Bikes Reviews

San Francisco was only a brief stopover and this book opened up all the possibilities. It turned my vacation upside down with all its trail recommendations. The book is so well written and well researched. I've loved using it and recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of history along with their exercise. The restaurant recommendations were too cool. These guys are real pros.

Complete is the best way to describe this guidebook. I wasn't planning on visiting the Marin side but was forced to when the fog in San Francisco made it too cold and wet to enjoy the parks and trails. Marin was in complete sunshine everyday.

This book stands apart from all the rest because it was written by hometown authors who definitely know their turf and didn't mince on destinations, more than any other book on the subject. It mades a good companion with the Lonely Planet San Francisco book. If you like to explore the outdoors on your vacation buy this book. It will keep you entertained as well as busy.

I use this as my weekend outing toolkit. It contains tons of trails to explore and the authors cleverly add twists, tips and history to liven up the descriptions. What I liked most is that I don't have to hunt through the pages to make choices. I first go to the index, look at the photos, get the directions and hit the road. For any person living around here it's an essential manual for knowing all there is to do. It even has hand selected lists of good local restaurants and hotels. Never lend it out. You'll never get it back. I've inscribed my name in huge letters on the inside cover.

"You enter Ivy House through a screened-in porch, where you can while away the time relaxing after a ride, reading, visiting with other guests, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet. Proceeding into the living area, you'll find comfortable green wicker furniture beneath a ceiling fan that diffuses the fresh breezes off Lake Erie." (Ivy House, Marblehead, Ohio)

Such carefully crafted descriptions abound in this recently published guidebook. The authors, a Toledo-based couple, lodged, dined and biked at 27 bed-and-breakfasts throughout Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. What resulted from their adventures and strict attention to detail is a very thorough and thoroughly interesting guide to the best of biking and lodging in America's Heartland.

The Midwest, especially Ohio, especially, have a tradition of friendliness to bicyclists. It is only fitting, then, that Ohioans have created this latest addition to the Anacus Press Bed, Breakfast, and Bike Series. Co-author Theresa Russell has written frequently on bicycle touring and is currently completing a guide to cycling Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

The truth about the Midwest is that much of it is not flat. Accordingly, the Russells cover inns and nearby bike routes in lands of giant hills (Southern Ohio), valleys, rolling terrain, lakefronts and, of course, plains. One bike route even includes a ferry and an island (Kelley's Island in Lake Erie).

While the appearance and menu of each inn are described in perfect detail, biking content for each is plentiful and handy. Lodging rates reveal many inns that are pleasing to the purse as well as the eye. All of this information is critical for those planning weekend bike getaways but not planning on any surprises.

What does pleasantly surprise the reader, however, is the variety of accommodations (one is a sternwheeler riverboat, for petesake) and the listings of not one, but two, suggested bike routes from each inn. Most routes are comfortably under 50 miles.

But the most pleasant surprise is the final chapter listing 18 recipes shared by inn hosts along the way. Culinary delights range from "Blueberry-Walnut Coffeecake" to "Hash Brown Quiche." Treats for the palate, yes, but also excellent fuel for a hearty morning of Midwest bicycle touring.

While my big behind has never been balanced on a bicycle seat, I thoroughly enjoyed..and benefited from..my reading of Bed, Breakfast sand Bike Midwest, by Robert and Theresa Russell. The Russells have combined descriptive prose with precise information in their well researched work. When I visit the Midwest in the fall, I will be well armed with all the facts I need to make considered decisions in re: my accommodations. And, between now and September, should I be overtaken by the spirit of the winner of the Tour De France, (highly unlikely), I will be well apprised of routes to take, locations of bike shops, landmarks, sights to see, and all other information required to expedite a safe and engaging bike tour. On the other hand, should "the spirit" elude me, (highly likely), I will know just where to go to get a tasty breakfast of "Dutch Babies" and other goodies. All in all, a tasty read.

How can you not like a book that inter-mixes snippets from Voltaire, Chief Tecumseh and the local innkeeper with nitty-gritty facts? The Russells thought of everything. They detail biking routes down to a tenth of a mile, grade them as to severity, even include dirctions to the nearest bike shop. The descriptions of inns and innkeepers reflect the differing personalities of the various lodgings. I've stayed at several; the Russells' reports are unerringly accurate; I can't wait to try the rest. In fact, the inns are sound so delicious that I bought a copy of the book for my non-biking but B & B-loving aunt!

