Customer Reviews (8)

Ned, the Lung
Ned is one of the finest examples of a athlete. He is one that just wont quit, he loves the sport, the competition and most of all he challenges himself. Its great when such a athlete stops and takes some time to help out his fans by writing such a helpful book. Some of it most experienced riders will already know, but still the book contains tips and such to fine tune your skills. The biggest help for me was his tips on fitting the bike. After following his tips my S-Works feels and handles all so much better. Its the little things. For the cost of book you cant beat it. Instead of subscribing to a cycling magazine in hope of finding new help, save yourself some money and time and get it all in one source. Ned is a great guy, rides some of the best bikes made, he knows his stuff.. Although he is a busy guy with Xtera and all he even takes some time to meet, email and answer questions. The book itself will make techniques make more sense and easier to concur. Buy it for yourself or a friend, its a great gift!

Ned Overend proves he's a Champion
Great tips for riders of any level. This book contains descriptions and examples from Ned's years of experience in mountain biking, all very helpful and easy to follow. If you enjoy mountain biking, this book will help you get to the next level. Without a doubt the best [money] you will ever spend for mountain bike equipment. This book should be sold with every mountain bike!!

If it's by Ned, it has to be good.
This book is like a Mountain Bikers Bible. Anybody who rides in the mountains should get this book. It will make you a better rider and it could save you from a bad bike accident. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling - General   3. Cycling - Mountain Biking   4. Sports   5. Sports & Recreation   6. Training   7. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Your local bike mechanic might have you thinking that "wrenching" is right up there with rocket science. But the truth is, anyone can master the ins and outs of bicycle maintenance under the guidance of a good teacher. In lieu of a professor, the editors of Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines have created a shop companion, which they refer to as "another tool for working on your bike." They guide you from the basics of your pre-ride checklist to tuning your derailleurs and overhauling your hubs. And they offer updated information on maintaining front shocks and even a handful of rear suspensions. What's more, they can walk you through the arduous task of rebuilding ancient parts that some shop mechanics haven't even heard of. If you've ever tried to work on your own car, you've undoubtedly developed a healthy fear of automobile shop manuals. But unlike the cryptic list of part numbers and equations you'll find at Pep Boys, this guide is written by people who want you to see just how rewarding bike maintenance can be. --Ben Tiffany ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Read this *before* you buy a bike!
I've just gotten a new bike, and this book was my bible along the rocky road to buying a bike. Technology's come a long way in the 15 years since I last bought a bike, and I was starting from nearly zero - I didn't know my top tube from my seat stay.

This book covers the basics of what bicycle components are, what they do when they're working right, and how they can fail. I'm not someone who does a lot of "wrenching" on his own bike, but I found I needed to read this whole book in order to make an informed bike-buying decision. What do the tradeoffs between strength and lightness in wheelsets really mean with respect to your riding style? Do you need to go for the more expensive bottom bracket? (Probably not.) What's a 'headset', and why does it need to be covered up when you're transporting the bike on the back of a car?

This book will answer all the questions you had about the makeup and operation of a bike, but more importantly, it'll answer the questions you didn't know enough to ask, and help you make the best-informed bike buying decision possible!

An Excellent Manual for Most Repairs
This is an excellent manual for most repairs that the average cyclist would need to make. It has guided me through several repairs on my mountain bike and on other bikes, as well.

It explains everything simply and step by step, so it is actually difficult to get confused while using it, even when adjusting derailleurs, which has always been rather difficult for me.

It is also a fairly comprehensive book, in a layout that is very efficient. You don't have to spend a lot of time trying to find what you're looking for.

The only drawback I can think of is the fact that it simply needs to be updated, since cycling technology has changed quite a bit since its last revision in 1996. However, this could be said of any technical manual. In order to get a more comprehensive bike repair manual, you'd have to get the Sutherland's Handbook for Bicycle Mechanics, which has been referred to as "the bible of bicycle mechanics."
...but that's only if you want ot drop a couple or so hundred bucks on a bike repair manual.

Don't waste your money on this book!
This book might suffice if you've got an old bike, and need advice on something simple like cleaning, or tire replacement. But, if you're a do-it-yourselfer like me, who wants all the details, and maybe even some tips and tricks, this book falls pathetically short. Most of the components pictured look like they were late 80s vintage. There's little or no information on newer equipment. I've even found blatantly incorrect information. The "step by step" instructions jump around like they were written by someone in the late stages of Alzheimer's. You'd be better off trying to assemble a bike from scratch using only a picture of what it's supposed to look like when it's done!

