and make the most of every ride. You'll learn from experts who've been through it all, like former world champion Ned Overend and Olympic medalist Susan DeMattei. From uphill skills to downhill thrills, you're sure to find everything you need to know to ride like a pro.Discover how to:* Fit a great ride into a busy schedule with the "hour of power."* Cruise through the toughest corners with the tripod turn.* Tap into the flow--and glide over challenging terrain.* Acclimate quickly and easily to every hazard on trails.* Boost your climbing speed and comfort with switch-side breathing.* Revive a midseason training slump.* Crash without getting hurt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Complete information but not enough illustration
I prefer the other Mountain Bike Magazine's "Complete Guide to Mountain Biking Skills", which has better illustration/pictures to show you how the situation looks like.

As good as it gets!
I purchased this book yesterday and was impressed immediately. The book has a lot of excellent tips on every aspect of MTB. Another added bonus is the drills it has to help to develop increased riding skills.The tips areset up to gradually build confidence as you progress. The tips by some ofthe pros Overend and Susan Dematte for example are great. If you arelooking for a book to help with all aspects of MTB this is the one to get.I will be recommending this book to friends and that is for sure. ... Read more

Book Description
Discover the hub of mountain bike excitement in the United States with Mountain Bike! Southern Utah. Veteran adventure travel and mountain bike author Michael McCoy reveals secrets of the best riding in one of North America's hottest mountain bike Meccas. Mountain bike! Southern Utah provides detailed information on 75 trails in southern Utah, from Moab to Provo to St. George and all the American beauty in between. In a region renowned for its mountain bike miracles, McCoy uncovers the undiscovered routes and details the best-known and best-loved trails in this part of the country. He does it for every level of experience, from the crank-spinning expert to the intrepid beginner. However, it's not all about the biking. As an adventure travel professional, McCoy understands that the views at the top should be as breathtaking as the climbs to get there. If it's good riding, it's profiled here.Each route profile features at-a-glance key information, a thorough ride description, a detailed trail map, helpful sources of information, proximity of important services, valuable commentary on elevation changes and possible hazards and a rescue index. This guide also features interesting and entertaining photographs, vivid descriptions of the native flora and fauna, a glossary of mountain biking terms, tips on mountain biking etiquette, important safety information, and a list of ride recommendations for special interests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Packed cover to cover with detailed information
Now available in an updated and expanded Second Edition, Michael McCoy's Mountain Bike! Southern Utah: A Guide To The Classic Trails is a superbly presented regional guide packed cover to cover with detailed information about the sweeping deserts and amazing red rock vistas of its locale. Black and white maps of a variety of different trails, from short jaunts to extended cross-country tours, guide the mountain biker through wondrous natural landscapes. From safety tips to elevation topography to a comprehensive index, Mountain Bike! Southern Utah is an invaluable, core reference for any Utah-area biker with a keen and active interest in this energetic pastime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stunning
Roxanna Brock, Jared McMillen and the Cerca Country Guides are a perfect mix.Roxanna and Jared combination of both vivid writing and stunning photography is a great addition to the Cerca guides.The author and photographer both have impressive list of outdoor sports accomplishments and their expertise in it shows nicely in the book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Lennard Zinn explains that it doesn't take special skills to learn how to care for one's bike, only "a passion for spreading new grease on old parts." Clearly, his ambition is to share with newcomers the Zen-like joy of bike maintenance. But it's seasoned bike mechanics that should be tripping over each other for a copy of this comprehensive and ambitious manual. Zinn differs from other how-to books by guiding readers--with plain-speaking text--through almost every imaginable repair on almost every imaginable part. He covers everything from rebuilding hubs, to loosening seized stems, to installing six different types of bottom brackets. He even risks cycling blasphemy by walking mere mortals through the art of wheel building--an intimidating task that can take years to perfect. Although best suited for the old pros, his guide is user- friendly, funny, and essential to anyone willing to love their bike. --Ben TiffanyBook Description

Customer Reviews (44)

The Bible of Mountain Bike Maintenance
This book was recommended by a friend of mine to facilitate my Padawan ways of bike maintenance. I'm very impressed, and the illustrations are excellent. Everything is broken down into the most basic steps when making a repair/modification. It's so much easier to maintain and repair your own bike, than to have your LBS do it. Don't be a tool, buy the book.