Gina Tiano has creatively captured the essence of life's little quirks. Each short tale provides us with a cheerful perspective by painting the lighter side of those potentially difficult and sticky situations we all face daily. Our family loves the book and looks forward to future publications.

I have been reading Gina's column for two years now and she
never ceases to make me laugh.. She is an extremely witty funny
lady. I often wonder why she is not writing for television, or
maybe she already is.

This book is hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are depressed and out of it, before you reach for your prozac , reach for this book..it will definitely liven up your spirits
and it costs a lot less than a therapist visit and medication!!
.

This is a great book to give as a gift, especially for someone who is ill or down and out.
The stories deal with everyday life, but focus on the good, humorous side of life, allowing readers to refocus and see the good in their own lives.
This book is entertaining for both young and old.

Not a lot in the way of words, but it kept my attention long enough...

I believe a colleague has this hanging in his office!

Motorbikes are just a drag - smelly, old, oily waste of time but WOW! Just look at the Mama on the front of this calendar! Hot! Hot! Hot! And suspenders!.....Get it!

Great book to read to your kids. I did a little editing as I was reading it aloud (my kids are 7 and 8 years old). We picked up maps from our automobile association and traced their journey from start to finish. My kids learned about human behavior, predjudice, generosity to strangers and geography! Well, we're off on a bike ride!

I have read several bicyle touring books but this is one of my favorites. Even though John's writing style is a little simplistic (sorry John) I still loved this book. Actually his simplistic style just adds to the mood of riding with five kids. If you are a fan of bicycle touring books this is a must read.

Having read a lot of books on bike tours,translate I did a research paper on bike touring in college. The adventures in this are the greatest. Although the tour was done about 10 years ago, the book is totally readable. Prepare for the totally unexpected and enjoy the adventures.
I just wish John or one of the other teachers in his school would write more about their adventures.

This was not a ride done in poverty, or with commercial support. Surviving a tornado alone with one other adult and 5 kids when you don't know it is coming. Fighting traffic, and weather from blistering heat to frigid cold, from no breeze to gusty winds.

Meetings with families from Plantations to a replacement tire being shown from the back of a jeep to replace a tire a young rider has being riding on held together by duct tape.

This was a great book.

Everything about this book is excellent, from the long list of nontouristy things to see -- we saw only two other people all day as we biked the Powerline Trail -- to the remote white sand beaches (Larsen's and Secret). The dirt roads would have been impossible to find without exact directions. The authors don't overdescribe their hikes, although they prepare you for the length and possible dangers. Not knowing what was around every bend added to the surprise and adventure. I guess I liked the fact that most of the things to do were free and we ended up with vacation money left over. Instead of getting a $300 helicopter view, we saw the Kalalau Valley from the hiker's overlook. Being able to watch the clouds drift in and up the cliffs over a period of an hour was a once in a lifetime experience.

This is not the standard boring guidebook. The photos are uncommonly beautiful. We spent the last day going on three of the books four driving tours. It was the perfect ending to our stay and gave us a chance to video the island's highlights. Everyone deserves to see Kauai just once in their life and if you're an independent traveler, this is the only guidebook you'll need.

This book served as our primary field guide for finding hiking routes. We had heard Kauai was known for its uncrowded spaces and this book proved it very true. No other book lists so many trails. It is well written and contains precise directions and maps that made driving to the traiheads easy. During our two week trip there was never any down time which is amazing for a family of five. When the boys wouldn't walk another step, we hauled them to recommended beaches where they could boogie board and build sand castles. We're lending this treasure with all our underlining and notes to the family next door and plan to buy their Maui book for our Christmas vacation next year.

Kauai was all new to me. I escaped LA madness for ten days and briefly outlined what I wanted to do with the help of what I'd call this book - an expedition planner. From its description on Amazon I knew I'd be getting a hiking book and never expected all the routes for bike trail rides and long beaches with pounding surf , few people. The island and this guidebook provided me with the assurance that beauty and tranquility and quiet still exist in great abundance in this world. Customer greatly satisfied.

