Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

This Winter Skills is packed with essential information and techniques for mountaineers, climbers and walkers. This book is Mountain Leader Training UK’s official handbook for the Mountaineering Instructor (MI) and Winter Mountain Leader (WML) Schemes

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

Essential reference for the winter mountaineer, 15 May 2008
This book is fantastic and i would highly recomend it to anyone going back into the hills after a long summer. It is very easy to forget the nessessary skills to walk in the mountains safely but this book explains each one with clear pictures and text.

Best book for Winter Mountain Leaders, 15 Mar 2008
This is the best book you can get for becoming a winter mountain leader. Well, it's also good for people who just want to learn about winter mountain skills too.
There are all the necessary skills for winter navigation, building shelter, and climbing in winter. Best winter mountain skills book I have seen yet

Excelent Book for Hill Walking or Alpine, 15 Feb 2008
This is one of the best books I have seen for preperation for alpine climbng or any other winter mountain activity. I only wish it was availible here in the States.

Winter ML handbook, 30 Oct 2007
An excellent handbook for the winter ML student and a first class guide to refresh experienced winter mountaineers. Clear concise and readable it is packed with lots of good reading. Loads of colour diagrams and pictures, plenty of explanation, it is easy and straightforward to follow. If after reading this you do not know your sastrugi from a rutchsblock then you should'nt be on the hills in winter. Required reading for ML students, every walker who ventures out in the Scottish winter should own a copy.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

Essential reference for the winter mountaineer, 15 May 2008
This book is fantastic and i would highly recomend it to anyone going back into the hills after a long summer. It is very easy to forget the nessessary skills to walk in the mountains safely but this book explains each one with clear pictures and text.

Best book for Winter Mountain Leaders, 15 Mar 2008
This is the best book you can get for becoming a winter mountain leader. Well, it's also good for people who just want to learn about winter mountain skills too.
There are all the necessary skills for winter navigation, building shelter, and climbing in winter. Best winter mountain skills book I have seen yet

Excelent Book for Hill Walking or Alpine, 15 Feb 2008
This is one of the best books I have seen for preperation for alpine climbng or any other winter mountain activity. I only wish it was availible here in the States.

Winter ML handbook, 30 Oct 2007
An excellent handbook for the winter ML student and a first class guide to refresh experienced winter mountaineers. Clear concise and readable it is packed with lots of good reading. Loads of colour diagrams and pictures, plenty of explanation, it is easy and straightforward to follow. If after reading this you do not know your sastrugi from a rutchsblock then you should'nt be on the hills in winter. Required reading for ML students, every walker who ventures out in the Scottish winter should own a copy.

extremely helpful, 30 Mar 2008
The book is well-written. The images illustrating a rope-work are big, colored and easily understandable.
Overall, it is a great rope-work guide, covering all necessary aspects of the matter in a consistent, logical way. I really enjoyed reading it. Besides, the book is a pocket-size, so I used to take it with me when I travel (together with a piece of rope for practicing :).

Evberything you'll need, 16 Feb 2007
This book is an excellent representation of nearly all the rope skills your likely to come across in day to day climbing.

Clearly wrote and well thought out, this book is helpful for beginners to advanced / instructer level climbers alike.

A great buy.

Practical use, 30 Jul 2004
An excellent book.

The book covers all the basics, progressing up to some complicated rescue procedures.

For the intermediate it's a valiable resource as it presents everything in a step by step manor often complimented with diagrams and the practical applications for techniques it discribes.

Any climber wishing to improve their skills and aspirant SPA and MIA's will find this book usefull.

A must have reference, 24 Sep 2003
Excellant book, covering just about everything you need to know about climbing rope work and then some! Loads of easy to understand photographs and drawings. Covers anchor systems, top rope anchors, glacier travel, climber rescue, acending ropes and much much more.

RECOMMENDED, 29 Aug 2002
An excellent book overall. Only criticisms are that the pages come apart very easily when trying to practice the roping techniques.

