Mountain Bike America: Colorado: An Atlas of Colorado's Greatest off-road Bicycle Rides [Paperback]

Stephen Hlawaty (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mountain Bike America Guidebooks | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Where else can you complement a day's mountain bike ride with a dizzying glissade down a mid-August snowfield? Where else can you descend nearly 40 miles through five biogeographical zones? Where else can you catch a major league game and be ripping along rocky singletrack 30 minutes later? Colorado, that's where.

Snow in August, lighting above timberline, and 100 degree desert temperatures are all to be expected in the sport of Colorado mountain biking. As the country's highest state, Colorado offers its mountain bikers a unique perspective into the sport and raises the bar for all who ride. Under the expert guidance of local cyclist Steven Hlawaty, come admire the beauty and revere the majesty that is Colorado.

From this book you can expect exhaustive and comprehensive trail descriptions, from beginner to advanced, GPS-quality, digitally designed relief maps detailing each ride and accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each ride. In addition detailed directions get you to the ride without getting you lost. Detailed mile-by-mile directional cues are also provided with difficulty ratings, elevation gain, trail contacts, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Where else can you complement a day's mountain bike ride with a dizzying glissade down a mid-August snowfield? Where else can you descend nearly 40 miles through five biogeographical zones? Where else can you catch a major league game and be ripping along rocky singletrack 30 minutes later? Colorado, that's where. Snow in August, lighting above timberline, and 100 degree desert temperatures are all to be expected in the sport of Colorado mountain biking. As the country's highest state, Colorado offers its mountain bikers a unique perspective into the sport and raises the bar for all who ride. Under the expert guidance of local cyclist Steven Hlawaty, come admire the beauty and revere the majesty that is Colorado. From this book you can expect exhaustive and comprehensive trail descriptions, from beginner to advanced, GPS-quality, digitally designed relief maps detailing each ride and accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each ride. In addition detailed directions get you to the ride without getting you lost. Detailed mile-by-mile directional cues are also provided with difficulty ratings, elevation gain, trail contacts, and much more. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 446 pages, b&w photos, maps)

Product Details

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076270697X
• ISBN-13: 978-0762706976
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Cycling > Mountain Biking

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chock-full of local color and written with a sense of humor, May 16, 2000

By 

Hannibal (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Bike America: Colorado: An Atlas of Colorado's Greatest off-road Bicycle Rides (Paperback)

I found this book for sale in a bike shop in Boulder, Co. I was about to embark on a ten day biking holiday and was relying on some short ride descriptions I had from a regular guide book.

Throughout the holiday I never regretted making the purchase. No, not all the information was immediately useful because I never needed the section on how to distract a mountain lion from attacking you but it was fun to have (throw stones but don't bend down to pick them up - shout loudly and authoratitively - don't run). The author leverages his local knowledge to bring you an exhaustive list of rides ranging from the well-known to previously well-kept local secrets.

I particularly enjoyed the Monarch Crest Trail - a savage and long ride that takes you high above the tree line through a range of different montaine environments.

The book is full of essential information but also takes time out to bring you stories full of local color and history. For example, the story of how Nipple Peak got its name is written with subtle and deliciously understated wit. You don't just get a list of lengths, elevations and ride descriptions, you learn a lot about local history and the environment in which you ride, which will help you appreciate what you see even more.

If you're planning a trip to Colorado or even just want to enjoy some great travel writing, you should read this book. However, be warned. Once you read about these rides, you'll want to try them all.

I had a great holiday - you will too.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mama!, May 10, 2000

By 

John Gray (Montrose, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Bike America: Colorado: An Atlas of Colorado's Greatest off-road Bicycle Rides (Paperback)

This book covers it all. I have been in Colorado for ten years and this book has trails I have never heard of. The suggestions for how to prepare and how to repair are wonderful. You will love the history snibits that accompany the trail facts. Get it, got it, good.

John Gray

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars local who uses the book, October 12, 2000

By 

Kelly Keim (Steamboat Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Bike America: Colorado: An Atlas of Colorado's Greatest off-road Bicycle Rides (Paperback)

This book is a fantastic guide to some of the best trails in Colorado. As an avid mountainbiker I have used the book to get me to and through many rides both in my area and on many a weekend journey. The informatoin on lodging, places to eat and other recreation in the areas is a great aditional tool that most guide books overlook. if you are going riding in Colorado this is the book you need.