Ned is one of the finest examples of a athlete. He is one that just wont quit, he loves the sport, the competition and most of all he challenges himself. Its great when such a athlete stops and takes some time to help out his fans by writing such a helpful book. Some of it most experienced riders will already know, but still the book contains tips and such to fine tune your skills. The biggest help for me was his tips on fitting the bike. After following his tips my S-Works feels and handles all so much better. Its the little things. For the cost of book you cant beat it. Instead of subscribing to a cycling magazine in hope of finding new help, save yourself some money and time and get it all in one source. Ned is a great guy, rides some of the best bikes made, he knows his stuff.. Although he is a busy guy with Xtera and all he even takes some time to meet, email and answer questions. The book itself will make techniques make more sense and easier to concur. Buy it for yourself or a friend, its a great gift!

Great tips for riders of any level. This book contains descriptions and examples from Ned's years of experience in mountain biking, all very helpful and easy to follow. If you enjoy mountain biking, this book will help you get to the next level. Without a doubt the best [money] you will ever spend for mountain bike equipment. This book should be sold with every mountain bike!!

This book is like a Mountain Bikers Bible. Anybody who rides in the mountains should get this book. It will make you a better rider and it could save you from a bad bike accident.

About a decade ago, before I started an academic career, my wife and I reviewed travel guidebooks. We published several books on the subject, the last one covering about 3,000 books. I mention this only to underline the fact that I have looked closely at a lot of guide books, including myriad hiking guides. With that in mind, let me underline my overall opinion: Alpine Trailblazer is as good as they come.

The amount of thought and hard work embedded in this book is amazing. Alpine Trailblazer is more than just a description of hiking trails. It is much more versatile. If you are interested in outdoor activities (be they hiking, packing, biking, skiing, fishing or whatever), if you want to explore the Sierra Nevada mountains from Tahoe to Yosemite, but especially that less-discovered gold mine of a county called Alpine, Jerry and Janine Sprout will provide you with more well-informed, good ideas than any other single resource.

The Sprouts are long-time residents of Alpine County and have enthusiastically explored its trails and hidden pleasures for more than two decades. That they are willing to share their discoveries with you must have come after considerable soul searching. But we are all the beneficiaries.

And such attention to detail! From what should be an award-winning cover to the careful organization of materials, from the informative and beautiful black-and-white photographs to the practical hiking advice and Happy Jack's Campside Cookbook, this book has it all. Each suggested route is tied to the appropriate topo map and succinctly but informatively described. The types of outdoor pleasures most applicable to each route are clearly noted. The many choices are indexed in great detail. For example, routes that are best for wildflowers are then broken down into three subsections: early season, lower elevation; mid-summer, mid-elevation; and high elevation. Day hikes are organized under headings such as falls and cascades, old growth conifer quests, snow-free in late spring, short hikes with small kids and grandparents. And so on in incredible and useful detail. If you can't find what you want here, it doesn't exist.

The hiking tips are short and to the point, capturing the wisdom of years of trail experience. The only advice I take exception to is the choice of external over internal frames for backpacks (though, of course, they are entitled to their opinion). While external frames have certain advantages, as the Sprouts detail, the internal frame provides my back with a comfort I only dreamed of with an external frame--and that, at least for me, is priority number one. Then again, perhaps the Sprouts are made of stronger stuff. Let your own back be the judge.

In any case, I can't yell it loud enough (especially in print): grab a copy of this book without delay and visit the Alps of the Sierra Nevada. You won't be disappointed.

This is a wonderful guide to a part of the Sierra that attracts far less attention than Tahoe (to the north) or Yosemite (to the south), but has its own unique charms. By focusing on a relatively small area, the authors are able to achieve considerable breadth (covering the whole spectrum of outdoor recreation) without sacrificing depth (e.g., their hiking recommendations go well beyond the usual suspects). As others have noted, it is beautifully designed and very well organized. Anyone who wants a comprehensive Sierra Nevada library should buy this book.

This book turned out to be a handy guide to one of the quietest corners of California where the fishing can't be beat. I took it with me when fishing season opened and the snow was just melting off the highest peaks. The book distilled out the lower elevation hikes which made choosing trailheads and streams very easy. I car camped near the ghost town of Bodie and followed their day hike suggestions around the base of Tioga Pass and Mono Lake. This is a one-of-a-kind book that's alot of fun to read with amusing insights and historical lore.

Great book with alot of info. VA is great. Keep exploring

I started mountain biking in the last couple of years and I have to say that my horizons were definitely broadened with this book. i've been to about one fifth of the featured trails and looking to get about halfway through by the end of the year.

This book has simply changed my life. After reading it, I now eat better, sleep better and make more money. I have also heard that I'm now more attractive, but that remains to be seen. Strazz is a master with the written word, his tales will titilate for hours on end.