I recently built my own criterium bike from the bottom bracket up. This was my first attempt at bike building, so naturally, I had a lot of questions and needed step by step instructions. I went through just about every chapter of this book during the project, and found serious problems with nearly all of them. I spent more time trying to decipher the book than if I would have learned on my own by trial and error!

Save yourself some money and a whole lot of headaches, and buy Zinn & The Art of Road (or Mountain) Bike Maintenance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bicycles   2. Cycling - General   3. Maintenance and repair   4. Reference   5. Sports   6. Sports & Recreation   7. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (26)

A must have for your mountain bike
Whether you have a shiny new mountain bike or one that has been on more than a few trail rides, this book is a must to have in your collection. For about [price] and the price of some tools you'll be able to perform the most common maintenance on your bike yourself. Not only will this save you money (tuneups aren't exactly cheap these days), but you'll understand your equipment much better and be able to handle unexpected situations on the trail.

The book is a large format with two columns of text per page and hand drawn figures (basically no photos). Each part of the bike is covered in great depth in pseudo-outline form.

The only downside is that the figures can be a bit difficult to understand. I can see how they can be more clear that photos, but some combination of the two or perhaps just more figures would have helped. I've found it is always best to look at the figures alongside my bike so there is no ambiguity.

Excellent manual for mechanics of all levels!
Zinn's book is full of great info that covers topics from pedals to preload and everything in between. (Note: not much info in the way of rear-suspension.) The book is well written, humorous, and has several good illustrations.

This book will give you confidence to do most of the regular maintenance on your bike...if you feel comfortable holding a chain tool and a wrench, Zinn will teach you how to save yourself some money (and maybe even have some fun) by doing it yourself.

Highly recommended!

A must have book especially for beginners
I am brand new to the world of mountain biking and this book has been my bible. If it isn't covered in this book then you don't need to know. With this book I have been able to make adjustments and alignments to my bike I would have normally taken to a shop to have done.

My wife doesn't care for the book too much though because she has now become a mountain bike widow. I spend about an hour or two a day rereading this book and tweeking my bike. The must have spares part of the book saved me from pushing my bike home one day as I would not have normally had a spare chain link with me. Unfortunately I also went on to break my collar bone that same day and this was not addressed in the book. Seriously though, I'm contemplating buying a second book, a working copy (the dirty one) and a reference copy (the clean one) I can bring in the house.

You won't be sorry if you buy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain bicycles   2. Bicycles   3. Cycling - Mountain Biking   4. Engineering - Mechanical   5. Maintenance and repair   6. Mountain bikes   7. Religion   8. Sports & Recreation   9. Technology   10. Sports   

If road riding is the arrogant godfather of the cycling world, mountain biking is the fun-loving, black-sheep stepson. The Mountain Bike magazine editors reflect this spirit, tuning their highly accessible guide to both those with dreams of widowmaker descents as well as others just looking for a pleasant Sunday spin on scenic dirt roads. Breaking the sport down into lively yet informative chapters--complete with cartoons and amusing anecdotes--they cover the basics and then some. All technical skills are addressed, including bunny hopping, high-speed cornering, and the terribly elegant nose wheelie. The guide also includes a comprehensive section on cycling fitness and customizing a training program for would-be racers. No one is alienated here, but if you fancy yourself an expert rider, you might want to look elsewhere. This guide is geared more toward the novice whose journey has only just begun. --Ben Tiffany ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Expert? It's written by bozos like us!
This book is great fun.

It manages to avoid the patronising 10 page filler on why Mummy thinks you really should wear a helmet, and the incomprehensible comparison of the crank end twistor setting downplate angle of 1.72 degrees versus 1.83 degrees (a major controversy at the 1984 Boot Hill Lower Upper Mid South Dakota championship eliminator resulting in several fatalities after a discussion in the bar got out of hand). And it has very amusing cartoons. These (inter alia) explain to newbies that going headfirst over the handlebars can result in 'Pain and misery', while not doing so results in 'Happiness and success', oh yes, this cartoon also explains about hopping over logs, but since my preferred style leans more to 'Pain and misery' it's nice to see this perfectly legitimate method of riding recognised in print (even though it is labelled 'Wrong').

Despite its 'Expert' label in the title, most of the chapters are written by people at least remembering what it was like NOT to be able to do things, and so the explanations really resonate with the new-and-not-so-good. The opening of Chapter 10 about Wheelies as basketball players is, in my view, a classic of gonzo sporting humour, and deserves to be read widely. (But I'm not going to quote it!)

