The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book: The definitive illustrated guide to bikes, components, technique, thrills and trails [Paperback]

Nicky Crowther (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2002

Mountain biking is now the largest branch of recreational cycling worldwide. Fully revised and updated, The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book tells you everything you need to know about a sport that has grown exponentially since its beginnings in the late 1970s. It explains all the jargon, from your headset to your groupset, and how to ride all terrains from city cycling to off-road technical downhilling.

The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book offers:

• technical jargon demystified and equipment explained
• what to look for when buying a bike
• the latest high-tech innovations
• personal fitness: warm-up and cool-down exercises, training plans and nutrition
• more than 280 specially commissioned color photographs by expert riders
• trip locations

From the Rocky Mountains to Morocco, The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book also includes a guide to the world's best cycling locations - many of them unreachable on more than two wheels. High-impact color photography lends clarity to the technical and instructional sections, and brings the world of adventure rides to life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A bright, brash, fun and colorful book for that muddy rider. (Cleve Dheensaw Victoria Times-Colonist 20021215)

Jam-packed with everything beginner and experienced bikers need to know. Eye-catching, full-color photographs and an exciting design. (Rachel Fox School Library Journal 200301)

About the Author

Nicky Crowther is an active mountain biker, experienced writer and former editor of Mountain Biker International magazine. She competed in the 1991 World Championships.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books; 3rd edition (August 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155297653X
• ISBN-13: 978-1552976531
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,191,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Cycling > Mountain Biking

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good photos but lacks detail, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to Bikes, Components, Technique, Thrills and Trails (Paperback)

The photos used in this book are nice, but I found them to be lacking in detail, especially when maintenance procedures are described. Additionally, the text is vague and too simplified at times. A beginners' book should not necessarily translate into less detail. Overall, the book covers a broad range of topics and is good for absolute beginners.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for beginner mountain bikers, June 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to Bikes, Components, Technique, Thrills and Trails (Paperback)

This is a very informative book. It was written with the beginner/intermediate mountain biker in mind. The book take you from the simple steps of mounting your bike, to basic maintenence and care. From tricks and trails, to races and upgrades, it is an excellent beginner mountain bike handbook!

1.0 out of 5 stars Pass on this book, October 30, 2007

By 

dasn0wman "dasn0wman" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Mountain Bike Book: The definitive illustrated guide to bikes, components, technique, thrills and trails (Paperback)

This is one of the dumbest mountain biking books I ever read. The section on how-to-bunnyhop is hilarious. This is a skill much sought-after skill by many avid mtn cyclists, akin to learning bumps in skiing and what does this book offer? Absolutely nothing. There is a picture of a guy bunnyhopping and the author just goes on to say that clipless pedals help, but does not explain how some bmx-ers and flat pedal users can jump as high as 4 feet. Huh? Did I missed something? Retarded book. Skip!