Well presented and very informative.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

Essential reference for the winter mountaineer, 15 May 2008
This book is fantastic and i would highly recomend it to anyone going back into the hills after a long summer. It is very easy to forget the nessessary skills to walk in the mountains safely but this book explains each one with clear pictures and text.

Best book for Winter Mountain Leaders, 15 Mar 2008
This is the best book you can get for becoming a winter mountain leader. Well, it's also good for people who just want to learn about winter mountain skills too.
There are all the necessary skills for winter navigation, building shelter, and climbing in winter. Best winter mountain skills book I have seen yet

Excelent Book for Hill Walking or Alpine, 15 Feb 2008
This is one of the best books I have seen for preperation for alpine climbng or any other winter mountain activity. I only wish it was availible here in the States.

Winter ML handbook, 30 Oct 2007
An excellent handbook for the winter ML student and a first class guide to refresh experienced winter mountaineers. Clear concise and readable it is packed with lots of good reading. Loads of colour diagrams and pictures, plenty of explanation, it is easy and straightforward to follow. If after reading this you do not know your sastrugi from a rutchsblock then you should'nt be on the hills in winter. Required reading for ML students, every walker who ventures out in the Scottish winter should own a copy.

extremely helpful, 30 Mar 2008
The book is well-written. The images illustrating a rope-work are big, colored and easily understandable.
Overall, it is a great rope-work guide, covering all necessary aspects of the matter in a consistent, logical way. I really enjoyed reading it. Besides, the book is a pocket-size, so I used to take it with me when I travel (together with a piece of rope for practicing :).

Evberything you'll need, 16 Feb 2007
This book is an excellent representation of nearly all the rope skills your likely to come across in day to day climbing.

Clearly wrote and well thought out, this book is helpful for beginners to advanced / instructer level climbers alike.

A great buy.

Practical use, 30 Jul 2004
An excellent book.

The book covers all the basics, progressing up to some complicated rescue procedures.

For the intermediate it's a valiable resource as it presents everything in a step by step manor often complimented with diagrams and the practical applications for techniques it discribes.

Any climber wishing to improve their skills and aspirant SPA and MIA's will find this book usefull.

A must have reference, 24 Sep 2003
Excellant book, covering just about everything you need to know about climbing rope work and then some! Loads of easy to understand photographs and drawings. Covers anchor systems, top rope anchors, glacier travel, climber rescue, acending ropes and much much more.

RECOMMENDED, 29 Aug 2002
An excellent book overall. Only criticisms are that the pages come apart very easily when trying to practice the roping techniques.

Well presented and very informative.

Learning to Climb Indoors, 26 Jul 2008
'Learning to climb indoors' is another excellent climbing book from Eric Horst. It covers all aspects of indoor climbing for beginners in a clear and comprehensive way. Although they are in black and white throughout, the photos are excellent and really show the points he makes extremely well. This book covers finding an indoor wall, what equipment is needed, learning safety systems, basic skills and drills to practice them, advanced skills and drills, tips on lead climbing, mental training and fear management, getting into shape for climbing and further tips for climbing success. What with the in-depth glossary and resources pages at the back, this makes for an information packed book that still manages to be clear and concise. Horst's books always have a strong sports science feel to them, with plenty of diagrams and reasoning to the ideas he puts forward, this ensures you know that what he suggests isn't only based on his extensive climbing experience, but also based on solid sports science. A great read for beginner to intermediate climbers and well worth a read if you're just starting out.

Great book for beginners, 22 Oct 2007
I've been climbing for 1 month. After reading this book my bouldering & top roping improved very quickly. Mentally I've become more focused on what I'm trying to achieve, I have more confidence in my feet & I'm better at avoiding the dreaded barndoor through understanding where the forces are used in climbing. The diagrams are superb and really help you consider where your energy should be directed when solving problems. Also some of the drills are well documented adding value to your basics and improving your overall ability. Perhaps this book may only help a little if you've been climbing for a while, but for a novice I've found it's improved my skills within the indoor arena.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

Essential reference for the winter mountaineer, 15 May 2008
This book is fantastic and i would highly recomend it to anyone going back into the hills after a long summer. It is very easy to forget the nessessary skills to walk in the mountains safely but this book explains each one with clear pictures and text.