This is the bible of Mountain Biking
Now although I ride alot, I'm not really big on reading Mountain bike books from cover to cover. And I actually refer to the companion Mountain Biking DVD-Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance DVD more often.This one, on the other hand is just a wealth of information. It covers so many different areas. I've looked at other books in the stores. If you want to own just one Mountain bike maintenance book, this is it. I myself only have one-this one. If you are a more visual person, as I am - get his DVD video. It's awesome too.Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance

I often ride my mountain bike at night and use these lighting products:Down Low Glow Lighting Kit - Two Tubes-Envy(green)

great books on bike maintenance
zinns book is right up to date on keeping your hi tech bike in good
shape,the best i have read

Everything you need to know to.....
If you are overwhelmed by all the moving parts or are just looking for a reference, this book is for you.

This book contains detailed descriptions and illustrations of everything you need to know to maintain and tweak your mountain bike.

Where are the step-by-step photos?
This is not a bad book.It is huge and quite comprehensive and probably has a solution for every problem.But where are the step-by-step photos that is much needed in a how-to book esp in the realm of bike repair!There are not even photos in color or b/w.The reader is forced to comprehend the "art" by some simple cartoon drawings?!Mountain bike repair is not exactly a simple thing to pick up for the normal person and the lack of photos make it even harder.Lastly, it is not a book you would want to read cover-to-cover.Granted, books like these are more for reference, but the writing is not even that great for the cover-to-cover attempt. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

An up-to-date guide to mountain biking anywhere in Wisconsin
Colby Waller's Mountain Biking Wisconsin is a complete, up-to-date guide to mountain biking anywhere in Wisconsin. Waller provides detailed information on bike tire tread type, aerobic and difficulty levels, easy-to-read maps and route descriptions, as well as practical information on Wisconsin camping, flora, and fauna. Mountain Biking Wisconsin is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended guidebook for mountain bikers seeking off-road biking opportunities for health, recreation, and adventure! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Must have for exploring the trails around Bend
A tad dated (hint for a revisied edition!), this is the most authoratative description of Bend's mountain biking trail system. After four years of living and mountain biking in the Bend area, I still have a couple trails that Scott has written about that I haven't completed. This book along with the Bend area Adventure map (available at any local bike shop) are indispensible when enjoying the amazing and endless mountain bike trails of central Oregon.

excellent resource
has majority of trails in the area; gives detailed instructions ... Read more

Book Description
This third edition is chock full of up-to-date information on fifty off-road rides in the Garden State, including expanded South Jersey coverage. ... Read more

Book Description
Travel south of the Mason-Dixon line and discover the mystery of the Deep South. In spite of humidity and mosquitoes the size of golf balls, exploring the Deep South's wilderness is richly rewarding. With the region's amazing geographical and meteorological diversity, it pays to have the inside scoop on mountain biking. From the Louisiana levee to the North Georgia mountains, Mountain Bike! The Deep South will introduce you to the thrill of exploring this magnificent region while helping you discover its most unforgettable rides.

This guide provides detailed information on over 75 of the best rides throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, including tours through the New Orleans area, the Mississippi Delta, the Natchez Trace, Alabama's Gulf Shore, and the lush gardens of central Georgia. From rugged single-track ascents to leisurely rides along tranquil lakes, if it's good riding, it's profiled here.

Each route profile features a thorough ride description, a detailed trail map, helpful sources of information, proximity of important services, valuable commentary on elevation changes and possible hazards and a rescue index.

This guide also features interesting and entertaining photographs, vivid descriptions of the native flora and fauna, a glossary of mountain biking terms, and tips on mountain biking etiquette and the truth about suicide among armadillos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Great Gift Idea!
Especially if you are new to mountain biking and live in the SE USA, this book is just fantastic!It pointed me to places and experiences that I will never forget.I kept it in my car as I traveled around the Southeast.Maybe I couldn't go ride some days but I discovered places that intrested me for future riding opportunities.This book was given to me as a Christmas present.It makes a great one!

MT Bike! The deep south
Great book for info on trails in LA, MS, AL, GA.I am familiar with the trails in LA and MS and the author's interpretation of the trails is very accurate from difficulty of the trail to trail condition. He did miss acouple of trails in LA. One is relatively new and located at Bodacau Park(army corps of engineers). Good technical trail. Off I-20. The KisatchieNational forest trails (caroline dorman and one other) are probably notgood to ride right now as there are forest fires flaring in that area 7/00.Those trails are rather rocky to ride too. Cheers. This is a great book! ... Read more