The Mountain Biker's Training Bible (Paperback)

by Joe Friel (Author) "Just as Ned Overend does, I frequently get e-mail and fax communications from riders asking me how they should train..." (more)
Key Phrases: mountain bike training, annual training plan, flat road course, Journal of Applied Physiology, Human Kinetics, Special Element (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Mountain biking presents unique challenges, and noted expert Joe Friel addresses them all in his latest book. Covering every aspect of training, he helps riders maximize their experience and minimize problems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: VeloPress (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884737714
• ISBN-13: 978-1884737718
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #189,609 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It made me faster and last longer!, December 21, 2003

By	Stephen Mathews "busysteve" (Sunrise, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I began mountain biking February of this year('03). I threw up on my first ride. I raced my first race in April and came in 22nd of 24 finishers. I bought this book in May. About five months later I was flying through our local tough park, Markham maintained by ClubMud.org (believe it or not we have some decent cross country MTB parks in Florida). I went from a best single lap of over an hour to multiple laps of 45mins each. In the fall Ford Tough Series I placed 2nd overall in my category (Men Beginner 30-34). What a rush!

The book was hard to read at first. Mainly because I wanted it to hand feed the training procedures to me. It finally dawned on me that it was training material for the self-coaching athlete that I, my own coach, had to put into a regiment based on my needs. It required that I get in tune with my body and its needs. I still reference it and still realize things in it I didn't before. The nutritional information was a big help in modifying my diet without dramatically impacting my family's eating habits. This is a book you have to read from cover to cover to get the most out of it. It's also wise to take the book's advice when taking training seriously and ease your body into it(although no-pain-no-gain does apply). I went from the slowest guy amongst my friends to the fastest after about eight weeks into the book. If you're not serious enough about getting faster to shut off the TV and read for a while for a couple of weeks than pass the book and stick to the magazines with all the pictures of guys you could otherwise be.

Thanks Joe Friel.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Searching for the burning bush, June 26, 2000

By	"klunker-com" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in training to become a stronger, more efficient rider/racer. Ned Overend writes the foreward/preface/praises of Friel's methods. Material covers from subjective, self-evaluative/empirical techniques, to scientific, performance result-based study of individual performance. Psychological profiling, pre-visualization, and projection techniques are covered as well as the expected mile-counting. Joe Friel is quick to point out that it is not an overnight method of strength building(show me one! ) but a process that can take years to mature. As it get's more technical in logging, metering, and studying performance values it may not be suitable for the novice trying to pick up on what they need to do to be a better weekend rider, but is _essential_ reading for those interested in bettering themselves as racers. That is, unless you are racing in my particular class of 35-39 Sport racers, in which case you should read the latest book on becoming a couch potato(_not_ a Friel book)

Highly recommended

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the world of mountain bike training!, September 15, 2003

By	Travis Swicegood "A Practicing Quasi-Intellec... (Lawrence, KS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was recommended to me by a local mountain bike Pro. She said if I was serious about taking my riding and racing to the next level, I had to get this book. I'm glad she turned me on to it, as it has been one of the most informative books on mountain bike specific training I've read. I wish it had more case studies and sample weekly and yearly training schedules, but the lack of them leaves their design up to your imagination. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seriously thinking about getting into mountain bike racing or wanting to take their riding to the next level.