Ultimate Mountain Biking: Advanced Techniques And Winning Strategies

Besides being an extended advertisement for Gore-Tex, and other bike racing supplies, this "how-to" offers very little in the way of instruction. Sections are broken down into various facets of mountain bike racing: cross-country, uphill/downhill, turns and berms, and trials. Additional sections offer brief guides to preparing the bike, exercises for the rider, and the importance of diet and nutrition. The main problem of the tape lies in the long stretches of biking footage. While the technical credits are top-notch, the "action" factor simply isn't there. Watching a rider bike across a fairly level terrain, or even steadily work uphill is pretty boring. The final section of the program, which features a rider doing tricks on a trial bike is impressive, but for the most part the riding just isn't that exciting to watch. And the champions (Tinker Juarez, Margaret Day, Glen Adams, etc.) who offer instruction are quite clearly riders, not teachers. Speaking mostly in monotones, their presentations are unorganized and repetitive. Not a necessary purchase. (Available from: New & Unique Videos, 2336 Sumac Drive, San Diego, CA 92105.)