Bikes Reviews

Having long admired the photography of John Dibbs in the Flying Legends calendars, I was very pleased to find this collection of his work. This book is absolutely stunning. The photography is both beautiful and evocative. In war, the aircraft rarely maintained the pristine look captured in these photos, but that is the way, I'm sure, that the aviators remember them. Most of these photos are of refurbished warbirds being flown by enthusiasts or collectors. I have always liked it that the flyers in the cockpits of the Dibbs photos are always wearing the right gear... no postwar hardhats with visors here, this is leather helmets and goggles! It is a wonderful thing indeed that the beauty of these machines is so lovingly captured. I browse the book frequently and am always a bit sad to close the covers. This book is a wonderful tribute to men (and some women ferry pilots) who flew these aircraft in the defence of freedom. Truly a wonderful buy. I sincerely hope a second volume is in the works.

but I saw it for $2.00 cheaper at Borders and that isn't even considering the shipping!... I'm going back to Borders!

Flying Legends is both a photography book and an aviation book. A photography book because it includes some of the best photographs that I have seen of any subject matter (most in colour). An aviation book because its subjects are the combat aircraft of the second world war, probably the pinnacle of piston-engined aircraft development.

Flying Legends is not a data book. It does not contain three-views, technical information or performance figures for the aircraft it features. The written text is largely anecdotal and serves more to caption the photographs than to provide substantive information about the aircraft. However its photographs capture the power and grace - the aesthetic - which numbers and diagrams cannot.

A necessary correction to the synopsis is that Flying Legends does not cover only Allied aircraft, but also the (equally impressive) aircraft of the Axis powers.

If you love aircraft and beautiful photography or are looking for authentic colour schemes and markings for model (or full scale) warbirds then I strongly recommend Flying Legends.

Andrew Roos (Private pilot, gliding instructor, R/C modeller)

This book really tells you everything you need to know about caring for your bike including repairs, tune-ups, safety tips, etc. As other reviewers have said, it's a great resource for adults and kids alike. Sarah Rakitin's illustrations are both cute and helpful. A great addition to anyone's library!

This book could also be titled "Bicycle Repair for Dummies" and is on a par with that classic book on auto repair. The easy-to-read content includes basic information that every bicyclist (young or old) should know, but that most don't. If you ride a bike, you need this book. Also, the illustrations are superb and greatly help the reader identify parts, discover problems, and perform certain repair and maintenance techniques.

It is evident to me after reading this book, as a senior citizen who just bought a new bicycle, that the contents of this book are not just for kids. It was extremely helpful to both me and my husband who are SENIOR kids. This book would be a very appropriate purchase for anyone regardless of age who owns or is contemplating buying a bicycle. After reading this book, children of ALL AGES would gain the confidence to maintain and use their bicycle safely. This book should be available at all bicycle shops.

Excellent! Great selection of trails with a variety of terrain. This guide book provides more pertinent trail information than any other I've read. Particularly helpful is the trail contour plots as well as overlaying trail lines onto accurate topo-maps. The authors writing style is unique causing me to actually read the book cover to cover.

This book has a lot of great info for both seasoned riders and the beginner. The maps, trail directions and descriptions of the rides are just the start. I have rolled over the MT. Agamenticus (Mount A) Pg. 236 trails for years and the author really hits the mark. I can't wait to hit the rest of the trails.

This is the finest mountain biking guide I've ever read. It gives great information about trails of all abilities, plus tips on local attractions. This type of information is good to all types of mountain bikers, from rabid racers to families on day trips. Along with some of the premier trails in Maine and New Hampshire, such as in Acadia National Park, it gives descriptions of trails off the beaten path, such as that through Jefferson Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mr. Fitzhenry also provides local histories of the areas visited (which could be a book in itself) as well as great directions and trail descriptions. This book is good for local New Englanders and those from "away", because Bob did such a good job of finding trails throughout the two states. I highly recommend it.

Excellent map/manual for someone with stamina for mountain biking. Intresting geographiacal, geological, meteorological information with incredible personal touch and wonderful pictures. I recommend this book to any audience. This book is even good on rainy days to crawl in bed with-good reading. You'll love it! Besides, you want to see the baby picture of Chuck on a wooden horse, he is adorable! Those dimples and ray in the corners of his cutest eyes....