Best book for Winter Mountain Leaders, 15 Mar 2008
This is the best book you can get for becoming a winter mountain leader. Well, it's also good for people who just want to learn about winter mountain skills too.
There are all the necessary skills for winter navigation, building shelter, and climbing in winter. Best winter mountain skills book I have seen yet

Excelent Book for Hill Walking or Alpine, 15 Feb 2008
This is one of the best books I have seen for preperation for alpine climbng or any other winter mountain activity. I only wish it was availible here in the States.

Winter ML handbook, 30 Oct 2007
An excellent handbook for the winter ML student and a first class guide to refresh experienced winter mountaineers. Clear concise and readable it is packed with lots of good reading. Loads of colour diagrams and pictures, plenty of explanation, it is easy and straightforward to follow. If after reading this you do not know your sastrugi from a rutchsblock then you should'nt be on the hills in winter. Required reading for ML students, every walker who ventures out in the Scottish winter should own a copy.

extremely helpful, 30 Mar 2008
The book is well-written. The images illustrating a rope-work are big, colored and easily understandable.
Overall, it is a great rope-work guide, covering all necessary aspects of the matter in a consistent, logical way. I really enjoyed reading it. Besides, the book is a pocket-size, so I used to take it with me when I travel (together with a piece of rope for practicing :).

Evberything you'll need, 16 Feb 2007
This book is an excellent representation of nearly all the rope skills your likely to come across in day to day climbing.

Clearly wrote and well thought out, this book is helpful for beginners to advanced / instructer level climbers alike.

A great buy.

Practical use, 30 Jul 2004
An excellent book.

The book covers all the basics, progressing up to some complicated rescue procedures.

For the intermediate it's a valiable resource as it presents everything in a step by step manor often complimented with diagrams and the practical applications for techniques it discribes.

Any climber wishing to improve their skills and aspirant SPA and MIA's will find this book usefull.

A must have reference, 24 Sep 2003
Excellant book, covering just about everything you need to know about climbing rope work and then some! Loads of easy to understand photographs and drawings. Covers anchor systems, top rope anchors, glacier travel, climber rescue, acending ropes and much much more.

RECOMMENDED, 29 Aug 2002
An excellent book overall. Only criticisms are that the pages come apart very easily when trying to practice the roping techniques.

Well presented and very informative.

Learning to Climb Indoors, 26 Jul 2008
'Learning to climb indoors' is another excellent climbing book from Eric Horst. It covers all aspects of indoor climbing for beginners in a clear and comprehensive way. Although they are in black and white throughout, the photos are excellent and really show the points he makes extremely well. This book covers finding an indoor wall, what equipment is needed, learning safety systems, basic skills and drills to practice them, advanced skills and drills, tips on lead climbing, mental training and fear management, getting into shape for climbing and further tips for climbing success. What with the in-depth glossary and resources pages at the back, this makes for an information packed book that still manages to be clear and concise. Horst's books always have a strong sports science feel to them, with plenty of diagrams and reasoning to the ideas he puts forward, this ensures you know that what he suggests isn't only based on his extensive climbing experience, but also based on solid sports science. A great read for beginner to intermediate climbers and well worth a read if you're just starting out.

Great book for beginners, 22 Oct 2007
I've been climbing for 1 month. After reading this book my bouldering & top roping improved very quickly. Mentally I've become more focused on what I'm trying to achieve, I have more confidence in my feet & I'm better at avoiding the dreaded barndoor through understanding where the forces are used in climbing. The diagrams are superb and really help you consider where your energy should be directed when solving problems. Also some of the drills are well documented adding value to your basics and improving your overall ability. Perhaps this book may only help a little if you've been climbing for a while, but for a novice I've found it's improved my skills within the indoor arena.

