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If you're looking for the ultimate mountain bike guide for the totally honed, welcome to William (Not Bill) Nealy's world.

Nealy's expertise (acquired through years of crash-and-burn) enables him to translate hard-learned reflexes and instinctive responses into easy-to-understand drawings: drawings that will make you into a much better rider.

Nealy's cartoon illustrations combine insight with humor and knowledge with humiliation. So, if you are ready to shorten the learning curve and master the advanced techniques of mountain biking, get ready to have some laughs and log a few miles with William Nealy.

Had some tricks I learned on my own, but pointed out better when you must use them. Good illustrations and clear writing. Has information that I had not learned in a couple of years of mountain biking that is helping me improve! It is dated with toe clips, but this has not effect on what you learn that I can see. Very helpful overall and friends are borrowing it.

I would have looked at the publishing date and dismissed this book entirely (and unfairly). I have not ridden single track in over ten years, and mostly got by on general good shape back then. This book is a godsend. 90% of the information and tips inside are timeless. No, it doesn't go into the advances in gear since it was written, but the basic fundamentals are spot on perfect. Do not let the publishing date turn you off, if you are trying to go beyond just rails to trails and into a bit more off road, this is a great resource. It may not be the only book you need, but it is a great starting point.

I love this book. William Nealy manages to capture the essence of mountain biking skills, and have a lot of fun with it. His drawings are excellent, and funny. Beginners will learn a lot, intermediate and advanced riders will enjoy this book too (just seeing the things we do already, in funny diagrams).

Note the date of publication - 1992. As such suspension, now not only commonplace but integral to modern techniques of mountain biking, is not discussed. Some of the finer and basic points such as body and pedal position, weight transfer, climbing and crash survival still apply but the more complicated techniques do not. Also, though the illustrations are good at conveying subject matter, the entire text of the book is handwritten script, is incessant with the groin jokes, and features a bit of profanity. At the end of the day, it's cheap, a quick read, and has some good basic pointers, but it's outdated and strives a bit too much to be a comic strip.

What I love most about this book is it teaches the essential elements about how you balance a bike. This never gets old or outdated. Yes, the newer books are more advanced, but that is a selling point for this book, even if you are not a beginner. Also, the more times and the more different ways you take in information, the better you understand it. Well worth the time spent.