Since I am the author I think this is the best trail guide book on the market for my two favorite states, Oklahoma and Texas. I worked my ...off on this project, it is the second guide book I have done about mountain biking in these two states, actually the second edition of the same book.

I had such a blast working on this project but was quite glad to see it finished. Now I have a blast going back and rereading it and remembering what fun I had while out on research trips. Most were a pleasure, I got to meet some great folks and do some very excellent riding, though there were a few trips that bordered on miserable due to bad weather or general fatigue on my part as I neared the end of traveling for research.

My hat is off to the many bike clubs and excellent shops I encountered along the way, and all the super people who helped me complete this project.

Thanx to you all, hope to see you and ride again soon.

Chuck in DAllas

This is a well written book,If you wanted to take the ultimate vacation,grab your bike,a bottle of gatoraid and this book,and head for the hills.
the author has taken the time to rate all aspects of the trails from length, to difficulty.He even decribes the scenery.
The maps are first rate and are a nice addition.For those who are new to mt biking the glossary in the back of the book will come in handy when you get around all the hardcore bike freaks and will enable you to hold your own with them!
To sum it all up,. I would recomend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in oklahoma or texas,or cycling in general.

I have enjoyed many of the rides detailed in this book. They are among the most scenic I have experienced. But the author goes beyond simply choosing routes based on scenery, terrain, mileage, etc. He also seems to have a knowledge and appreciation for the different elements of the routes themselves. It's not uncommon for him to mention historical highlights of the communities the rides pass through, or the significance of landmarks along the routes. What the cyclist gets from this book is not just "go 1.2 miles, turn left and go to the end", but also a wealth of information about the rides that adds a whole new dimension to the cycling experience. This book is a must for anyone who enjoys a good bike ride.

Howard's routes are excellent - he always finds the most scenic routes through towns, managing to avoid the larger busier roads in most cases. He pays close attention to safety details - ie: when you take his trips, you won't come across a stop sign at the bottom of a steep hill unless he specifically mentions it.

I have done several of the rides, and highly recommend this book or any of the others he has done.

Brad Charbonneau

I concur with rweiner's review. Over the past 8 years I have enjoyed many of the routes that Howard has written about. I have found that his ride descriptions, directions, and assessment of the level of difficulty are very clear and consistent. His books have introduced me to areas of New England that I never would have experienced any other way. I look forward to enjoying more of his rides in the future as I continue to try out new routes from his books.

Want to get outdoors and be active in the Boston area? Start by buying this book. Lee Sinai describes, in wonderful detail, many of the rides and hikes one can take within a thirty-five-mile radius of Boston. The author has organized the forty trips around geographical areas, north, south or west of Boston, so selecting one is easy. Maps of each destination are included. Each trip description includes what's important to an outdoor enthusiast.... availability of restrooms, closest access to food, degree of difficulty, directions for getting there, and a historical background of the area.
Using this book, I discovered Dogtown, a mountain biking haven in Gloucester. I also experienced Cameron's, home to the best lobster roll in Massachusetts. The author led me to Great Brook Farm in Carlisle for cycling and then to Kimball's for a memorable ice cream treat.
As a guidebook, I give Exploring In and Around Boston on Bike and Foot the highest rating.

Lee Sinai has taken a group of varied and unusual hikes and trails around Boston and compiled them into an informative and accessible guide. We refer to her book often when looking for interesting, new places to explore, and have found it invaluable in "rediscovering" Boston.

Right from the get go I found this hiking and biking guide to be a miracle of organization and indispensable information. This book not only groups locations by geographical location, but also with respect to hiking, road biking and mountain biking. I found the handy reference guide towards the beginning of the book extremely useful while including not only difficulty ratings, but also mileage for each trip, something not always available in one specific location in a guide book. The maps accompanying each site are extremely easy to follow and the descriptions really do fit the terrain perfectly, whether or not you chose to take the book along on your journeys. I found the directions to each location to be extremely useful and especially appreciated the public transportation options that help those city dwellers who lack automobiles. Other handy features include locations and descriptions of local restaurants, attractions and even restrooms. This book included an very helpful mix of locations both in the greater Boston area, as well as highlighting several gems in the neighboring suburbs. I especially appreciated the handy reference map showing the location of all the spots, as well as the ever present tips to find geater enjoyment in your outdoor adventures!

this book tells you every thing you need to know about mini and trail bikes. Chapters are, a mini with minimum effort, on the trail with trail bikes, the power plant, frames, drive mechanisms, wheels, bearings, brakes, seats, controls, shocks, accessories, commercial bikes and engins, repair, safty. 208 pages

This book is great for the begginer and the mini bike veteran. This book single-handedly helped me build three minibikes from scratch.

