Mountain Biking Books

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)

Todd Downs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

This revised, updated, expanded fifth edition is indispensable-with all the latest models, parts, and repair techniques, and terrific money-saving tips to keep any ride in tip-top shape
Since its first publication, Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair has sold over 400,000 copies. The fifth edition is guaranteed to remain the category killer. This long-overdue update is a must-have for weekend riders and serious cyclists alike.

Whether they own the latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginners and experienced cyclists alike can depend on this book to get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer. They'll discover information on:
o Building a dream bike workshop
o Disc brakes, both cable-actuated and hydraulic
o Dialing in front and rear suspension shocks for
comfortable rides
o The latest crankset and bottom bracket designs
o Overhauling freewheels and cassettes for peak
performance
o Specs on all the latest handlebar and headset sizes
o Servicing clipless pedals for maximum safety

With troubleshooting sections to quickly identify and correct common problems, 450 photographs and 40 drawings to clarify all the step-by-step directions so even the complete neophyte can get repairs right the first time, and Web sites and phone numbers of bicycle and parts manufacturers, this is truly the ultimate bicycle repair and maintenance manual-now better than ever in its fifth edition!

Mastering Mountain Bike Skills

Brian Lopes, Lee McCormack

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I wish so much I could edit this book.... 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I'm a former amateur road cyclist/USCF, etc., who hates cars & discovered serious mountain biking 7 years ago. I'm addicted to agressive, technical, cross-country single-track & ride 10-20 hours/week. I have taught myself over the years by asking questions and observing, reading, etc. I did learn several things from this book, and reread parts just to renew my consciousness and allow key points to settle into my subconscious, and it does and has helped my riding, indeed, but nowhere near as much as I'd like. Still, I would recommend purchasing it.
Just that I would love to sit down with Lopes and edit each sentence, each diagram and photo, detailing in very clear, understandable language as to what is really meant to be conveyed, so that a mostly self-taught enthusiast who is into mountain biking purely for the personal thrill, and doesn't care about the lingo or keeping track of the "stars" or racing, could more easily incorporate these skills into his/her passion. The book makes some good points, a lot of them in fact, but it's just not well-written, and is frequently bereft of true definition. Both descriptions and terminology are lacking in definitive substance just where they are needed, and as good as the photos and sequencing might appear to someone flipping through, they too are often frustrating: when a very detailed, point-by-point explanation or diagram is needed, much is left to the imagination to finish.
One simple example, for example, lies in the use of words like "preload" and "load" in different places, when they mean the exact same thing: compress the fork and prepare to unload it. 'Preload' should only be used to indicate a static shock, as in its position when the bike is at rest in order to adjust air pressure/inspect a fork/ measure, etc. Similarly, "pump" might sound obvious to the writers, but 'pump' is what my father would yell when I was 4-years old, meaning pedal hard. Defining terms and actions accurately and precisely, in a scientific sense and in relationship to similar words, for the benefit of the reader-student, seems to have been rarely taken into consideration. Many sentences and paragraphs are left open-ended (& often filled with puns - not that there's not a place for humor at times, but it's often distracting and leaves me wondering what the hell are they talking about). In addition to wanting to sit down with Lopes and help rewrite this book, which could be so much better than it is, an artist of the technical ability of say, the late illustrator Oscar Ratti (see _Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere_), could do a much better job than many of the photos. As with any good first textbook, hopefully this one will evolve into a 2nd edition, and edited for clarity by someone outside of the "industry'.

Editorial Review:

Increase your speed, control, and versatility on the bike. Mastering Mountain Bike Skills provides detailed technical instruction for all mountain biking disciplines:

Cross-country
Downhill
Mountain cross
Free riding
Dirt jumping
Urban terrain

With top pro mountain biker Brian Lopes as your teacher, you’ll learn how to handle the bike better than ever, in any conditions, across all types of terrain. Key tips and special photo sequences throughout the book add insight to Lopes’ world-class instruction.

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance

Lennard Zinn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Bible of Mountain Bike Maintenance 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was recommended by a friend of mine to facilitate my Padawan ways of bike maintenance. I'm very impressed, and the illustrations are excellent. Everything is broken down into the most basic steps when making a repair/modification. It's so much easier to maintain and repair your own bike, than to have your LBS do it. Don't be a tool, buy the book.