I should say that this is probably the most enjoyable book I have yet read on mountain biking, and recommend it to anyone who likes doing inappropriate things on expensive, delcate pieces of metal which usually involve the removal of bits of skin and limping for a week or two.

Great for beginners
Buy it before you buy your bike. The book begins with a bunch of info on how to pick a good bike and more importantly, how to pick a good bike shop. If you stick with the sport you will quickly outgrouw this book, but it covers the most important basic skills and even includes advice on racing. A quick read. I finished it on the first day, but it's worth re-reading after you gain more skill, as everything will make more sense.

Given that you've read the book you'll learn way faster on the bike than poring over the book. In fact, it's probably a good idea to take this book and some 2x4's out to a grass field with some rolling hills and go for it. And remember: if you're not falling you could be learning much faster.

Eh
I was suprised to see that this was the book that matches the title - I already own it! Since I'm here, I'll give you the scoop: it's great for beginners, and some of the techniques are solid. However, the anecdotal section is completely boring, and absolutely useless for technical info.

I give it a "6", so it's back to searching for me... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling - General   3. Mountain bikes   4. Outdoor Life   5. Sports   6. Sports & Recreation   7. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (12)

not the bible
I think the author is a big pot smoker or something. His book is redundant and his thoughts are organized in a random long winded order. This book actually his first book Road Cyclists Training Bible with some of the phrases changed. He didn't even bother to to change the pictures to mountain bikes from road. I liked the section on overtraining and the importance of rest and recovery. Also liked the section on planning the whole for the whole race season with planned peaks at critical races. I feel like the guy should go back and rewrite the book and get rid of all of the charts and daily records, dairies and work on getting things more user friendly and coherent... lay down the pipe when you write this one dude.

It made me faster and last longer!
I began mountain biking February of this year('03). I threw up on my first ride. I raced my first race in April and came in 22nd of 24 finishers. I bought this book in May. About five months later I was flying through our local tough park, Markham maintained by ClubMud.org (believe it or not we have some decent cross country MTB parks in Florida). I went from a best single lap of over an hour to multiple laps of 45mins each. In the fall Ford Tough Series I placed 2nd overall in my category (Men Beginner 30-34). What a rush!

The book was hard to read at first. Mainly because I wanted it to hand feed the training procedures to me. It finally dawned on me that it was training material for the self-coaching athlete that I, my own coach, had to put into a regiment based on my needs. It required that I get in tune with my body and its needs. I still reference it and still realize things in it I didn't before. The nutritional information was a big help in modifying my diet without dramatically impacting my family's eating habits. This is a book you have to read from cover to cover to get the most out of it. It's also wise to take the book's advice when taking training seriously and ease your body into it(although no-pain-no-gain does apply). I went from the slowest guy amongst my friends to the fastest after about eight weeks into the book. If you're not serious enough about getting faster to shut off the TV and read for a while for a couple of weeks than pass the book and stick to the magazines with all the pictures of guys you could otherwise be.

Thanks Joe Friel.

BEST I'VE READ
Great book for putting together a training program! Most others simply aren't clear. The charts, graph and sample program schedules are very helpful if preparing for and upcoming season. Bottom line - Start with this traing booke first, you won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling   3. Cycling - General   4. Cycling - Mountain Biking   5. Exercise   6. Sports   7. Sports & Recreation   8. Training   

At first glance, you may think that Nealy isn't serious about teaching riding skills. The hand-printed pages--colored with hilarious animations--give the guide a comic-book appearance. But instead of assaulting his readers with dry chapters on technique, Nealy leads his readers on an entertaining tour of the mountain-biking world and how to survive it. He explains how to bunny hop, how to downhill, how to ride powerfully, and how to crash with style. He also includes a "Stupid Bike Tricks" section. One trick, The Invisible Mountain Biker, explains how to jump off of your bike and let it glide, unmanned, across the path of frightened hikers. Note that Nealy advises against heaving your bike into a crowd of hikers. Existing laws prohibit it.