Tells You Everything You Wanted to Know About Mountain Weather!, 01 Aug 2007
What a cracking little book. Remember all of that weather stuff you learnt at school and can't quite remember if you've got it right?

This book is a must for all hill walkers and mountaineers. It's split into three sections. Weather forecasts, well, explains about weather forecasts. Weather maps explains all of those funny lines and symbols.

But it is section 3 that is the most interesting, for it explains how mountains create their own weather - on the tops and in the valleys. Fascinating stuff.

I've pondered buying this for years. I wish I'd read it a long time ago.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illustrated tips on how to improve your riding or "driving" as the authors put it. I have been riding a mountain bike for nearly 20 years but realised that I was lacking in many core techniques which is why I bought this book. I was not at all disappointed and I have already noticed an improvement in my riding. Buy it.

This excellent book is called MASTERING mountain bike skills!, 21 Jul 2008
I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves a good review and also deserves the record to be set straight with respect to a couple of previous reviews. Specifically, buying a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills (the clue is in the title) and complaining that it is not suitable for beginners is akin to buying a book on vegetarian cookery and complaining that it does not have enough meat dishes in it.
This book is by far the best skills book for anyone who has mastered the basics. It has a mass of detail in it. There are hundreds of hints and tips and the book pays dividends when read a few times over simply because there is so much info in it. I'm kind of gobsmacked at some of the bizarre criticisms I've read here. It's a shame these critics haven't named the books they have found superior. In over 10 years of riding I haven't seen another book/magazine/website/DVD that comes anywhere near providing the wealth of useful info that this book does. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their existing mountain biking skills. Here's another clue/tip: - If you don't know what an endo is, don't buy a book called MASTERING mountain bike skills, buy a BEGINNERS guide to mountain biking.


Dialing the wrong number, 05 May 2008
There are countless thousands of people with mountain bikes looking for a book to help them ride trails more skilfully. Sadly, this is not it.

At the outset the authors declare they want to write a step-by-step guide to mountain biking. They not only fail to do that, they do so in language which excludes newcomers while making asides which are only likely to put off inexperienced riders altogether.

There are a few good tips - drop offs, bunny hops and "manuals"/wheelies are all well and coherently covered. But there's no real sense of progress, and the authors give the impression they would rather be talking to fellow racers than taking time with beginners or recreational riders looking to add a few skills to their repertoire.

It is all written in irritating mountain bike magazine jargon which serves only to irritate and obscure rather than illuminate. Everything is "dialed". Of course. The overall tone is that of a 13-year-old boy pulling wheelies in front of his house.

One can only guess at the authors' motivation for going into details about death, paralysis and broken limbs on the trail or racecourse. Bravado has its place, but not in a training manual. Then again, the main theme of the book does seem to be "whatever you do, don't use the brakes".


Great guidance for all styles of riding, 29 Feb 2008
If you only ever buy one mountain bike tuition book make sure that this is it. Ive only been riding just over a year and ive found every part of this book really useful. It covers loads of subjects, including everything from basic riding techniques to more complicated trials, jumping and racing topics. Its all very well laid out with lots of pictures and despite the opinion of some that it may be hard for beginners to understand due to jargon terms, I still class myself as a novice and had no problem understanding it. Besides, if there are any terms you are unsure of, there is always that wonderful invention, the internet, which is always willing and able to explain things to you....... ENJOY YOUR RIDING!

Buy it, you'll learn something., 22 Jan 2008
I've only been riding mountain bikes since this spring and a mate got me this for Christmas. I enjoy doing some off road stuff but most of what the book shows is well beyond what I'm likely to get into so I initially read it without expecting to get much out of it. Boy did I get a surprise. Within a week I'd managed to incorporate much of what is in the early chapters into my riding and I'm finding I've got a lot more confidence and am attacking the trail far more than I did before. As far as the later chapters go (jumping, dropping and such like) maybe one day it'll be something I want to look at but it's definitely fun to read about in the meantime.

