teamfreak16's Full Review: Ned Overend and Ed Pavelka - Mountain Bike Like a ...
While out on your mountain bike, do you routinely come across sections of trail that give you trouble? Maybe you are having difficulty getting through that sandy section of your favorite trail, or perhaps you lose traction climbing a steep section? Are there tight areas of trail you have to walk your bike through that your riding buddies are able to ride? Maybe you're a beginner or intermediate rider just wanting to get better - or maybe you've been thinking of taking the plunge and racing - but aren't sure how?
Well don't worry. Ned Overend can show the way!
Widely regarded as America's greatest mountain biker, Overend is a former World Champion who also holds six National Champion titles as well. A member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Overend is also a winner of the X-Terra Off Road Triathlon Championship. In his 1999 book Mountain Bike Like a Champion, Overend and co-author Ed Pavelka give riding and training tips designed to get you to that next level. The book is laid out in three concise, easy to read sections, each with a different level of rider in mind. The hints, tips, and tricks you'll find in this book really work - thousands of experienced riders have spent years of trial and error perfecting these concepts. With this book, Ned shares his knowledge to help riders quicken the pace with real race stories, practice drills, and sometimes just plain old common sense.
Core Concepts
In the first section, Overend talks to the beginners (or even those who don't ride that often.) It's here that Overend discusses crucial elements to the mountain bike experience. One of the most important aspects of mountain biking is making sure you have a bike that fits you. Here, Overend tells how to shop for a proper fit, then helps you attain proper riding position. Ned also discusses important details, such as braking. Did you know that quite often, mountain bikers brake at the wrong times, thus losing speed and momentum? Overend covers breaking at the correct moment for maximum efficiency. Again, it's something you (should) learn over time, but Ned spells it out for you, giving you things to think about on your next ride. Overend also covers valuable lessons on when to shift - anticipating your need for an easier (or harder) gear and shifting before you get there. I honestly wish this book had been available to me back in the early 1990's when I first got into the sport - this sort of information would have been so helpful to me as I struggled my way to intermediate status!
Granted, the Core Concepts section is geared toward the beginning rider, but there are some helpful tips for more experienced riders, too. For instance, did you ever wonder if you are using the wrong tire? A tire that works well for me here in Colorado, where it's mostly dry, might not work as well for a rider in New England, where the conditions can be wet (and vice-versa.) Ned gives you tips on what type of tire to look for and try based on what kind of conditions you'll be riding in (hint: it might not always be the knobbiest, most burley tire.)
Advanced Mountain Biking
Don't let the title fool you - there's info in this section that even beginners can use. For instance, as you become a better rider, maybe it's time to start looking at full-suspension bikes. Full-suspension bikes can help anyone ride better, because they decrease the fatigue in your arms and legs. Overend discusses the types of full-suspension bikes, and what you might want to look for based on what type of riding you do. It's here that he also covers more ways to become a better rider, such as using skiing techniques through turns to keep speed. He also give hints on dealing with obstacles such as mud, sand, wet roots, rocks, water crossings, etc. According to Ned, often all that's needed is a slight body movement to compensate. Would you ever consider riding in the snow? Ned does! He rides in the snow as a way to sharpen his bike handling skills.
Advanced Mountain Biking is where Ned discusses the concept of unweighting - master this, and a whole new world of moves opens up for you! Wheelies, bunny hops, even the nose wheelie (which Overend gives you a drill to practice in order to perfect.) Unweighting is a huge part of jumping, so if your goal is to catch a little air, you'll want to pay close attention to this section of the book. If you are having trouble with switchbacks, Ned covers it here - he gives you a drill to practice in order to ride slowly making very tight turns. Switchbacks are one of my weak points as a rider, so I've been using Ned's advice in order to improve. While I can't say I'm a switchback pro, I have improved to where I can ride more of them than I could a couple years ago! Here you'll also learn how to ride drop-offs and ledges.
If you're going to ride a mountain bike, you're going to crash at some point - it's part of the sport. (The crash section is good reading for any level rider) Overend gives examples on how to roll out of a crash (don't put your hand down without rolling, unless you want a broken collarbone.) He also covers a few ways to avoid crashing - it seems like common sense, but don't ride above your abilities. There's no shame in walking your bike around something you aren't ready to ride. However, if you simply must ride something too steep, for instance, he tells you how to do a really cool forward dismount over the handlebars!
While crashing is certainly a nasty business, day-long, epic rides are not - they are one of the very reasons to take up the sport. Overend covers what you should/shouldn't bring, how to eat, as well as how to pace yourself, etc. Once you build up to it, an epic ride is a wonderful part of mountain biking, and Ned shows you how to do it safely and smartly.
Competition
While it's not mandatory that you do so, at some point, many mountain bikers decide to take it to the next level and start racing. If you decide to race, Ned shares some invaluable knowledge with you in this section. Pulling from his years of experience, Overend gives training tips (hint: you might want to purchase a road bike so you can build endurance by putting in long miles.) He also covers areas that a recreational biker might not consider. For instance, weight training, massage, and cross-training can big parts of the life of a racer.
As a racer, you'll need to know what to look for as you pre-ride a race course, and Ned gives tips on what he looks for as he inspects a course, wanting to shave valuable seconds (as well as potential passing opportunities.) Here you'll also learn more about hydration and nutrition, specifically geared toward racing. Overend also discusses where he tries to line up at the start of the race, and how he tries to pace himself during the race. It's here where Ned covers concepts such as patience (it's a long race - don't kill yourself in the first part of the race) and finding spots where you can recover slightly by using less effort. Ned also uses this portion to discuss gearing tactics toward the type of rider you are. Even though I have no interest in racing (I love to watch it, but don't want to do it myself) I still found this part of the book helpful. For instance, when he discusses pacing, Overend talks about breaking a race up into thirds. This type of strategy can help a rider such as myself while out on a long ride, just breaking my ride up into sections and thinking about how much effort I should be giving during that particular section. Not to mention, the tips on bike inspection and maintenance are useful for riders of all levels.
Honestly, if you are a mountain biker, you should own a copy of Mountain Bike Like a Champion. Overend includes stories from races, tech-tips, and useful knowledge that makes it a valuable resource. The book is helpful for all levels of rider - I find that as an experienced rider, even the beginner tips are a good refresher, and the more advanced tips are useful as I try to improve. Obviously, this book isn't for someone not interested in the sport of mountain biking. But I'd definitely recommend it to someone looking to get into the sport. For a beginner or intermediate looking to improve, or an expert wanting to race, I'd call Mountain Bike Like a Champion a must read.
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