Whether you're a pro who's ready to soar through flaming hoops, or the neophyte who's merely searching for the pedals, Nealy's guide is bound to be fun--and isn't that what mountain biking is all about? --Ben Tiffany ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The book you need to teach yourself to mountain bike
I was lucky to come across this book early in my mountain biking career. Though the material is somewhat dated (due to the technology standards for bikes advancing), it has great advice on the basics of form and technique. The most useful part of the book is that because it is in cartoon form, he can also demonstrate what happens when you do things wrong. Not only does this make it easy to see yourself, and what (goof thing) you're doing wrong, it gives you excellent advice for how to correct it. His cartooning style lends itself well to the "force diagrams" he draws. These were much more useful to me that photos (always too dark, too small and poorly reproduced) for clairty of understanding of what is going on. Cartooning also leds itself to capturing some "motion" that "action" photos can miss. He also seems to capture the essence of mountain biking, which is (once you get into it) somewhat cultish and a lot of fun. Easy and entertaining to read, this is one of the first things I give folks that are starting out.

Not your grandmother's coffee table book!!!
This is NOT a coffee table book, as someone unscrupulous suggested below. This is bone-crunching heart-stopping mind-blowing Mountain Biking we are discussing and besides an increased heart rate, this has nothing to do with coffee.

I am not going to jump on a "This is the best mountain bike reference ever published for all skill levels" bandwagon, even though I am selling a copy. Hey, got to be honest... I picked up this book after my somewhat reckless $1,500 investment into a full-suspension Trek rig having virtually no mountain biking experience whatsoever. Being a sucker for details (comes naturally - I am a network engineer) I wanted to learn my new hobby in a methodical and structured way. My desire to learn on other people's mistakes was further strengthened by my first visit to Rockville mountain bike park in North Bay. This ride has positively kicked my butt humbling and scaring me witless into buying some sort of "Mountain Biking for Morons" equivalent. This is how I came across William Nealy and his weird little manual. Alas, I end my digression and give you the skinny.

The manual is easy to read; it's offbeat and slightly wacky just like the sport itself is. An occasional use of well-hidden expletives reinforces presented concepts and also prepares one for what's inevitable - pain. The comic book style is original and pictures are fun to look at even if you don't plan to join NORBA (e.g. my wife). Concepts are well organized and presented in an easy-to-digest fashion. Reading it for the first time, many notions completely escaped me thus I recommend to re-read the book a few times, while riding, riding, riding at the same time. I appreciated an abundance of mountain bike-specific jargon and some of my advanced amateur freerider friends were intrigued by Nealy's explanation of various advanced moves, which come to them naturally but are so hard to explain.

In conclusion, I give this book 4 sprockets (out of 5). Hey, if this was a 5, I would already be sponsored by Fox Racing or Marzocchi. But seriously, I believe this was a worthwhile purchase. I don't know if this is the greatest mountain biking manual ever written, but it was certainly the most helpful one to me. Of course, all the advice of this manual would have been worthless if I have not been following the reading with an actual riding. I am nowhere near a professional, but I sure can pedal with the rest of them, and this book has helped a lot. Thanks, William!

Great book for beginners
I have been mountain biking for only a couple of months now and I have to say that this book has saved me from a couple of close call wipe-outs. It teaches techniques to keep from "face planting" yourself as well as basic techniques ( with illustrations) to keep your ride enjoyable.

Good job ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling   3. Cycling - General   4. Mountaineering   5. Sports   6. Sports & Recreation   7. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (7)

Far exceeds expectations
Each time I return to this book I recognize how many little extras it includes, such as vertical profiles, several ways to find or select a trail, a good place to satisfy post-ride munchies, or the phone number of a local bike shop in a nearby town for an emergency repair.

As a 4th generation native of Arizona, I thought I knew my way around, but this book has paid off in directing me to a lot of out of the way trails I never would have found or even heard of swapping ideas with local riders. Do not overlook or underestimate the many "honorable mention" rides included in each chapter.

There's another popular book on Arizona mountain bike trails that is sort of a cartoon. Buy that if you want laughs, but buy Mountain Bike America: Arizona if you want a serious reference tool to get the most out of your visits to and around Arizona.

whole lot of nothing
This thing weighs in at a whopping 19 ounces. Way too much paper filler with all sorts of peripheral information about mountain biking in general, but not enough specific details about the best Arizona trails. The maps were done with a GPS, but a gray line drawn by a computer over a b&w topo that covers only 1/4 page just does not get it. You've probably heard the expression that a camel is a horse designed by committee. This is a book written by a knowledgable mountain biker then stuffed into the Falcon/Globe-Pequot format. This fomulaic (sp?) approach to a mountain bike guide just doesn't work. The local guides and maps are cheaper, better and lighter.