As for the language, some of it is a bit Southern Californian but I managed to work my way round it. I'm still laughing about him suggesting that I might want to learn to "pump the backside".

Rock Climbing, 13 Sep 2008
If ever there was a book that could be classed as the industry standard climbing book, then this is it. The official handbook of the mountaineering instructor and single pitch award schemes this book has pretty much everything you'd need to get started on climbing, and more besides. It covers such areas as environment and history, warming up and injury prevention, movement skills, training, climbing basics (looking at terms and equipment), various types of climbing (bouldering, single pitch, indoor, lead, sport, multi pitch), descending, scrambling, sea level traversing and gorge scrambling and sections covering the law around climbing. As you can see, and this was only a basic list, this book is pretty comprehensive! The text is clear to read and the illustration and photos are both attractive and clarify any confusing points perfectly. As other reviewers have suggested, this book really is the ideal first port of call when learning about climbing and to cover your first forays on the rock or in the climbing gym. Coupled with qualified instruction this book will see you develop in leaps and bounds and it is perfect to return to so you can brush up on rusty knowledge or even just for a bit of inspiration. A great book and highly recommended. If you want more a specific book about training for climbing check out 'Training For Climbing' by Eric J Horst, another clear and inspirational read.

Evocative, 09 Sep 2008
An excellent 'How To' guide and also very useful for those wanting to improve. The greatest recommendation is that it makes you want to go out and climb - just like my favourite cult classic free climbing book from the 30s - The Night Climbers of Cambridge by Whipplesnaith. It's worth comparing the two - the spirit and urge to abandon regular society's rules and soar above the crowd is the same - and contagious. But back to this one - Get it and Get Out.

Excellent for both beginners and experienced, 18 Mar 2008
I don't write reviews often but felt compelled to do so with this. It's an excellent book, well written and with beautifully designed diagrams which demonstrate the concepts extremely well. I'm an experienced climber with 20 years under my belt and this has still taught me some new things and reinforced others ("Am I supposed to do it this way just because I always have? Oh yes!"). It doesn't patronise, nor does it take the elitist approach. Just sensible and very readable. I've been reading it cover to cover and enjoyed doing so.

Whether you are new to the sport, training as an instructor, or just looking to bolster your knowledge, this is probably the best climbing book available.

Essential!, 03 Aug 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to start out in climbing or improve their skills. The book also runs alongside the BMC's Single Pitch Award and is an invaluable source of information and instruction.

AWESOME, 28 Mar 2006
words can't describe this book well enough - its amazing. I am very fond of it and if i was religious, this book would be my bible:) Book details anchors, useful knots, various scenarios likely to be faced on real rock amongst a host of other things -well worth the read before doing any sort of fee paying course - i'm going to work through this book before i splash out on a trad course at plas y brenin.

The Only Book You Need, 02 Jun 2008
This book is brilliant I have read the other Falcon Guides an most of Erics books but this is like them all in one great volume with full colour photos everything you need to know about training for climbing this book will get you in superb condition for climbing!

Essential reference for the winter mountaineer, 15 May 2008
This book is fantastic and i would highly recomend it to anyone going back into the hills after a long summer. It is very easy to forget the nessessary skills to walk in the mountains safely but this book explains each one with clear pictures and text.

Best book for Winter Mountain Leaders, 15 Mar 2008
This is the best book you can get for becoming a winter mountain leader. Well, it's also good for people who just want to learn about winter mountain skills too.
There are all the necessary skills for winter navigation, building shelter, and climbing in winter. Best winter mountain skills book I have seen yet

Excelent Book for Hill Walking or Alpine, 15 Feb 2008
This is one of the best books I have seen for preperation for alpine climbng or any other winter mountain activity. I only wish it was availible here in the States.

