The Complete Guide to Mountain Biking
A no-nonsense guide to the real cost, gear, effort, and fun of mountain biking - so you can decide if it's for you before you spend a dime.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
What does mountain biking really cost, need, and feel like? This beginner's guide gives you straight answers before you buy a single thing.
About this book
You've seen videos of riders flying down rocky descents. You've wondered if you could do it - but you also have questions. How much does a decent bike actually cost? Do I need to be in amazing shape? What if I'm over 40? Is it dangerous? How much time does it eat up? The Complete Guide to Mountain Biking answers all of that and more, in plain language, without the sales pitch.
This is not a technique manual and it's not a gear catalog. It's a straight-talking guide from someone who wants you to succeed at this hobby, written for someone who hasn't started yet. You'll get real numbers for real bikes and beginner gear, a week-by-week plan for your first month, a realistic picture of a typical ride (including the falls and the muddy parts), and an honest look at whether your life has room for it. Read this first, then decide - and if you do decide to start, you'll know exactly what to do on day one.
Reader Reviews
Charles Davis
★★★★★I've been curious about mountain biking for two years but every YouTube video assumed I owned a bike already. This book starts at zero - it told me the actual price of a decent used hardtail, what to look for, and even what to wear on my first ride. I bought a bike two weeks after finishing it, and my first trail ride went way better than I expected. The Chapter 1 description of what the trail feels like was exactly right.
Ryan Baker
★★★★★Finally a guide that doesn't talk down to you or try to sell you a three-thousand-dollar setup. The gear chapter has a table with three budget tiers, and I started at the bottom one with a used bike and a helmet. The first checklist in Chapter 5 is gold - I followed it step by step and didn't feel lost once. I'm three weeks in and hooked. This is the book I wish I'd had five years ago.
Margaret Hill
★★★★★Good information, and I appreciated the honesty about cost and time. Chapter 6 really helped me imagine what a ride would feel like so I wasn't shocked by how much climbing is involved. It's slightly padded in places and I wish the FAQ was longer, but for a beginner deciding whether to try mountain biking, this covers what you need. I'm in my 40s and out of shape; reading this helped me pick a gentler trail for my first try.
Susan Allen
★★★★★I'm a 5-foot-2 woman with zero bike experience and I was scared of looking stupid in front of real riders. This guide never once made me feel like that. The self-assessment checklist in Chapter 2 convinced me I had the right mindset, and the typical session narrative made me feel like I'd already done a ride before I ever tried one. I've now done three rides at a local state park. Honestly worth every penny.
Margaret Nelson
★★★★★The chapter on costs is worth the book alone. I was quoted the price at a bike shop and didn't know if it was fair, and this book broke down exactly what you really need versus what's nice to have later. I appreciated that it gives you permission to buy used and start small. The section on where to learn was also super helpful. I found a beginner clinic through a local club and had an amazing time.
Stephanie Hall
★★★★★I bought this for my husband who's considering getting into mountain biking, but I read it first out of curiosity and got completely absorbed. It's honest about the physical effort (the first time you climb a hill, you'll understand) but also captures the pure fun of it. The FAQ at the end answered every practical question I had about time and space. I ended up getting my own starter bike. This book works.