My brother loved it
I bought this for my brother, an avid mt. biker in scottsdale. He loved it, and used it the first weekend he got it to find a new trail. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Arizona   3. Bicycle trails   4. Cycling - General   5. Cycling - Mountain Biking   6. Guidebooks   7. Sports   8. Sports & Recreation   9. Travel - United States   10. United States - Mountain - Arizona   11. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (3)

Outstanding guide for family outings
My idea of one of the best guidebooks for the area. For content alone - this one has 300 hiking trails and 200 bike riding routes - it outdoes all the others. We live in San Francisco and frequently spend our weekends camping in Marin County. Our kids are 13, 10 and 7 and we've reached the stage where all can keep up. One of the nicest features is the book's layout. Trails are all grouped together and keyed to large maps that portray the streets and highways. The kids choose where to go by using the photos. Winter and summer, we're out there, life is good.

Six days in San Francisco
Beautiful book. We deplaned not knowing very much about the Bay Area. Reading this book gave us many many ideas of what to see. We had never heard of Marin County and this book opened our eyes to many beautiful hikes there. No other guide has so many photographs.

A Perfect Choice
Of the three books we took to San Francisco, this was the one we had most fun with. It had by far more photos and for organization alone they deserve five stars. Walking was the way to absorb the real flavor of the big city and coastal towns. Alcatraz and Angel Islands are must sees. We found it very worthwhile having this book to refer to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cycling - Mountain Biking   2. Hiking   3. Sports & Recreation   4. United States - Pacific - San Francisco   5. Guidebooks   6. Travel   7. United States - West - Pacific   8. Trails   9. Walking   10. Cycling   11. California   

Customer Reviews (13)

This book will get you training!
After reading several other books on triathlons and trying to start some training programs, I was beginning to get discouraged. I couldn't find a program I liked, so I wouldn't stick with it. SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletes proved to be the solution I needed. This book will let you form a training plan that gives you specific times and goals for each workout. Having those numbers in mind will help you make it through that last interval, last mile or last lap. Good luck and train hard!

Excellent primer for a successful training program
I bought this book on the recommendations of Amazon customers and I must admit that I wasn't disapointed. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get when everyone gives a book 5 stars. Sometimes it's hard to get an unbiased review.
I was pleased with the book and what others have said is true. I recommend this book to endurance athletes looking for reasons and explanations on why to train a certain way and what it will do for your body in the long run.
However, I am a competetive rower and there were few topics that took rowing into account. Most of the training is geared towards running/cycling/triathetes and not specific to rowing as much as I was hoping. Also, there is way too little emphasis on resistance training. Most of the book is about setting up a mathmatical training plan and says to devote time sparingly to strength training. I'm not an expert on other sports, but I do know that power through strength training is vital for a strong pull on those oars. I suggest devoting more time in the SERIOUS formula to weight training in the gym than the book suggests, especially in the early training weeks.

As for the rest of the book, it's great, but it takes a *LOT* of paperwork. Fortunately my wife is handy with MS Excel and plotted all the charts for me with forulas that makes it all easy. However, without her I know that I would be daunted and discouraged at the task of making all the charts and calculations by hand. In a future updated edition (I hope that they make one) the book should come with a CDROM loaded with all the charts and formulas, or at least a web site link for downloading them. In the 21st century it's good practice to have online content and I hope to see it with this great text book.

Good book
This is a good book for people who have never done a sport at a high level, because it will show you how to do a good training and give you ideas for exercises, it is also for people who plan to do some sport for a special event (for example, training for a 1 week and more mountain hike)

I would not really recommend this book to people who already do high level taining and who allready are in a training program, because they probably allready know most of the exercises and ideas of this book (or at least something equivalent) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Athletic Training And Conditioning   2. Endurance sports   3. Exercise   4. General   5. Physiological aspects   6. Sports   7. Sports & Recreation   8. Sports Medicine   9. Training   10. Triathalon   11. Sports & Recreation - Cycling   12. Bicycle racing   13. All terrain cycling   14. Mountain Biking   15. Running   16. Swimming   17. Cross Country Skiing   18. Rowing   

Customer Reviews (21)

Great trails, great book.
Cosmic Ray spills the beans about the best trails in all the best mountain biking areas in Arizona . . . Sedona, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Prescott, Payson and more. It is obvious that he is a local and has a keen interest in what he does. He includes his e-mail address in the book so you can quiz him on a particular ride whenever you want. I found this very helpful before I set off on the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stage Coach Route.

Each ride is accompanied by a description and a map. The description includes time, distance, effort, skill, find-ability, best season to ride and fear factor (puck-o-meter 1 to 10 !) If you are short on time, premium rides are indicated with a special "primo ride" icon.