Winter ML handbook, 30 Oct 2007
An excellent handbook for the winter ML student and a first class guide to refresh experienced winter mountaineers. Clear concise and readable it is packed with lots of good reading. Loads of colour diagrams and pictures, plenty of explanation, it is easy and straightforward to follow. If after reading this you do not know your sastrugi from a rutchsblock then you should'nt be on the hills in winter. Required reading for ML students, every walker who ventures out in the Scottish winter should own a copy.

extremely helpful, 30 Mar 2008
The book is well-written. The images illustrating a rope-work are big, colored and easily understandable.
Overall, it is a great rope-work guide, covering all necessary aspects of the matter in a consistent, logical way. I really enjoyed reading it. Besides, the book is a pocket-size, so I used to take it with me when I travel (together with a piece of rope for practicing :).

Evberything you'll need, 16 Feb 2007
This book is an excellent representation of nearly all the rope skills your likely to come across in day to day climbing.

Clearly wrote and well thought out, this book is helpful for beginners to advanced / instructer level climbers alike.

A great buy.

Practical use, 30 Jul 2004
An excellent book.

The book covers all the basics, progressing up to some complicated rescue procedures.

For the intermediate it's a valiable resource as it presents everything in a step by step manor often complimented with diagrams and the practical applications for techniques it discribes.

Any climber wishing to improve their skills and aspirant SPA and MIA's will find this book usefull.

A must have reference, 24 Sep 2003
Excellant book, covering just about everything you need to know about climbing rope work and then some! Loads of easy to understand photographs and drawings. Covers anchor systems, top rope anchors, glacier travel, climber rescue, acending ropes and much much more.

RECOMMENDED, 29 Aug 2002
An excellent book overall. Only criticisms are that the pages come apart very easily when trying to practice the roping techniques.

Well presented and very informative.

Learning to Climb Indoors, 26 Jul 2008
'Learning to climb indoors' is another excellent climbing book from Eric Horst. It covers all aspects of indoor climbing for beginners in a clear and comprehensive way. Although they are in black and white throughout, the photos are excellent and really show the points he makes extremely well. This book covers finding an indoor wall, what equipment is needed, learning safety systems, basic skills and drills to practice them, advanced skills and drills, tips on lead climbing, mental training and fear management, getting into shape for climbing and further tips for climbing success. What with the in-depth glossary and resources pages at the back, this makes for an information packed book that still manages to be clear and concise. Horst's books always have a strong sports science feel to them, with plenty of diagrams and reasoning to the ideas he puts forward, this ensures you know that what he suggests isn't only based on his extensive climbing experience, but also based on solid sports science. A great read for beginner to intermediate climbers and well worth a read if you're just starting out.

Great book for beginners, 22 Oct 2007
I've been climbing for 1 month. After reading this book my bouldering & top roping improved very quickly. Mentally I've become more focused on what I'm trying to achieve, I have more confidence in my feet & I'm better at avoiding the dreaded barndoor through understanding where the forces are used in climbing. The diagrams are superb and really help you consider where your energy should be directed when solving problems. Also some of the drills are well documented adding value to your basics and improving your overall ability. Perhaps this book may only help a little if you've been climbing for a while, but for a novice I've found it's improved my skills within the indoor arena.

Tells You Everything You Wanted to Know About Mountain Weather!, 01 Aug 2007
What a cracking little book. Remember all of that weather stuff you learnt at school and can't quite remember if you've got it right?

This book is a must for all hill walkers and mountaineers. It's split into three sections. Weather forecasts, well, explains about weather forecasts. Weather maps explains all of those funny lines and symbols.

But it is section 3 that is the most interesting, for it explains how mountains create their own weather - on the tops and in the valleys. Fascinating stuff.

I've pondered buying this for years. I wish I'd read it a long time ago.

Ideal for both novice's and instructors, 27 Feb 2001
This book has been carefully put together by two guy's with an amazing breadth of experience and knowledge. Ideal for anyone attempting the SPA assesment or just reading up to enhance personal skills.

Mountian Biking Masterclass, 20 Nov 2008
This is a truly excellent, informative book. The comments made by some reviewers about the trendy language are perhaps justified but you soon find your way through it to uncover a wealth of useful, well explained and very well illus