The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) is the ultimate guide to cycling climbing and the most difficult hill climbs in the United States. Included in its 224 pages are sections on training for climbing, memorable climbing performances and other climbing resources. The most difficult U.S. climbs are described in great detail including: - Easy to read directions with maps - Accurate climb information including total elevation gain, length and average/maximum grade - Appendices include multiple climb rankings (most difficult, highest altitude attained, greatest elevation gained, steepest, etc) and profiles of the 100 most difficult American hill climbs. This book contains everything cyclists need to know to locate and tackle the toughest climbs in the U.S.

Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Great Book January 10, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

So many times I had to look online to find out the grade of tough climbs and wonder if the answer was exaggerated, or the author knew what they were talking about. So many times I heard people say a climb was tougher than "Ventoux" or similar. This book takes the best climbs in the US and compares many to the climbs of the Tour and breaks them down into toughest 1 mile, 2 mile and 5 mile sections. I have climbed many of these including Old Priest Grade and was happily surprised to know my suffering was for a reason as it is one of the steepest in the US. This book is great. Fun to read and makes you dream of a 6 month road trip where you would climb each and every single one.

5 out of 5 stars

This guide is excellent September 21, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

The Complete Guide to Climbing by Bike is a guide to cycling climbing and a unique review of the most difficult hill climbs in the U.S. This data has not been available previously in one place which is a big help. Its introduction and following sections lead the reader into why climbing is the most important (and perhaps most diffcult) aspect of the sport. The sections on training, while brief, really gets to the truely important aspects of how to improve one's climbing ability. The climbing perfomances section, which include many unknown exploits, can inspire even bike flatlanders to take on America's toughest hills.

Most of the book is devoted to the most challenging climbs in the U.S. Each is described in detail including the total elevation gained, length, average and maximum grade and a rating. Maps and directions will lead you right to each climb and a short description of each lets the reader know what to expect on the way up. Appendices contain what must be the most complete cycling climbing database and includes multiple climb rankings in varous categories and climb profiles which I think will appeal to cyclists.

Overall this is an excellent resource for cyclists and contains very detailed statistics on Americ's most difficult climbs. A good read and database.

3 out of 5 stars

Good if you live in CA June 4, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I was a little disappointed when I received this book because the focus of this book is really the west coast. If, like me, you live east of the Mississippi, don't expect to find many climbs within hundreds of miles of you. The sub-title should have been most difficult climbs in Western US with a few thrown in for the east-coasters.

The number of climbs in states are: MA-2; NH-1; NY-1; VT-5; GA-1; NC-6 and these 16 rides are it east of the MS. For the western states: AZ-5; CA-72; CO-14; HI-5; NV-6; NM-2; OR-3; UT-12; WA-2; and WY-7. Even in the Hill Climb Races section, the Core States bike race in Philly that includes the (in)famous Manayunk Wall isn't mentioned. I know the hills are where they are and not evenly distributed, but it would be nice if Summerson would have included some hills from other states for broader interest. It's entertaining to read about far-away hills, but not as much fun if it's not practical to visit them and challenge yourself against them.

2 out of 5 stars

Falls flat June 1, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I was expecting something much more than this. The book is poorly produced, the maps are vague, the organization shoddy, and the writing pedestrian. I think the authors did a lot of climbing to get this information, but somewhere the publisher or editors let them down. It's really poorly organized and not very interesting to read. I know a couple of these climbs, and the descriptions here fall flat.

5 out of 5 stars

climbing by bike September 24, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

This book focuses almost exclusively on climbing, an essential and at times forgotten element within cycling literature. While the training section could have been more comprehensive it is helpful. The book focuses mainly on actual climbs and I was surprised by the number of tough climbs in the US and like the way each is laid out. Plenty of data in these pages that cyclists will find helpful.

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