Customer Reviews

Mountain Bike! Northern California: A Guide to the Classic Trails

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is by far the best Northern California Mtn Bike guidebook on the market. It is the easiest to use, the most comprehensive, and the most diverse of all the books out there. The book is laid out incredibly well. All of the 100 rides listed are sorted by region, by difficulty, by scenery, and even by whether or not they are family and kid freindly. The maps are detailed enough to give you a good orientation once you arrive at the ride, without being so detailed that you get lost just trying to read it. The written directions provide more detail, and cover virtually everything that you need to know in order to hop on the saddle. Every level and style of rider will be pleasantly surprised by how well this book addresses their specific needs and concerns. So far I've taken 4 of the recommended rides, all of which were exactly as the book promised. This guide is the most used book in our house, and will continue to be until I've exhausted all the rides that I'm interested in. The only thing I haven't been impressed with are the less than spectacular black and white photos. But if you ignore those, this book is a perfect 10.

This book rocks. If you want adventure, then go with the recommendations in this book. It will never fail you.

The writting is very easy and pleasant to read, and the layout is done by regions. The trail descriptions are very detailed. After visiting a region and biking a trail you will feel that the author has not left anything unsaid. This book is a compilation of her experiences trail biking in Nor. Cal. What really surprised me was that she listed trails that were even esoteric to locals and people who were supposed to be familiar with the area.

Great eclectic collection of trails. Enjoy!

Total crap! Not worth the purchase price (I paid $[...])
Its a research guide author has not ridden many if any of the routes.
At least in my area of Nor Cal every ride is poorly described and one has not existed since the Clinton Administration. Every ride description has major errors. She puts trailheads on wrong side of road. Left when should be right!. She has ridden one ride recently however loop is impassable for at least ten years, no road no gates just rocks. Not even a game trail! road has been filled in by forest service (well before the first publishing) and is impassable even by foot! The mistakes continue! Most rides are family bike trails anyway and on most area maps.

Forget this book! Go online to find trails for the most up to date info.

If you are interested in accomplishing nothing in your life then grab this book. It is irrefutable evidence that you too can live a meaningles life, bumming around California, after having flopped in Europe and Colorado. A sappy memoir posing as a guide to adventure.