Rating ride difficulty is a subjective science and Cosmic Ray makes it clear that he is an intermediate/advanced rider. He rates the trails for the "average" rider, not the racer and not the total weenie. Most trails lean toward the intermediate/advanced rider with a few severe trails just to add some spice. There are a few easy trails as well.

Cosmic Ray's maps are cartoony looking, but he says they are adapted (traced) from topos. They are pretty much to scale and oriented north. The detailed descriptions and mileage log fill in where a map just can't do the job. I found the distances to be mostly pretty close, but not 100% perfect. Any semi-experienced mountain biker can easily work around this.

The best part of this book is Cosmic Ray's sense of humor. It makes for a good read with lots of laughs whether you ride or not.

Cosmic Ray nails it!
I've done a dozen of the rides from Fat Tire Tales & Trails and Ray delivers the straight skinny on trails in the Flagstaff, Sedona and Phoenix areas. The descriptions are very helpful before doing a ride and the contour profile really lets me know at a quick glance what a ride will be like before I give it a shot. He carefully lets you know how he rates every ride in the beginning of the book. He tells you straight up what kind of a rider he is then uses that for comparison in the amount of effort and skill required.

Ray's maps are usually right on the money. They are cartoony but look as though the route has been traced from a topo . . . oriented north and pretty much to scale. You can tell that he puts a lot of effort into giving you the feeling that he is right beside you along for the ride with lots of insightful tips. Whether you are an expert or a complete novice, this is a great book and Ray's sense of humor makes it a kick to read whether you ride or not.

Great Book but not always 100% accurate in descriptions
First, let me say what everyone else has - the book is the wonderful - the best mountain bike guide for the state of Arizona hands down. I like the format, the casual tone and depth of information.

That said, there are a few trails that I've run into that don't match the author's description quite right. For example, I don't think most people would consider Lower Oldham Trail in Flagstaff "No Sweat" or "Darn Easy". Certainly, its not the hardest trail in Flagstaff, but it is no trail for beginners or the family, which these ratings may imply. Up is pretty brutal and even down - well, there is a pretty sustained, somewhat technical climb involved. And the comment "If you love to carve some level grove, this is the ride for you" - the trail doesn't gain a ton of altitude, but does have some step ups and downs. This description is much more accurate for the nearby "Jump Trail."

FYI - If I were reading this review, I'd wonder if the author (me) is just a weak rider. All I can say is that there areother trails in the same that are actuall substantially easier (aerobically) yet rated harder than this one.

Anyway, don't be misled. If you are into Mountain Biking in AZ, buy the book - it is well worth it. But if don't know the area and you've got beginners or kids with you (or are not used to pedaling at 7000-9000 ft), you may want to check with the local bike shop for a little more insight into the best trails for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cycling   2. Sports   3. Sports & Recreation   4. Travel - United States   5. United States - Mountain - Arizona   6. Arizona   7. Guidebooks   8. Travel   

Customer Reviews (17)

Unconvential, and well rounded
We are a family of four and live at Lake Tahoe. For the past two years we've used this book for all sorts of outings. It has its own style and personality and sense of humor. The authors are local and go beyond just dryly listing trails. The maps and photos are just enough to whet the appetite and help you know what to expect. We also like it because most of the listings are reachable within two hours of our house. We're checking the hikes off one by one and now have completed a little over thirty, saving the Sonora Pass Yosemite areas for this summer. For local lore, fishing, kayaking, skiing and that extra spark that most authors aren't allowed to include, this book can't be beat.

Great hiking the eastern side of the Sierrra
I've been hiking the Southern Sierra for around fifteen years and was given this book by a friend from Tahoe. He said it would lay out the best of the best places to hike along the stretch from Tahoe to Yosemite. It's rare to find a book that devotes itself to this sparsely inhabited area. I put it through its paces briefly on a road trip from L.A. last month and took some pretty spectacular day hikes right off Highway 395. The trails were well marked, a few fallen trees not cleaned up yet by the trail crews, but I got enough of a workout to start the long process of getting in shape for long treks in the coming months.

I personally like the practical way the book is laid out and the detailed descriptions. There was just enough text to get me interested and not fall asleep reading it. The size is just right and fits in the outer pockets of my pack.