Mini and Trail Bikes and How to Build Them Yourself is the best minibike book out there. It tells how to build minibikes, service engines, build parts, and gives tons of addresses for minibike companies across the US. So if you are in the market for the best minibike book available, be sure to pick up this book. It is the best out there.

I must admit this is one of the better written "mountain bike guide" books for the Boston area. It's obvious the author did more than just hang at the trailhead to interview local riders.....he got on his bike and observed firsthand the joys and challenges of the trails he reviewed. Cutler's descriptions are awesome......he's a mountain biker's friend.

The Topo information is excellent, and in my humble opinion, a necessity for any mtb guide (why don't others do this basic research?).......If riding in Boston is in your plans or you're a local looking for new trails, this book is your starting point.....

I'm not the enthusiast for biking that author Jeff Cutler so obviously is, but I sure do like this great little guide to two-wheeling in the Boston area. I was amazed at the number of historic/relaxing/scenic/just-plain-fun trails within a few miles of where I live just west of Boston. And I enjoyed the author's readable style and enthusiastic descriptions of what you'll see - and what you'll encounter - along the way. In fact, the "trail detail" that Mr. Cutler provides is definitely reassuring. And the 15-page section up front is a remarkably helpful introduction to the joys - and pitfalls - of off-road biking. Whether you're a novice or an expert, you'll find at least one ride in here that seems designed just for you. I highly recommend this book as a great read that will show you the trail to a great ride.

Great for novice to expert riders looking for new places to ride in eastern Massachusetts. With fantastic maps, great directions and concise ride descriptions. Try the Boston ride!!

This book is laid out well with concise and accurate information about many wonderful mountain bike trails. The rating system, general description and mile by mile directions are very good. The only reasons I don't give it five stars is that the trail names in the book don't always match the trail names on sign posts (we got lost). Maybe they've changed the signs since the book was published. Also, the grid indicating elevation gain is a bit misleading. You can't compare one ride to another using their grid system. We used this book for 4 different trails in Sun Valley and one near Stanely and really had fun. Believe them when they classify a couple rides as "abusive".

The authors actually thought of everything in this book, aside from GPS points. It has it all, comedy, details and more details. I've read many guidebooks over the years and this one is definitely one of the best. From tons of rides in every ability level, to lodging, camping, eats and extra curricular activities. Don't think about, just buy this book and go to Sun Valley mountain biking!!

This guidebook sets the standard for other guidebook authors to follow. Clear, concise and accurate information at your fingertips! Good Dirt rocks!

Good driving directions, good riding directions, good guide to what is actually at the trail. All around a great addition for anyone just getting going in Mt. Biking.

As a visitor to Seattle, I used this book to find some good local mtn. bike trails. The author of the book has detailed every aspect of these trails to the mile. If you use the information and follow your bike computer, you will find your way around some awesome trails. I would suggest photocopying the pages and carrying them with you as the book is too bulky unless you have a big backpack. Luckily, when we rode the Middlefork trail at Snoqualmie we were smart enough to tear the pages out of the book. We misjudged our timing especially due to some of the obstacles we faced on the trail i.e. water crossings, fallen trees, etc. With one light (one burned out in 2 hours) and three people, we followed the book to the "t" and hiked approx. 6 miles of this trail in the dark. Without those torn out pages, we'd have spent the night in Snoqualmie! Great book. Buy it if you want to ride the trails in Seattle!

If you're new to mountain biking or new to the area this book is a "must have." The book is filled with rides within 90 minutes drive of Seattle. Directions to trailheads are excellent, routes provide a good overview of each area, and route maps provide adequate diection. This is THE guide for Seattle-area mountain biking.