The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) [Perfect Paperback]

John Summerson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2007

The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) is the ultimate guide to cycling climbing and the most difficult hill climbs in the United States. Included in its 224 pages are sections on training for climbing, memorable climbing performances and other climbing resources. The most difficult U.S. climbs are described in great detail including: - Easy to read directions with maps - Accurate climb information including total elevation gain, length and average/maximum grade - Appendices include multiple climb rankings (most difficult, highest altitude attained, greatest elevation gained, steepest, etc) and profiles of the 100 most difficult American hill climbs. This book contains everything cyclists need to know to locate and tackle the toughest climbs in the U.S.

Editorial Reviews

Review

So if you are that dude or dudette who is seeking to climb some of the craziest passes in the United States and don't know how to go about it, then you need this book. Consider it the Bible if you will, because it has all the major road climbs and details about each from Lincoln Gap to Brasstown Bald. All the details are there: total elevation, average gradient, length and category. A few scenic shots are included as well as a map of the surrounding area so you can actually find the road. It's a cool book that should be kept in your glovebox, or in your back pocket if you are that crazy to seek each one by bike. Mmm...Not a bod idea! --Road Magazine

I enjoyed your book and will use it during my USA travels - Chris Carmichael, personal coach of 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Just as fishermen like to discuss their last be catch, so road cyclists love to talk about their last big climb. Inevitably, the conversation turns to the longest, steepest and most difficult, with experts often comparing their local leg bender with L'Alpe d'Huez. But these discussions inevitably end inconclusively - unless you have a copy of...The Complete Buide to Climbing (By Bike) - John Wilcockson, Velonews --Chris Carmichael

This book is a must for any cyclist. It contains so much great information on the epic climbs that we can find in our own backyard, there is almost no need to ever go to France to ride. I highly recommend this book - Bicycle.net.

Have you ever wondered what are the toughest paved climbs in America? The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)...is a must read for anyone aspiring to ride the biggest and hardest climbs in the US - Bruck Hildenbrand, Bikeradar.com.

Let me start by saying, if you love climbing you must have this book. All in all a long awaited resource book for any passionate cyclist, and if you fancied yourself as a climber, or that is what you hope to be, then you must have this book - George Chester, USA Cycling Coach.

Author John Summerson has written a must read book for climbing aficionados, race directors and those that aspire to test themselves on the biggest climbs in the U.S. - DailyPeloton.com --DailyPeloton.com

About the Author

In addition to an avid cyclist, the author is a research associate and exercise physiologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Brigham Distributing; 1st edition (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979257107
• ISBN-13: 978-0979257100
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 10, 2008

By 

Christoher O'keefe "nockee" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) (Perfect Paperback)

So many times I had to look online to find out the grade of tough climbs and wonder if the answer was exaggerated, or the author knew what they were talking about. So many times I heard people say a climb was tougher than "Ventoux" or similar. This book takes the best climbs in the US and compares many to the climbs of the Tour and breaks them down into toughest 1 mile, 2 mile and 5 mile sections. I have climbed many of these including Old Priest Grade and was happily surprised to know my suffering was for a reason as it is one of the steepest in the US. This book is great. Fun to read and makes you dream of a 6 month road trip where you would climb each and every single one.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guide is excellent, September 21, 2007

By 

Bike Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) (Perfect Paperback)

The Complete Guide to Climbing by Bike is a guide to cycling climbing and a unique review of the most difficult hill climbs in the U.S. This data has not been available previously in one place which is a big help. Its introduction and following sections lead the reader into why climbing is the most important (and perhaps most diffcult) aspect of the sport. The sections on training, while brief, really gets to the truely important aspects of how to improve one's climbing ability. The climbing perfomances section, which include many unknown exploits, can inspire even bike flatlanders to take on America's toughest hills.

Most of the book is devoted to the most challenging climbs in the U.S. Each is described in detail including the total elevation gained, length, average and maximum grade and a rating. Maps and directions will lead you right to each climb and a short description of each lets the reader know what to expect on the way up. Appendices contain what must be the most complete cycling climbing database and includes multiple climb rankings in varous categories and climb profiles which I think will appeal to cyclists.

Overall this is an excellent resource for cyclists and contains very detailed statistics on Americ's most difficult climbs. A good read and database.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good if you live in CA, June 3, 2008

By 

Aaron Manka (arlington, va USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) (Perfect Paperback)

I was a little disappointed when I received this book because the focus of this book is really the west coast. If, like me, you live east of the Mississippi, don't expect to find many climbs within hundreds of miles of you. The sub-title should have been most difficult climbs in Western US with a few thrown in for the east-coasters.

The number of climbs in states are: MA-2; NH-1; NY-1; VT-5; GA-1; NC-6 and these 16 rides are it east of the MS. For the western states: AZ-5; CA-72; CO-14; HI-5; NV-6; NM-2; OR-3; UT-12; WA-2; and WY-7. Even in the Hill Climb Races section, the Core States bike race in Philly that includes the (in)famous Manayunk Wall isn't mentioned. I know the hills are where they are and not evenly distributed, but it would be nice if Summerson would have included some hills from other states for broader interest. It's entertaining to read about far-away hills, but not as much fun if it's not practical to visit them and challenge yourself against them.