It has places to stay, maps showing the trailhead entrances, length of hike, elevations, terrain descriptions, all the campgrounds, hiking tips, an even places to eat or stay when you come down off the trail. If you're thinking of hiking or carcamping this region, by all means buy this book for the real get down skinny.

go take a hike, but get this book first
Whether you're a visitor who is looking to hike (or ski, or bike or fish or drive) anywhere in the Sierra, from Tahoe to Yosemite, or a local who is interested learning even more about this little slice of the Range of Light that we call home, Alpine Sierra Trailblazer is a must-have for your bookshelf.

Before you even open the book up, you can see why it is a perennial favorite. A beautiful, sepia-toned cover, set off by bold black and white and rust, paired with a satin-matte finish make this one of the most attractive guidebooks to the area that can be found.

The inside of the book lives up to the promise made by the cover. Beautiful black and white photos accompany a layout that is bursting with both character and information. The character part is a welcome change from guidebooks that are either too dry or too cutesy to be of much help. The information part is enthralling, and even seasoned trailblazers will find new facts, tidbits, and tips to make their time in the Sierra more fun and productive.

My favorite part is the "Free Hiking Advice and Opinion" section, particularly the disclaimer which about sums up both the character of the authors and the value of information that they are providing: "By following the directions and engaging in the activities suggested in this book, you may be bitten, burned, buoyed, bummed-out, broken, buffed, bent, befriended, bewildered, enlightened, injured, elated, energized, unnerved, lost, discovered, loved, lonely, betwixt and between. The authors and publisher can take neither credit nor blame for any of it, but sincerely do wish you the happiest of trails."

And after all, isn't that just about the very heart of the Sierra experience? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cycling - Mountain Biking   2. Fishing - General   3. Hiking   4. Sports   5. Sports & Recreation   6. Outdoor recreation   7. California   8. Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev   9. Tahoe, Lake, Region (Calif. an   10. Yosemite National Park (Calif   11. Travel   12. United States - West - Pacific   

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book and good selection of trails
Very well organized. The information is easily accessible and browseable. A little more detail on locations of trails in each area would be good (i.e. a general map for each area), maybe with GPS coordinates...
In any case a must if you live in South California.

Colorfully written, detailed guide to mountain biking in CA.
I look for three things in guidebooks. 1. Advice that won't get me lost. 2. Information on stuff I didn't know about before. 3. A sign of wit or humor. All of these matter, and I'm happy to say they're all abundantly presented in this book. Compared to a lot of the regional mt. biking books, this one is superior. The trail directions are clear, the histories & backgrounds are enlightening, and best of all, it's not boring or geeky. The maps are good too; unlike other books, they have a new map for each new route, instead of cramming three routes onto one dinky page. I also get the feeling that these authors worked a little harder than a lot of guidebook writers, who seem to hit one area then try to milk four rides out of one trail. In contrast, this book seems to cover a vast area with a lot more discrimination. The rides I've done so far have been fun and easy to follow. What more can you ask? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Bicycle trails   3. California, Southern   4. Cycling - General   5. Cycling - Mountain Biking   6. Guidebooks   7. Sports   8. Sports & Recreation   9. Travel - United States   10. United States - Pacific - California   11. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Subjects:  1. Cycling - General   2. Cycling - Mountain Biking   3. Sports   4. Sports & Recreation   5. Travel - United States   6. United States - South Atlantic - D.C.   7. United States - South Atlantic - Maryland   8. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (1)

Finally!
Finally a comprehensive book detailing mountain bike destinations in and near Philadelphia. Lots of clean comprehensive maps and anecdotal tales. I was most impressed with the collection of rides in the Jim Thorpe area. The book also offers a nice tribute to Jim Thorpe(the man)who never received the acclaim he deserved

The books also explores some lesser known mtb regions such as the Lebanon Valley, the Pine Barrens and yes the Jersey Shore.

Even the getting there directions are innovative, this is the first guidebook I have seen that tells how to get to mtb rides by train. Mountain Bike Philadelphia resets the standards for all guidebooks. Go get it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Bicycle trails   3. Cycling - General   4. Cycling - Mountain Biking   5. Guidebooks   6. Outdoor recreation   7. Pennsylvania   8. Philadelphia Region   9. Sports   10. Sports & Recreation   11. Travel - United States   12. United States - Mid Atlantic - Pennsylvania   13. Travel / United States / Northeast / Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)   

Subjects:  1. Cycling - General   2. Sports   3. Sports & Recreation   

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 are set up to gradually build confidence as you progress. The tips by some of the pros Overend and Susan Dematte for example are great. If you are looking 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

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling - General   3. Cycling - Mountain Biking   4. Sports   5. Sports & Recreation   6. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (1)

Meticulous, elegant and sensitive
Meticulous, elegant and sensitive, Kings of the Mountains works both as a panegyric to the sporting heroes of a troubled land and as a more general meditation on motifs key to sport and to nationalism: politics, religion, pride, pain and glory.
The Times.