Editorial Review:

Lennard Zinn explains that it doesn't take special skills to learn how to care for one's bike, only "a passion for spreading new grease on old parts." Clearly, his ambition is to share with newcomers the Zen-like joy of bike maintenance. But it's seasoned bike mechanics that should be tripping over each other for a copy of this comprehensive and ambitious manual. Zinn differs from other how-to books by guiding readers--with plain-speaking text--through almost every imaginable repair on almost every imaginable part. He covers everything from rebuilding hubs, to loosening seized stems, to installing six different types of bottom brackets. He even risks cycling blasphemy by walking mere mortals through the art of wheel building--an intimidating task that can take years to perfect. Although best suited for the old pros, his guide is user- friendly, funny, and essential to anyone willing to love their bike. --Ben Tiffany

The Mountain Biker's Training Bible

Joe Friel

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I liked the approach of the book, with some helpful tips and ideas.

Well-Organized Information 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Climb those mountains faster and ride longer with this reference book for series mountain bikers. These tips will help you become one of the greats.

serious training for anyone wanting to become a serious rider 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book on mountain biking fitness training, not a book on technique is that's what your after....i have been riding mountain bikes for 2 years now and have improved my fitness over this time[also lost 25kgs somewhere along the way!!]...After riding socially i found myself wanting to do more and so i entered a race, and have now started racing on a regular basis. I found i had hit a plateau in my fitness, and not able to pay for a full time coach[or justify the cost of one to my wife]... i figured i needed a book to gain some information.

I found this book is an alternative to anyone who can't afford a coach I have read through it twice now [the second time with a highlighter pen and sticky tabs to note important sections]...

The book offers me a clear and simple training program to adhere to...and offers valuable info relating to pre race preparation...Improving lactate thresholds was a major area i needed to work on and having riden with my new training program i find i am leaving my riding buddies behind whom would normally beat me...I find that my fitness level is improving daily and the better i feel on the bike the more fun i have...I ride around 230kms a week these days[80% on single track], and i have more energy than i have ever had before[and i am 42 yrs young heading towards 21]

To sum up, this book has taught me to become my own trainer/coach. I find myself with more energy at the times i need it[especially race times] which was always a lottery ticket before...if you are a serious mountain bike rider or a beginner wanting to become one, i suggest this book is for you[on the other hand if you are one of my competitors disregard all of the above comments]

Thanks Joe Friel

Editorial Review:

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.

Mountain Bike Maintenance

Guy Andrews

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

From tools and workshop equipment to avoiding problems which lead to maintenance needs 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Both beginners and experienced mountain bike users will benefit from a survey of how to keep the bike in peak condition - and with its specific focus on the mountain bike apart from others, no better home reference can be had than MOUNTAIN BIKE MAINTENANCE. From tools and workshop equipment to avoiding problems which lead to maintenance needs, chapters cover all part of a bike, including on-trail repair tips, and come from an experienced bicycling magazine editor who has worked for a number of major cycling publications.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Get this book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is a super book and pretty much all you really need to maintain your mtn bike. I'm so turned off by the thousand page manual books on bike repair. This book does it in only few hundred pages and in full color. Foreword by Gary Fisher, the father of mtn biking, lets you know this book is the real deal!

very good maintenance book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book has plenty of color pictures and the text has enough information to perform most of the maintenance or repairs in a mountain Bike. I found this book very useful, being a self taught weekend "mechanic". Overall I recommend this book, I also have the Big Blue Book that is a little less graphic, I think its a good idea to have (and read)at least these two books if you want to do bike maintenance specially in models with newer components.

Mountain Bike Maintenance: The Illustrated Manual

Mel Allwood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I used this book for my bike. Its very useful and gives alot of tips and how toos. Would recommend this to common sense people though. If you can hold a tool right forget it. Save your money and go buy yourself a Britney Spears audio cd.

Editorial Review:

Complete step-by-step guide, from simple repairs to major overhauls.

Mountain bikes endure a great deal of punishment.

Mountain Bike Maintenance explains how to keep a bike trouble-free on- or off-road.

From fixing flat tires to replacing worn brakes, from headset to chainset, this book is crucial for every level of mountain-biker from beginners to veterans.

Mountain Bike Maintenance shows how to:

• Make maintenance a pleasure -- not a chore
• Customize your bike for special conditions or a personal riding style
• Increase a bike's speed
• Do roadside repairs
• Extend a bike's life.

This book is filled with practical advice, new technologies, tricks, tips and shortcuts -- an essential reference for mountain bike owners.

Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair for Road and Mountain Bikes

Jim Langley

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Your local bike mechanic might have you thinking that "wrenching" is right up there with rocket science. But the truth is, anyone can master the ins and outs of bicycle maintenance under the guidance of a good teacher. In lieu of a professor, the editors of Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines have created a shop companion, which they refer to as "another tool for working on your bike." They guide you from the basics of your pre-ride checklist to tuning your derailleurs and overhauling your hubs. And they offer updated information on maintaining front shocks and even a handful of rear suspensions. What's more, they can walk you through the arduous task of rebuilding ancient parts that some shop mechanics haven't even heard of. If you've ever tried to work on your own car, you've undoubtedly developed a healthy fear of automobile shop manuals. But unlike the cryptic list of part numbers and equations you'll find at Pep Boys, this guide is written by people who want you to see just how rewarding bike maintenance can be. --Ben Tiffany

Mountain Bike Like a Champion

Ned Overend, Ben Hewitt, Ed Pavelka

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

NED'S CHAMPION AND HIS BOOK IS HIS COMPENDIUM 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

If you feel like reading a book may boost your skill to ride a bike, well don't look any further: grab Ned's masterpiece and absorb it to your deepest neurons. Why? Because Ned's Ned. He takes you through five milestones or temple's columns: Balance, pedaling in circles, shifting frequently, vision and braking. Of course the book has a lot more to tell you, but if you master these five, you'll be light-years ahead. Do not believe that reading will take you to the next level of skill, but READING AND PRACTISING YES. Buy Ned's book and carefully follow his hints, practice them till boredom and you'll be flabbergasted of how farther you can get. I did it and my friends are now behind me....

Editorial Review:

Master the techniques of America's greatest rider.* Glide over rocks, logs, and ledges* Attack steep climbs and rapid descents* Carve through curves and turns* Train smart, then ride to winImprove your performance with these tips, techniques, and off-road tales from mountain biking legend Ned Overend."At the 1990 world championships in Durango, Colorado, Thomas Frischknecht and I were locked in a dogfight.... At the start of the fourth and final lap was a pitch of rocky, loose trail that went straight up the face of a ski run.... My Swiss rival had been dismounting and running this climb while I stayed on my bike. On previous laps, I'd opened a little gap, so I knew this would be my chance. I attacked when Thomas got off again. He never caught me.... To ride that steep trail, I had to use five climbing techniques. There's no reason why you can't make them part of your arsenal, too."

Mountain Bike!: A Manual of Beginning to Advanced Technique

William Nealy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

At first glance, you may think that Nealy isn't serious about teaching riding skills. The hand-printed pages--colored with hilarious animations--give the guide a comic-book appearance. But instead of assaulting his readers with dry chapters on technique, Nealy leads his readers on an entertaining tour of the mountain-biking world and how to survive it. He explains how to bunny hop, how to downhill, how to ride powerfully, and how to crash with style. He also includes a "Stupid Bike Tricks" section. One trick, The Invisible Mountain Biker, explains how to jump off of your bike and let it glide, unmanned, across the path of frightened hikers. Note that Nealy advises against heaving your bike into a crowd of hikers. Existing laws prohibit it.

Whether you're a pro who's ready to soar through flaming hoops, or the neophyte who's merely searching for the pedals, Nealy's guide is bound to be fun--and isn't that what mountain biking is all about? --Ben Tiffany

Cycling the Great Divide: From Canada to Mexico on America's Premier Long Distance Mountain Bike Route

Michael McCoy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A must-have for riding the Great Divide 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Whether you're planning on riding the whole thing at once or just just doing a section of it, I'd strongly recommend getting this book. My wife and I rode entire length in the summer of 2000, and we carried this book on the outside of our packs in a plastic bag at all times. We referred to it at least once every day. Like in any guide-book, there are a few confusing spots, but on the whole, the author (one of the original trail planners) has done a great job. He not only keeps you on the right path, he also points out various places you should visit, gives some historic perspective, and more. The book will surely make your experience more enjoyable.

Good luck figuring out where to go without this book 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

If you are riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, you MUST have this book. This is an awesome route - Mike McCoy and the gang did a great job of researching it. One comment on the writing though -- when he uses the word 'steep', he means 'extremely steep', and when he says 'extremely steep', he means 'don't even try to ride your bike up this with a fully loaded bike'. A 'respectable climb' is really a lung-buster. Just expect everything to be a little harder than he makes it sound, and then you wont feel angry because it is not as easy as he makes it out to be. I think he must have either rode it without being fully loaded, or he is a very strong man! Anyhow, if you ride the Great Divide, you will have fun.. I guarantee it.

Editorial Review:

Complete information on segments or through-rides in the only guide to America's first long-distance, off-pavement bike