Rating: 
Summary: Bravo
Review: Just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate this book. It has turned me on to more great rides than I can begin to talk about. A few friends and myself made the trip up to Flagstaff over the weekend and did Little Bear Loop described in the book. What a great ride. So much hard work getting to the top, but so much reward coming back down. I ahve also sampled most of the Phoenix area rides where I reside only about two blocks from the Pima Canyon Trailhead at South Mountain. Nothing like riding out of the garage! Anyways, bravo for a great book. It has made all the difference in my mountain biking experiences. I am thinking of nominating Ray for the Pulitzer (Although I suspect he may be passed over . . . oh the cruel injustice of the literary world.) Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo
Review: Just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate this book. It has turned me on to more great rides than I can begin to talk about. A few friends and myself made the trip up to Flagstaff over the weekend and did Little Bear Loop described in the book. What a great ride. So much hard work getting to the top, but so much reward coming back down. I ahve also sampled most of the Phoenix area rides where I reside only about two blocks from the Pima Canyon Trailhead at South Mountain. Nothing like riding out of the garage! Anyways, bravo for a great book. It has made all the difference in my mountain biking experiences. I am thinking of nominating Ray for the Pulitzer (Although I suspect he may be passed over . . . oh the cruel injustice of the literary world.) Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Screamin¿ rides cover to cover!
Review: Mountain biking is a real sport that requires real skills. Read previous nasty Amazon reviews for good measure but I slap this puppy with a firm five starts. Personally I'm more of an avid hiker but I thoroughly enjoy the change of pace. Trails from around the state are covered in various ranges of difficulty. Previous Amazon reviews complain about accuracy. I disagree. Sure I've missed a couple turns and nearly died in the process. Then looking back in the book it's mentioned. Things go pretty quick in mountain biking and it's easy to blow your pace. Keep in mind that even a "rookie" ride in mountain biking takes some skill. If you can control your speed, maneuver your bike and have the endurance to hike your bike when needed give it a go. This book isn't meant to teach you how to mountain bike. This is a trail guide and a darn good. The book is small enough to carry in your water backpack, so take it with you! - joe bartels / webmaster HikeArizona.COM
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK
Review: Never before have I read a trail guide such as this! Cosmic Ray knows mountain biking, and it is obvious thru his trail review. Trails for all skill levels are provided, with explanations why each trail is rated the way it is. Honest, straightforward, and written in a language all riders can understand. Area yellow pages also helpful when repairs are needed. I found myself reading the trail reviews for areas I had no intention of riding...its a GREAT GUIDE ! It's my only guide for AZ riding, its all I need!
Rating:
Summary: author replies
Review: This note is in response to a review by Mr. Tlangmd from Altoona, PA. Thank you for your comments. Mr. Tlangmd, you are correct, your GPS is "useless with this book, since there are no GPS points". Although I do see mountain bikers using cycle computers to calculate distance, GPS usage is virtually nill. You yourself did not carry one on your trip west. While in Sedona, you can look up from the trail and see 2000 foot tall monuments. These are your landmarks. Your waypoints if you will. If you require topographic maps, they are available at bike and outdoor shops throughout the area."One had to wonder if Ray rode that ride." I assure you Mr. Tlandmd, Ray rode that ride . . . and many many more that were not good enough to make the book. I ride a 7 year old Merlin hardtail. I have ridden every trail in the Sedona, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson area over the past 20 years. If you ride a trail in my book, I have ridden that trail before you. My descriptions have usually been described as excellent. I am sorry they are not to your liking. The loops in my book do not require shuttles and I avoid long stretches of dirt or paved roads myself. However, they may be shown as an option for anyone not caring to do an out and back, preferring to bail and take the faster albeit less fun way home. Regarding some trails left out of my guide known as "secret". Yes, there are secret trails in Sedona. Hence the name. Many of these are not legal and are left for you to find on your own. However, what you hear from a bike shop in a verbal description and what I print are two different things. There is some legal responsibility to a certain government agency involved here. Finally, regarding your complaint about being unable to find your way around Mt. Elden in Flagstaff. I do not see your point. The turns all have wooden signs with the name of the trail, distance and directions engraved thereon. You also have a problem with a trail not included. "One segment that had sick exposure, log crossings, and technical rocks was missing from the guide." You were not looking carefully Mr. Tlangmd, the name of that trail is Jedi. It is there in black and white. I like that trail too. Perhaps you should bring the book along on your next ride. If you have any further complaints, compliments, questions or other feedback for me, my e-mail addy is on the last page of the book. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rating:
Summary: author replies
Review: This note is in response to a review by Mr. Tlangmd from Altoona, PA. Thank you for your comments. Mr. Tlangmd, you are correct, your GPS is "useless with this book, since there are no GPS points". Although I do see mountain bikers using cycle computers to calculate distance, GPS usage is virtually nill. You yourself did not carry one on your trip west. While in Sedona, you can look up from the trail and see 2000 foot tall monuments. These are your landmarks. Your waypoints if you will. If you require topographic maps, they are available at bike and outdoor shops throughout the area. "One had to wonder if Ray rode that ride." I assure you Mr. Tlandmd, Ray rode that ride . . . and many many more that were not good enough to make the book. I ride a 7 year old Merlin hardtail. I have ridden every trail in the Sedona, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson area over the past 20 years. If you ride a trail in my book, I have ridden that trail before you. My descriptions have usually been described as excellent. I am sorry they are not to your liking. The loops in my book do not require shuttles and I avoid long stretches of dirt or paved roads myself. However, they may be shown as an option for anyone not caring to do an out and back, preferring to bail and take the faster albeit less fun way home. Regarding some trails left out of my guide known as "secret". Yes, there are secret trails in Sedona. Hence the name. Many of these are not legal and are left for you to find on your own. However, what you hear from a bike shop in a verbal description and what I print are two different things. There is some legal responsibility to a certain government agency involved here. Finally, regarding your complaint about being unable to find your way around Mt. Elden in Flagstaff. I do not see your point. The turns all have wooden signs with the name of the trail, distance and directions engraved thereon. You also have a problem with a trail not included. "One segment that had sick exposure, log crossings, and technical rocks was missing from the guide." You were not looking carefully Mr. Tlangmd, the name of that trail is Jedi. It is there in black and white. I like that trail too. Perhaps you should bring the book along on your next ride. If you have any further complaints, compliments, questions or other feedback for me, my e-mail addy is on the last page of the book. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rating:
Summary: Shred with Cosmic
Review: This rag rips! It's almost depressing because there just isn't time to ride all that's in this book. It is BURLY if you will pardon the expression. I say you should get it.
Rating:
Summary: Had a blast.!
Review: We just got back from Sedona and I had a blast on my bike. I stopped in Bike & Bean bike shop, picked up a copy of this and didn't put it down for 2 days! I read it cover to cover. Some laugh out loud stuff. The trail guides were accurate if I had only followed them the way the arrows pointed. Stupid me, had to take the hard ways. I was/am an intermediate rider who has not been on trail for a while. I didn't have the cajones to let go of the brakes going down some of the wicked downhill steps and really did a kickass endo-catwheel into a small tree and ripped my brand new computer from the transmitter . . . boo-hoo for me. I did come away with some excellent black and blue reminders of the trip. Now that I am back here in Tucson, I plan on doing more rides in this guide. I am in the Air Force stationed here at Davis Monthan. I rode a lot in Alabama, Kentucky and when I had to go on my remote to Cpyrus. I rode to the top of Mt. Olympus. Totally gnarly, off the "puck-o-meter" (as Cosmic Ray would say) scary stuff.
| 
