Customer Reviews

Mountain Biking Arizona

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Like many other books in this series, the non-local editor, author and publisher all live outside of the state of Arizona. Although frequently reprinted, the trails shown have not been re-ridden in some time. Many are out of date or simply no longer exist. In the meantime, many, many new trails have been developed and are being enjoyed by Arizona Mountain bikers.

Maps drawn with a mouse have a generic look and give very skimpy info. When you are in the woods, the devil is in the details. A good, accurate hand drawn map with lots of useful detail is much more useful and fun. I also like a contour profile which shows elevation gain over distance, so that I know what I am getting into before I begin. If you want the local mountain bikers' guide written by a local that does the job right and has the "real" rides, get Cosmic Ray's FAT TIRE TALES AND TRAILS: ARIZONA MOUNTAIN BIKE GUIDE.

Like many other books in this series, the non-local editor, author and publisher all live outside of the state of Arizona. Although reprinted in 1996, the trails shown have not been re-ridden for nearly 10 years. Many are out of date or simply no longer exist. In the meantime, many, many new trails have been developed and are being enjoyed by Arizona Mountain bikers.

This is one in the ubiquitous Falconguide series, and it has the same virtues and vices of all of them. Virtues: good info on the region, OK maps, OK trail info, good energy. Vices: the author seems to think that mountain biking is done on dirt roads. Almost all of the rides are on roads, and there seems to be a concerted effort to not talk about the famous single-track rides--most of the ST's listed are out-of-the-way oddities. If you want to ride classic single-track, this book is next to useless. Cosmic Ray's book is much better.

Two months later: I reviewed this book after I bought it and before I went to AZ. Even then, it was clear that the book is almost entirely about roads and rarely about single-track trails. Now that I know the area, I am appalled. Bennett literally directs you to ride fire roads while ignoring the world-class single-track trails that run right around those same roads! Inexplicable. Good book if you hate single-track, I suppose.

I have an old copy of this book. It was old when I got it ten years ago. She doesn't include the national trail, but she covers a lot. She even covers some trails Cosmic Ray (my favorite) ommitted. If you notice the bike on the cover and photos inside, all bikes are rigid. I don't think bike shocks had been invented when this book was published. So, take it for what it's worth. I paid four bucks for my copy ten years ago and I am happy with my purchase.