Thrilling reading... cleanly written, meticulously researched... This book unearths a fascinating national sporting history.
Times Literary Supplement.

Wonderfully evocative.
The Independent.

In turns funny, reflective and passionate, Kings of the Mountains is part cycling history, part travelogue and part social analysis... Essential reading.
Official Guide to the Tour de France.

A fascinating work of admirable scope and depth.
Cycle Sport.

Some story, worthy of the magical realism of Gabriel García Márques or Mario Vargas Llosa in its intricate layering of sport, social history and the vagaries of human nature.
Cycling Plus.

Matt Rendell was voted New Sports Writer 2003 by the National Sporting Club for "Kings of the Mountains." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General   2. Sports   3. Sports & Recreation   

Customer Reviews (6)

Short , Sweet, Informative
My complaint with most mountain bike "how-to" guides is that they gear the reader toward being a professional rider. That's because they are most often written by professional riders. Seldom has a book been written that just covers the basic questions like "How do I jump a small dirt mound?" or "What is the difference between the different types of rear-suspensions that are available?" This book answers those basic questions without getting into so much detail that the average rider will be bored. The text and illustrations are clear, concise, and entertaining. The outline of the book brings the reader from shopping for their first bike, right up through explaining some of the most basic "expert" techniques. But, again, the book is very much geared toward first time or beginner riders and is intended to gradually step them up through the ranks of bad, to better, to good.

In short, this book covers most all of the basic techniques you will need to be a good novice mountain bike rider. And that's exactly what I want to be.

A great read!
A great source of information for us newies who want to take our riding a step further. Bill obviously has a great passion for the sport and his style sums up what mountain biking is all about - fun!

Really is the ultimate guide
An excellent book! Strickland's style is casual, funny, and fun to read, while still being packed with information. I recommend this book to all fat-tire enthusiasts out there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling   2. Cycling   3. Cycling - General   4. Cycling - Mountain Biking   5. Mountain bikes   6. Outdoor Skills   7. Physical Education   8. Sports   9. Sports & Recreation   10. Sports & Recreation / Cycling   

Customer Reviews (1)

Perhaps too much of a good thing
It's nice to see Tim Hauserman come out with a guide to the Tahoe Rim Trail so soon after the trail's completion. The Tahoe Rim Trail is destined to be one of the elite distance hikes in the West, right next to the High Sierra Trail, John Muir Trail, and Skyline to the Sea Trail. Having been to the Tahoe area, and recently finished reading the guide, I am already planning a thru hike on the trail for next year.

This book has a number of excellent features. The use of Tom Harrison maps (and the expertise of Jeffrey Schaffer) in the trail description chapters give the prospective hiker far more detail than typical guidebooks do. This is especially important in planning the logistics of a 150+ mile hike. In addition, Hauserman has done an excellent job of breaking the trail down into managable day-hikes and/or overnight trips. Those who, like my wife, want to complete the trail in 2 or more summers will find his organization useful. Finally, the trail description of each segement begins with helpful notes on water sources, camping locations, etc, which will greatly assist both thru hikers and those sampling the trail on a day hike.

If the book has a problem, it is the amount of space it devotes to introducing the Tahoe area and the trail. Less than half the book is devoted to trail description. While the rest of the material made for fascinating, and sometimes funny reading (Hauserman has a great sense of humor) it does add to the weight of the book. I appreciate this in my armchair, but will undoubtably be less happy with it on the trail. Other Wilderness Press Guides to similar sized trails are more compact (and still have great maps). Despite this small criticism, the book is an excellent buy and Hauserman has done a good job summarizing what will surely be one of the premier hiking trails in the years to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All-terrain cycling   2. General   3. Guidebooks   4. Hiking   5. Horsemanship   6. Reference   7. Sports   8. Sports & Recreation   9. Tahoe Rim Trail (Calif. and Ne   10. Tahoe Rim Trail (Calif. and Nev.)   11. Travel - United States   12. United States - Pacific - California   13. United States - Pacific - Nevada   

Subjects:  1. Cycling - General   2. Cycling - Mountain Biking   3. Sports & Recreation   4. Travel   5. Travel - United States   6. United States - Pacific - California   7. United States - Pacific - San Francisco   8. Sports & Recreation / Cycling